ARIZONA STATE FOOTBALL

USC the favorite in Pac-12 South

Jul 24, 2012, 12:05 AM | Updated: 1:18 am

No surprises here.

Joining Arizona Sports 620’s Burns and Gambo on Monday, College Football Analyst Rick Neuheisel thinks the University of Southern California are the favorite to win the Pac-12 South in their first year of postseason eligibility in two years.

The prediction is coming on the heels of the Trojans’ 2011 campaign, where the team finished with 10 total victories and a 7-2 conference record in the Pac-12 South.

While the record was good enough to put USC in the inaugural Pac-12 Conference Championship Game, the sanctions presented by the NCAA for the school’s “lack of institutional control” prevented the team from advancing.

But many of the team’s core players return, which according to Neuheisel, gives the Trojans a better chance to win the division.

“They’ve got a fabulous quarterback coming back [in Matt Barkley] and maybe the best two wide receivers in college football. They’ve got a good offensive line and a terrific running back coming back from a 1,000-yard season.”

Neuheisel believes there may be a weak spot along the defensive line, but cites the fantastic freshman season of the linebackers and the more-experience Trojan secondary to more than makeup for the supposed flaw in the trenches.

“The question is who can challenge them,” asks Neuheisel.

According to Neuheisel, Utah has a great defensive line and a returning quarterback in Jordan Wynn, but the program has inexperience on the field and in the coaching ranks with the introduction of 25-year-old offensive coordinator Brian Johnson.

When asked what Arizona State’s chances are for toppling the Trojans, Neuheisel holds a reserved position, especially given the introduction of head coach Todd Graham.

“ASU has always got great talent. The question is how quickly [the players] adapt to a new coach’s culture and whether they play for him and play for each other. That remains to be seen.”

Fans will find out beginning September 1 when the Sun Devils kick off the 2012 season against Northern Arizona at Sun Devil Stadium.

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Arizona State Football

Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham reacts during the second half of the team's NCAA college footb...

Vincent DeAngelis

Kenny Dillingham talks Jaden Rashada injury, revamped roster ahead of spring ball

ASU football coach Kenny Dillingham addressed quarterback Jaden Rashada's injury, revamped roster and NIL ahead of start of spring ball

6 days ago

Jaden Rashada on the football field...

Arizona Sports

Report: ASU’s Jaden Rashada dealing with thumb injury, will miss spring ball

ASU's Jaden Rashada won't be a full participant in spring ball due to a thumb injury on his throwing hand suffered earlier in the year.

7 days ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: What is Bobby Hurley’s future at Arizona State?

On the latest State of the Sun Devil podcast the guys react to the end of men's basketball season, and wonder what the future of the program will be and how the offseason will unfold. Plus, reactions to football's pro day.

13 days ago

ASU football field...

Dan Bickley

Arizona State reaches rock bottom at end of Pac-12 stay

Rock bottom is mostly a metaphor, a cliché for sports teams that have fallen and can’t get up. But you can find it on the map at ASU.

13 days ago

Michael Crow, Arizona State University president...

Kevin Zimmerman

Now would be a good time for Arizona State to hire an athletic director

Who's to make a decision on Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley without an athletic director? Michael Crow must make a decision soon.

14 days ago

ASU QB Drew Pyne...

Arizona Sports

Former ASU starting QB Drew Pyne headed to Missouri

After playing in just two games in his ASU football career, quarterback Drew Pyne is moving on to the Missouri Tigers.

18 days ago

USC the favorite in Pac-12 South