Scouting The 2009 NC Slate

Every year around this time, when the dog days really start to settle in, I usually settle into my desk for about an hour or two each day to pore through my different NCAA Football preview magazines.

I’m always looking for that little note, nugget or piece of info that’s going to make me a more educated fan and blogger, because in turn, that makes all of you more educated fans.

Right around July 4 is the time I really break down the Pac-10’s composite schedule and really study who is playing who, when and where they play and how it might shake down and impact the rest of 2009.

I usually start this analysis by breaking down the non-conference slate that ASU and the other nine teams in the league have scheduled.

The one thing you very rarely hear amongst pundits and fans is that the Pac-10 schedules are soft. Year in and year out, I feel like the 10 teams in this conference really do try their best, unlike some teams in the Big XII and SEC, to create a challenging and entertaining NC schedule. 2009 will be no different.

Let’s take a look at these team-by-team over two days: we’ll do Arizona, ASU, Cal and the Oregon schools today and then the latter five tomorrow.

Arizona Wildcats: Central Michigan (9/5), Northern Arizona (9/12), at Iowa (9/19)

On the surface, this doesn’t look like much of an NC schedule, but when you dig deeper, this will prove to be a tremendous challenge for the young ‘Cats. Central Michigan is once again favored to grab 10 wins and the MAC West crown with senior quarterback Dan LeFevour back in the fold. NAU is on the schedule again since the Board of Regents pressures ASU and UofA to play their little cousin as much as possible. Iowa struggled for the most part last year but brings back the solid core that knocked off then undefeated Penn State last season. They can’t be as mediocre as they were in 2008, plus Kinnick Stadium is one hell of an intimidating place to play.

Arizona State Sun Devils: Idaho State Bengals (9/5), Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks (9/19), at Georgia Bulldogs (9/26)

Let’s all remember that Max Hall and Mountain West power BYU was on this schedule until this past December, when the Cougars dropped the Devils in favor of a big money and big exposure game with Oklahoma. In their place comes Sun Belt also-ran Louisiana-Monroe, picked this year to be in the bottom half of FBS’ weakest conference. Idaho State should prove no threat from the FCS. The date with Georgia, of course, is the return game for last year’s Bulldogs win in Tempe. Despite installing a new quarterback and having to replace all-world RB Knowshon Moreno, this game is ASU’s first in SEC country since a 30-13 loss at Arkansas in 1951. The daunting atmosphere in Athens may prove overwhelming for the younger players on this ASU team.

California Golden Bears: Mayrland Terrapins (9/5), Eastern Washington (9/12), at Minnesota Golden Gophers (9/19)

The Maryland game is a return trip for that infamous early morning game the teams played in College Park that ended in a Bears loss and Jahvid Best’s on-air regurgitation. The Terps have a senior QB and an all-conference RB but not much else to challenge. Eastern Washington is an FCS foe but not your typical one; this team can sling the ball Texas Tech style and put up some points. Unfortunately for Jeff Tedford, though, his team will have to go through another one of those 9:00 Pacific time kickoffs when they take on the Gophers at brand new TCF Bank Stadium; lucky for them this game isn’t taking place in, say, December.

Oregon Ducks: at Boise State Broncos (9/3), Purdue Boilermakers (9/12), Utah Utes (9/19)

An impressive slate. Playing on the blue turf is always an intimidating task, especially with many projecting the Broncos being once again a candidate to bust the BCS this season. Don’t forget that BSU came back to beat Oregon at Autzen last year and the Ducks will be out for revenge. The Ducks squeaked by Purdue in OT at West Lafayette last year and both teams come into this year’s game with new coaches. Purdue, though, comes in with a tremendous amount of road inexperience. As for Utah, this certainly isn’t the 2008 version of the team, but they return experienced receivers and 7 starters from a defense that only allowed 17 points per game.

Oregon State Beavers: Portland State (9/5), at UNLV (9/12), Cincinnati (9/19)

Portland State is this year’s cake team for the Beavers, and they’ll need it…the Beavers will desperately want to start this season off with a win after starting 0-2 last year. UNLV still isn’t a juggernaut nor is Sam Boyd Stadium an intimidating place to play, but they still bring back many of the key cogs (minus Frank Summers) that sprung a shocking road upset of conference ally Arizona State last year around the same time. Then there’s Cincinnati…the squad that embarrassed OSU on national TV two seasons ago even before the Bearcats were considered a threat. Now, Brian Kelly returns the defending Big East champions to Corvallis.

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