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Peeking ahead to next year for football, would you consider Oregon, Stanford, or someone else the team to beat in the Pac-12?
Jack Blanchat - Rule of Tree: Right now, I think you can make convincing arguments for both Oregon and Stanford. Stanford has an elite o-line and defense coming back, but needs playmakers. Oregon has loads of young talent, so they'll still be a force to be reckoned with. If I had to flip a coin, I'd go with Stanford, seeing as they'll be playing Oregon at home this season with the same defense that fizzled the ducks last year.
Jack Follman - Pacific Takes: Definitely Oregon or Stanford and it is very close. Both only lose a little bit of talent and return their great coaches, but I'll give Oregon the slight advantage simply because their scheme is much harder to beat than Stanford's.
Andy Wooldridge - Building The Dam: Oregon. Stanford has too much production to replace at TE, TB, and WR. That's not to say they won't, and the Cardinal have the best offensive line in the conference, possibly the country, to do it behind, which certainly helps. But more of Oregon's replacements are more proven, whereas there is uncertainty at too many positions to go with Stanford until they prove themselves.
Michael Preston - CougCenter: Not to sound redundant but it's an incredibly close call between Oregon and Stanford. Their November 7th tilt in the Bay Area figures to be the game of the year and will likely determine who gets to beat someone from the South division in the Pac-12 Championship game. I'll go with Oregon but only by the slimmest of margins.
Sean Reynolds - Block U: I really don't think I could pick between Oregon and Stanford, as they're both the teams to beat. Outside them, though, no other program has the talent, coaching and the recent success to make me buy into the idea that ‘other' could contend with those two. It's just unlikely to happen.
Adam Butler, Pac Hoops: I think that the collective football teams from the Sacramental Seven leaving the Big East create a super team to compete in Colorado's stead next season and they're the Pac-12 favorites. If Larry Scott vetoes this then I'm going to pick Oregon because they have to break through at some point and get the big one, right?
Nick Kranz, California Golden Blogs: Anybody who picks anybody other than Stanford or Oregon is either delusional or myopic. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to sob in the corner.