SPORTS EXTRA / FOOTBALL ‘99: COLLEGE PREVIEW : IN PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH

1. ARIZONA

Coach: Dick Tomey, 13th season

1998 record: 12-1, 7-1.

The case for: Fifteen starters return, from 12-1 squad, Keith Smith and Ortege Jenkins form the best quarterback tandem in the country, tailback Trung Canidate has averaged 51 yards on 15 career touchdown runs.

The case against: Tomey’s team wilted under the pressure in 1994, then again last weekend at Penn State; team will miss all-world cornerback Chris McAlister and receiver Jeremy McDaniel.

If it all breaks right: Team recovers from Penn State loss and wins first-ever Rose Bowl bid.

Reality check: Either Penn State is one of the great teams of all time, or Arizona was vastly overrated.

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2. USC

Coach: Paul Hackett, second season

1998 record: 8-5, 5-3.

The case for: Hackett plans to unleash sophomore quarterback Carson Palmer, tailback Chad Morton is a gutty little Trojan, Antuan Simmons may be the conference’s best cover man.

The case against: If a team can’t beat a school with three letters (TCU), how does it expect to beat a team with four (UCLA)?

If it all breaks right: USC takes advantage of the schedule (at Hawaii, San Diego State, at Oregon, Oregon State) and is 4-0 heading into Tucson on Oct. 9.

Reality check: The program appears on the cusp of a comeback, but that flock of incoming speed (Kareem Kelly, Marcell Allmond, Darrell Rideaux) needs to step up fast.

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3. ARIZONA STATE

Coach: Bruce Snyder, eighth season.

1998 record: 5-6, 4-4.

The case for: Last year’s flop must have been a fluke, all-purpose man J.R. Redmond is a Heisman contender, quarterback Ryan Kealy can’t possibly be more manic than he was a year ago.

The case against: Purported 1998 national title contenders became flat-liners after an opening loss to Washington, the fissures on defense were Grand Canyon-esque, Redmond can’t play every position.

If it all breaks right: The defense gives up less than 31 points a game, Redmond stays healthy, the Sun Devils are 3-0 entering Oct. 2 home game against UCLA.

Reality check: The offense will score. The question: Can ASU’s break-but-don’t-bend defense throw down enough spike strips to keep the team in the Rose Bowl hunt? Our guess is yes.

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4. UCLA

Coach: Bob Toledo, fourth season.

1998 record: 10-2, 8-0.

The case for: Bruins are 20-4 the last two seasons, Toledo has the recruiting keg flowing, tremendous skill at running back and receiver.

The case against: Parking scandal and subsequent suspensions probably will cost team chance at winning Sept. 11 showcase game at Ohio State, Cade McNown can’t be replaced, eight starters return from last year’s defense!

If it all breaks right: Bruins take their lumps early, Drew Bennett grows up on the job, team whacks USC a ninth consecutive time on Nov. 20.

Reality check: There’s enough talent for another Rose Bowl run, but too many suspects on defense (and those holding parking placards) will make season tougher than it could have been.

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5. OREGON

Coach: Mike Bellotti, fifth season.

1998 record: 8-4, 5-3.

The case for: Nathan Villegas is one of the nation’s best kickers, tailback Reuben Droughns’ broken leg has mended, eight starters return on defense but not star corner Rashad Bauman, who tore knee ligaments in spring drills.

The case against: Akili Smith is a Cincinnati Bengal, former UCLA strategist Nick Aliotti is the new defensive coordinator, six consecutive night games.

If it all breaks right: A.J. Feeley or Joey Harrington emerges as the clear-cut starter at QB, Droughns is really OK, Aliotti places late-night calls to Buddy Ryan.

Reality check: Two overtime defeats last year cost the Ducks a glittering record and a better bowl game. Without Smith, a 6-5 record should satisfy.

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6. CALIFORNIA

Coach: Tom Holmoe, third season.

1998 record: 5-6, 3-5.

The case for: Bears have the top defense in the Pac-10, the best linebacker in Sekou Sanyika, the most promising quarterback recruit in freshman Kyle Boller.

The case against: The most experienced returning quarterback, Samuel Clemons, has two more career passing yards (two to zero) than the author of “Tom Sawyer.”

If it all breaks right: Cal stuffs Rutgers in its home opener, restores Pac-10 credibility Washington lost last year by actually tackling someone at Nebraska on Sept. 11.

Reality check: If Boller is as good as we think, he starts as a true freshman and provides enough punch to get Cal to one of those Hawaii bowls with all the vowels and consonants.

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7. WASHINGTON

Coach: Rick Neuheisel, first season.

