Media Day Ballot (Sort of)

Hello Cougar Nation!  Hope you’re having an incredible week.

As for me, well, I’m pretty amped up for some Cougar Football!!!!!

And since today is media day, I thought it was high time for someone on this blog to step forward and give an opinion.

So, click on the jump to see my take on the season’s final standings.

(read on)

+++++

Nation, in most years, we here at the WSU Football Blog have been given the honor of casting an OFFICIAL media day ballot.  And this year?  Well, it appears that Santa has taken us off his list.

So, given that this one is now entirely for fun, let's just let her rip, shall we?

South Division

1. Arizona State

Lots of folks see the Devils as a team that we might knock off on Halloween night this fall.  But I am not one of them.  Talent all over the field, speed everywhere, an experienced quarterback, and a front seven that gives me nightmares.  Tough road trips at Stanford and UCLA, but I’m thinking that 7-2 will send these boys to their first Pac-12 championship game.  Missing Oregon doesn’t hurt either.

2.USC

Hard to peg this SC team.  Overall, the schedule looks really, really favorable early—giving the Trojans ample time to wash away the cobwebs from last year.  At the same time, early tilts against WSU and ASU could prove disastrous for the men of Troy—especially if they lose to us in Week 2.  But here’s to thinking that Marquis Lee and the absence of Oregon on the schedule puts SC right near the top of the South.

3.UCLA

Honestly, I like pretty much everything about this year’s Bruins—except for the schedule.  In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me to see UCLA slide as low as fourth this year simply because of that schedule.  But in the end, here’s to thinking that Mora’s boys find a way to beat teams like Washington to hang around a 6-3 and 5-4 type mark.

4.Arizona

Lots of folks are pretty high on the Cats because of the return of their receivers and the some guy who thinks he might have led the nation in rushing last year…

But I am not one of them.  In fact, I would be surprised to see the Cats become bowl eligible.

But here’s the deal:  If Arizona IS good this year, that will mean that there will be four team in the south alone with above .500 conference records.  And when the top is that wealthy, it means that the bottom is really, really soggy.

5. Utah

Here’s my question:  Is there a program in the country that has fallen more quickly from national prominence to irrelevance?  Honestly, the Utes are to 2010-2020 what the Cougs were to the century’s first decade.  Whittingham is going to have to identify some talent on this roster BIG time this year or the Utes may become perennial bottom feeders in the South.

6. Colorado.

Without WSU on the schedule, the Buffs may not win a conference game this year.

The North DIVISION

1. Oregon

I’ve been a Stanford lover for the past three seasons.  And while I think that the Trees will please again in 2013, I think this is Oregon’s year.  The quack will be MUCH better in the vertical passing game this year, the defensive front will still be solid, and I really like that they miss both ASU and SC.   Put em in the National Title game right now.  DO IT!

2. Stanford

For the past two years, we all have wondered whether or not a Pac-12 team will play for the national title.  And this year?  Well, depending on how things go, we might see TWO teams in the big game.  For me, Stanford has all of the makings of a team that can grind their way to 12-0 or 11-1.  The big question will be whether they can avoid a loss on a day when the play action passing game just isn’t happening.  Last year, they survived that game against us but lost that same game against UW.   Notwithstanding the Oregon game, I would circle the WSU and Oregon State games as the primary potential roadblocks between Stanford and another BCS appearance.

3. Oregon State

Some of us here at the WSU Football Blog are pretty concerned about the quarterback controversy at work at OSU.  But not me.  Reilly has been really clear that he will name a guy early in camp and stick with him.  What’s more, the Beavers’ early season schedule is favorable for another red hot start.   The key to their fortunes, in my view, is a road tilt in Pullman that follows a bye week.  Beat WSU in Pullman, then they are set up nicely to for an 8-1 start before their final bye week.  Lose to WSU (which they will) and I think that the Beavs will finish the year in the same spot as the previous year: Third.

4.Washington

Is another year of 5-4 in the cards for the Dawgs?  As Al Michaels once said, “YESSSSSSSSSS!!!”  To be sure, there’s lots and lots to like about the Huskies (with respect to talent), with Shaq Thompson and ASJ being on the top of my list.  But at the end of the day, I have them losing to Stanford, Oregon, UCLA, and Oregon State.   And yes, I think we are going to give them all they want as well.  So, the big question for them is whether or not the Boise State game is going to afford an 8-4 or 7-5 finish.

5.CAL

Hi, My Name is Sonny!

CAL is going to be bad this year, folks.  The problem:  The WSU Football Blog honors the head-to-head tie breaking system.   And I think that CAL is going to follow up a 67-3 loss to Oregon the week prior into a 31-20 win over us the next week in Berkeley.  When combined with their win over Colorado, the Bears will be 2-7.  And that will be good enough for fifth because we will be….. 

6. Washington State

Hard to know where to put our boys.  And the reason for that difficulty can be traced to those first two games.  Win one or two of those games and we are on our way to a surprise season—a la Oregon State last year.  Lose both in a respectable way, and we’re headed toward a 6-6 or 5-7 type year. 

But if we get blown out in the first two, then I think we’re right back to last year.  If we get blown out, we’re looking at Austin in Week 3—or maybe even Bruggman—and then it’s rebuilding all over again.  Mind you, I do think that we will beat Oregon State, Utah, and perhaps even Washington.  So, we’re going to do better than last year’s 3-9.  But as of today, I’m pegging us for 4-8.

Alright, that’s all I’ve got for today.  We’re one week from the start of fall camp!   And almost inside one month until kick off!  Enjoy your weekend. 

Go COUGS!!!!