By Marc Lawrence After capturing seven straight PAC 10 titles, the University of Spoiled Children (USC) was hit hard in 2009. Not only in the standings but also during the off-season when head coach Pete Carroll scooted off to Seattle in the NFL. And suddenly, just like that, a race is on in the PAC 10. Replacing Carroll is Lane Kiffin, the celebrated former head coach with Tennessee (last year) and Oakland in the... Read more

By Marc Lawrence PROJECTED FINAL FOUR: California, Arizona State, Washington and USC THE WAY WE SEE IT: In the eight-year history of this tournament, there have been six different winners. CALIFORNIA isn't one of them. Could this be the Bears' turn? Cal was one-and-done last year but led by guards Jerome Randle and Patrick Christopher, the only returnees from last year's All Pac-10 first team, this year's... Read more

On the heels of a brilliant 5-0 bowl season last year, the PAC 10 CONFERENCE features 146 starters (out of a possible 240, including kickers) returning for the 2009 campaign. The league spotlights five 1000-yard running backs, including the top-three from 2008. New to the scene will be a pair of first-year head coaches, Chip Kelly at Oregon and Steve Sarkasian at Washington. The question is whether anyone is capable of... Read more