Pac-10: Arizona rises again

By Albert Lin, CNN/SI

Trung Canidate gained 1,321 yards last year despite averaging just 15 carries per game. Brandon Lopez/Allsport   Projected Order of Finish 1. Arizona 2. UCLA 3. Arizona State 4. Southern Cal 5. Oregon 6. Cal 7. Stanford 8. Washington 9. Oregon State 10. Washington State

Top Storylines From Tucson to New Orleans? Can Arizona handle being the conference favorite -- and a preseason national-title contender? Will UCLA's porous defense get any better with age? How will big-name coaches Rick Neuheisel (Washington) and Dennis Erickson (Oregon State) fare at their new schools?

Going Bowling Locks: Arizona, UCLA, Arizona State Maybes: Southern Cal, Oregon, Cal, Stanford, Washington No Way: Oregon State, Washington State

Trev's Take CNN/SI's Trev Alberts offers his team to watch "A year ago, Arizona State was a top five team and people were talking about the possibility of ASU playing for a national championship in its own stadium. QB Ryan Kealy was coming off a freshman year where he was real solid, but he actually ended up taking a step back last year. If he can play better, they've already got a running back in J.R. Redmond who is as good of an all-around player as there is. He's a future top five draft pick with Champ Bailey-like impact. And the Wildcats will be helped by the fact that UCLA and much of the conference is down."

Top Five Offensive Players Trung Canidate, RB, Sr., Arizona All-name team member gained 1,321 yards last year despite averaging just 15 carries per game (7.3 ypc). Reuben Droughns, RB, Sr., Oregon Piled up yardage before breaking leg last season; without Akili Smith, weight of offense on his shoulders. Danny Farmer, WR, Sr., UCLA Enough physical tools to be able to go get the ball, no matter how inexperienced/erratic the QB throwing it. J.R. Redmond, RB, Sr., Arizona State All-purpose threat should recapture his Heisman-contender status with injury-free campaign. R. Jay Soward, WR, Sr., Southern Cal Defines big play: Reached the end zone every seventh time he caught the ball last season (six receiving TDs on 45 receptions, 32.3 yards per TD).

Top Five Defensive Players Marcus Bell, LB, Sr., Arizona Led conference in tackles with 139 (11.6 per game), including 82 solo. Andre Carter, DE, Jr., Cal Son of former NFL great Rubin "Hurricane" Carter has ideal pass-rushing size (6'4", 250 pounds). Ennis Davis, DT, Jr., Southern Cal The 6'4", 295-pounder was first-team all-conference in first season as starter (47 tackles, 13 TFLs). Jabari Issa, DE, Sr., Washington Eight sacks last season playing inside; imagine what he will do outside in new 3-4 alignment. Sekou Senika, LB, Sr., Cal Only made 55 tackles last season, but a conference-high 23 were for loss.

Top Special Teams Player J.R. Redmond, PR, Sr., Arizona State One of the most versatile players in the country; led conference in punt returns and all-purpose yards.

You Don't Know Him Yet, But... Ken Simonton, RB, Soph., Oregon State The 5'7", 180-pounder ran for 1,028 yards last year and figures to flourish in Erickson's one-back attack.

Hot Coach Dick Tomey, Arizona Dean of Pac-10 coaches may have his best team. Caveat: In 1994, Sports Illustrated picked the Wildcats No. 1 in the country and they crumbled under the pressure.

Coach on the Hot Seat Bruce Snyder, Arizona State Sun Devils self-destructed last year following intense preseason expectations. Much of the talent is still on board; can they turn it around?

Secret Weapon Joe Jarzynka, WR/PK/KR, Sr., Washington Displays versatility that hasn't been seen since the days of two-way players, though he may relinquish kicking duties this season.

Toughest Schedule Stanford The only school with two traditional powers on its non-conference docket; Cardinal plays at Texas and hosts Notre Dame.

Kansas State Schedule Washington State No school has an awful schedule, but WSU's non-conference foes are Utah, Idaho and Southwest Louisiana -- fair matchups for this team.

Mark Your Calendar Arizona at Penn State, Aug. 28 A top-five battle between a team that does best as an underdog and one that has been outperformed recently in big games. Colorado at Washington, Sept. 25 Luckily for Rick Neuheisel, the game isn't in Boulder. How pumped do you think the Buffs will be? Arizona at UCLA, Oct. 30 This game decided the conference title last year and should do so again.

Make sure to check out CNN/SI's previews of every Pac-10 team on Aug. 11.