1998 record: 6-6, 4-4.

The case for: Neuheisel will pump energy into an offense that faded in the Jim Lambright era, eight defenders return on a squad that led the Pac-10 with 51 sacks, all-purpose player Joe Jarzynka is a kick to watch.

The case against: Neuheisel’s recruiting violations and $1-million contract infuriated fellow Pac-10 coaches, his last teams at Colorado were undisciplined, Neuheisel loves the pass but inherits an option quarterback in Marques Tuiasosopo.

If it all breaks right: Washington wins two of its first three against Brigham Young, Air Force and Colorado before opening conference play against Oregon.

Reality check: Boy Wonder became Boy Blunder in a hurry, but give Little Ricky a break--he’s only 37.

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8. OREGON STATE

Coach: Dennis Erickson, first season.

1998 record: 5-6, 2-6.

The case for: Erickson won two national titles at Miami, is better suited to the college game, walk-on quarterback Jonathan Smith of Glendora High has spunk, Ken Simonton is a talent at tailback.

The case against: School hasn’t had a winning season since 1970, Beavers lost six starters on defense, team doesn’t know how to win close games.

If it all breaks right: Erickson’s JC transfers make an impact, it pours rain during all six home games, coach doesn’t use this national springboard to take Chargers’ job.

Reality check: Team was one blown coverage from beating UCLA last year, so you don’t need a drug test to think this could be the year the Beavers tally more wins than losses.

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9. STANFORD

Coach: Tyrone Willingham, fifth season.

1998 record: 3-8, 2-6.

The case for: Fifteen of the 19 returning starters are seniors, the coordinator for the Pac-10’s worst defense was sacked, quarterback Todd Husak had only seven interceptions in 447 pass attempts last year, Troy Walters returns at receiver.

The case against: The Cardinal finished last in Pac-10 rushing and returns its leading tailback, Willingham has gone 7-4-1, 7-5, 5-6, 3-8 in his first four seasons in Palo Alto.

If it all breaks right: Offense gets enough of a running game to keep defenses honest, Husak becomes the star he can be, those 10 returning starters on defense asked 10 tackling dummies out for dates.

Reality check: Team has way too many quality quarterbacks--Husak, Randy Fasani, Joe Borchard, freshman Chris Lewis--and too few cornerbacks, September is a killer with penciled-in losses to Texas, Arizona and UCLA.

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10. WASHINGTON STATE

Coach: Mike Price, 11th season.

1998 record: 3-8, 0-8.

The case for: The Cougars return 18 starters; Nian Taylor, lone holdover from the Rose Bowl’s Fab Five receiving corps, was granted another year of eligibility; it’s difficult to imagine the quarterbacks combining for 25 interceptions again, they get Stanford on Sept. 11.

The case against: The Cougars return 18 starters, star back Kevin Brown won’t be available for the season after pleading guilty to felony residential burglary, Ryan Leaf’s injury gives him free time to hang with former teammates.

If it all breaks right: Team repeats last season’s 3-0 start with wins against Utah, Stanford and Idaho; quarterback Steve Birnbaum emerges as a quality starter; Cougars beat Stanford, Cal and Oregon State in conference.

Reality check: Team goes 3-8 again, players pack up bags, coach lifts spirits by reminding they have an extra game Nov. 27 against Hawaii, the worst team in Division I-A.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

RETURNING CONFERENCE LEADERS RUSHING

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Player, Team Att. Yds Avg. TD 1. Trung Canidate, Arizona 166 1,225 7.4 10 2. Kevin Brown, Washington State 215 1,046 4.9 4 3. Ken Simonton, Oregon State 224 1,028 4.6 13 4. Chad Morton, USC 188 967 5.1 6 5. J.R. Redmond, Arizona State 166 883 5.3 11

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PASSING

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Player, Team Att. Comp. Pct. Yds. Int. TD 1. Todd Husak, Stanford 447 233 .521 3,092 7 17 2. Ryan Kealy, Arizona State 261 150 .575 2,161 9 19 3. Keith Smith, Arizona 165 113 .685 1,732 7 13 4. Steve Birnbaum, Washington St. 235 114 .485 1,677 11 6 5. Carson Palmer, USC 207 113 .546 1,475 6 6

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RECEIVING

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Player, Team Rec. Yds. TD 1. DeRonnie Pitts, Stanford 74 1,012 7 2. Dennis Northcutt, Arizona 63 922 6 3. Troy Walters, Stanford 52 880 5 4. Dave Davis, Stanford 48 707 6 5. Leaford Hackett, Washington State 54 680 4

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