Conference hitting the road in search of respect in '07

	John David Booty and the Trojans face an extremely difficult finish to their schedule. Robert Beck/SI
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By David Fox, Special to SI.com, Rivals.com

Pac-10 teams were hoping some key nonconference wins last year, particularly on the road, would earn the league a little respect.

It worked for USC.

The Pac-10's road woes were well documented in 2006. Cal lost at Tennessee to open the season. Washington State, Oregon State and Arizona followed suit by losing convincingly to tough teams Auburn, Boise State and LSU, respectively.

Even Oregon's home win over Oklahoma was tainted by questionable officiating.

USC, though, was immune. The Trojans beat Nebraska and Notre Dame at home, and demolished SEC Western Division champ Arkansas on the road.

The Pac-10, the only conference to play nine league games, will try again this season. USC will lead the way with road games at Nebraska and Notre Dame. Washington State opens at Wisconsin. Oregon goes to Michigan in week two, and Tennessee returns the favor and heads to Cal to open the season.

Even with all of those nonconference tests, Washington takes the toughest schedule award by playing Boise State and Ohio State in the first three weeks of the season. Then the Huskies cap the season at Hawaii.

1. Washington

Washington schedule Date Opponent Aug. 31 at Syracuse Sept. 8 Boise State Sept. 15 Ohio State Sept. 22 at UCLA Sept. 29 USC Oct. 13 at Arizona State Oct. 20 Oregon Oct. 27 Arizona Nov. 3 at Stanford Nov. 10 at Oregon State Nov. 17 California Nov. 24 Washington State Dec. 1 at Hawaii

Behind the ranking: Ohio State, Boise State and Hawaii. Those nonconference opponents went 36-4 last year, and the Buckeyes and Broncos played in BCS bowl games. Odds are that at least one of those teams won't reach the same heights as last season, but this is no way to build confidence in a Huskies team that hasn't played in a bowl game since 2002. For good measure, Washington opens the season across the country at Syracuse. The Huskies get their toughest Pac-10 games -- USC, Cal and Oregon -- at home. However, it will still be tough for Washington to end its bowl drought.

Toughest game: By the time Washington hosts USC on Sept. 29, the Huskies will already have played Syracuse, UCLA, Boise State and Ohio State. After going through that stretch of the schedule, the Huskies will have to dig pretty deep to stand a chance against the Pac-10 favorite Trojans.

Cakewalk: A trip to Stanford (1-11 in 2006) is about as easy as it gets for the Huskies this season.

Trap game: Facing six bowl teams in the first seven games is a trap enough.

Changes from last season: Washington went 5-7 last season playing Oklahoma, San Jose State and Fresno State out of conference. How about adding the team that beat Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl, Hawaii and Ohio State in place of those three? That's a lot to ask.

2. USC

USC schedule Date Opponent Sept. 1 Idaho Sept. 15 at Nebraska Sept. 22 Washington State Sept. 29 at Washington Oct. 6 Stanford Oct. 13 Arizona Oct. 20 at Notre Dame Oct. 27 at Oregon Nov. 3 Oregon State Nov. 10 at Cal Nov. 22 at Arizona State Dec. 1 UCLA

Behind the ranking: In its first six games, USC plays only one team that went to a bowl last year. That game could be a rough one -- a trip to Nebraska on Sept. 15. The Trojans finish the season with six games (four on the road) against teams that played in last year's postseason. After losing on the road to Oregon State and UCLA last year, USC gets both at the Coliseum in 2007. The Trojans hit the road to play Oregon, Cal, Arizona State and Notre Dame.

Toughest game: It's tempting to say the game against Nebraska in Lincoln, but the trip to Berkeley is later in the season and is a conference game. The Trojans also face the Bears' high-powered offense during that tough stretch at the end of the season.

Cakewalk: Stanford or Idaho? Idaho or Stanford? Tough call.

Trap game: We're going to take a road game, of which USC lost two in 2006. The Nov. 22 game against Dennis Erickson-led Arizona State is as good a pick as any. That contest is sandwiched between the Cal and UCLA games.

Changes from last season: USC drops its non-conference road trip to Arkansas, which it won with ease 50-14, for a home game with Idaho. The downside is those home wins against Notre Dame and Nebraska turn into tough road trips.

3. Stanford

Stanford schedule Date Opponent Sept. 1 UCLA Sept. 15 San Jose State Sept. 22 Oregon Sept. 29 Arizona State Oct. 6 at USC Oct. 13 TCU Oct. 20 at Arizona Oct. 27 at Oregon State Nov. 3 Washington Nov. 10 at Washington State Nov. 24 Notre Dame Dec. 1 California

Behind the ranking: The way the Cardinal's schedule is set up, new coach Jim Harbaugh won't have any time to get comfortable. Stanford plays six bowl teams in its first six games. Only one (USC) is on the road, but this is not how a struggling program under a new coach wants to start the season. Two of its out-of-conference opponents, TCU and Notre Dame, won 10 or more games last season. The other, San Jose State, won nine -- including a bowl game. With eight games at home, Stanford's schedule will be good for the wallet but might be bad for the standings. The Cardinal plays only one team, Washington (5-7), that had a losing record last year.

Toughest game: Stanford revisits last year's 42-0 loss to USC with a game at the Coliseum on Oct. 6.

Cakewalk: There are no easy games for The Cardinal.

Trap game: The home game against Washington on Nov. 3 might be the most winnable game on the slate, but Stanford could still be an underdog.

Changes from last season: Stanford lost its non-conference games last year to San Jose State, Notre Dame and Navy. It could repeat that feat against the Spartans, Irish and TCU.