2008 Woodie Awards
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Around the Pac-10
by Tom Sabiel | Freelance writer |
Tennessee vs. UCLA (9/1, 5 p.m., Pasadena, Calif., ESPN)
UCLA will host No. 18 Tennessee for a Southeastern Conference-Pacific-10 Conference showdown. Many believe the SEC is the powerhouse conference in college football, while others believe the PAC-10 is the best in the country. This will be a telling game for these two teams, seemingly in the middle of the pack in their respective conferences. Tennessee running back Arian Foster returns for his senior season after posting over 1,500 all-purpose yards and 14 TD's last year. UCLA will be without starting QB Ben Olson (injured foot), giving redshirt junior Kevin Craft the nod.
Key Stat: Tennessee is 2-7-1 in games held in California after losing last year to Cal, 45-31.
USC vs. Virginia (8/30, 12:30 p.m., Charlottesville, Va., ABC)
The big news is that Mark Sanchez has been cleared to play for the No. 3 Trojans' season opener against Virginia. Joe McKnight will take over for Chauncey Washington as the team's primary backfield option after gaining 170 all-purpose yards and a TD in the Rose Bowl. Virginia will need to replace first-round draft choices Chris Long and Branden Albert on the defensive and offensive lines, respectively.
Key Stat: USC has had the Heisman Trophy awarded to a player in its program in three of the last four years.
Oklahoma State vs. Washington State (8/30, 12:30 p.m., Seattle, FSN)
Washington State implemented an up-tempo offense and new defensive scheme under first-year coach Paul Wulff, so expect a slow start for the Cougars. Senior WR Brandon Gibson will be a bright spot for Wazzu, returning after posting 1,180 receiving yards and 9 TDs last season. Oklahoma State QB Zac Robinson is a dual threat, being able to pass and run the football. However, can the team replace departed WR Adarius Bowman and RB Dantrell Savage?
Key Stat: Last year, Robinson had over 2,800 passing yards with 23 TDs and added 9 TDs on the ground with 847 yards.
UCLA will host No. 18 Tennessee for a Southeastern Conference-Pacific-10 Conference showdown. Many believe the SEC is the powerhouse conference in college football, while others believe the PAC-10 is the best in the country. This will be a telling game for these two teams, seemingly in the middle of the pack in their respective conferences. Tennessee running back Arian Foster returns for his senior season after posting over 1,500 all-purpose yards and 14 TD's last year. UCLA will be without starting QB Ben Olson (injured foot), giving redshirt junior Kevin Craft the nod.
Key Stat: Tennessee is 2-7-1 in games held in California after losing last year to Cal, 45-31.
USC vs. Virginia (8/30, 12:30 p.m., Charlottesville, Va., ABC)
The big news is that Mark Sanchez has been cleared to play for the No. 3 Trojans' season opener against Virginia. Joe McKnight will take over for Chauncey Washington as the team's primary backfield option after gaining 170 all-purpose yards and a TD in the Rose Bowl. Virginia will need to replace first-round draft choices Chris Long and Branden Albert on the defensive and offensive lines, respectively.
Key Stat: USC has had the Heisman Trophy awarded to a player in its program in three of the last four years.
Oklahoma State vs. Washington State (8/30, 12:30 p.m., Seattle, FSN)
Washington State implemented an up-tempo offense and new defensive scheme under first-year coach Paul Wulff, so expect a slow start for the Cougars. Senior WR Brandon Gibson will be a bright spot for Wazzu, returning after posting 1,180 receiving yards and 9 TDs last season. Oklahoma State QB Zac Robinson is a dual threat, being able to pass and run the football. However, can the team replace departed WR Adarius Bowman and RB Dantrell Savage?
Key Stat: Last year, Robinson had over 2,800 passing yards with 23 TDs and added 9 TDs on the ground with 847 yards.
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