Blogging with the Devils

The results of the Pac-10’s preseason football poll awaited reporters arriving at media day in Los Angeles on Thursday. Here they are, with — no surprise — six-time defending conference champion Southern California a near-unanimous choice:

1. USC (38), 389 points
2. Arizona State, 330
3. Oregon, 295
4. California (1), 274
5. UCLA, 204
6. Oregon State, 192
7. Arizona, 185
8. Washington, 139
9. Stanford, 76
10. Washington State, 61

No, the non-conformist who gave a first-place vote to California was not me. In fact, my crystal ball is very much in tune with the overall results — just flip UCLA and Oregon State, and you have my ballot.

The No. 2 slot is ASU’s highest preseason placement since the Sun Devils were picked second in 2003.

The preseason poll has correctly forecasted the Pac-10 champion in 25 of 47 years, including the last eight in a row. For those who think that the Trojans’ six straight years atop the preseason poll is getting old, consider that USC had an 18-year run in first place from 1965-82.

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