UCLA looks for improvement under Neuheisel

NCAA Football Betting Lines

08/12/2010 -

LOS ANGELES (AP) -UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel insists he takes no pleasure in his crosstown rivals' troubles.

He wants the Bruins to win the Race for Los Angeles because they're better than Southern California, not because the Trojans were tripped up by Reggie Bush and the NCAA.

Yet Neuheisel also realizes USC's woes have put UCLA in prime position to make Southland football competitive again - and in the third year of the coach's tenure, he knows it's high time to start seeing results from his rebuilding project. As an alumnus, that's exactly what he would demand of anybody in charge of the once-powerful program.

``We can't take any time to worry about SC,'' Neuheisel said during a preseason interview at the Rose Bowl. ``But is there a window of opportunity? Certainly, and we want to take advantage of that and play on this field in January.''

UCLA has been picked to finish near the bottom of the Pac-10 for another season, ranking eighth in the conference media poll. Neuheisel said expectations sometimes lag behind results: After making a bowl game while going 7-6 last season despite an inept running game and offensive line, he believes the Bruins' weaknesses are closer to strengths after a third straight year of solid recruiting made possible by everything that makes UCLA special.

``UCLA can be back in the national conversation immediately,'' Neuheisel said. ``UCLA's brand is as good as any in the nation. If we get back to that level and get back to the Rose Bowl, we'll be right back on people's minds immediately, and for years to come. I know football has been on hiatus for a long time, but we have the ability to get it right back on top.''

Most people who are paid to have such opinions don't think the Bruins will do it quite yet. But where others see flaws in a defense that lost two of its best players, Neuheisel sees an opportunity for young players - and where experts see perhaps too many returnees from a sub-par offense that managed just 22 points per game last season, Neuheisel sees the lessons of experience.

Neuheisel and coordinator Norm Chow also spent the offseason installing a new offensive look, dubbed the Revolver.

After the Bruins' profound struggles while rushing for just 114.6 yards per game last season, ranking 97th in the country, Neuheisel decided he needed to try something unorthodox to get them moving. The UCLA coaches consulted with Nevada coach Chris Ault, who uses an offense called the Pistol - a modified shotgun formation with the quarterback standing a few yards behind the center, and the tailback a few yards behind that.

The scheme is designed to make the defense worry about runs by Kevin Prince, the athletic Bruins quarterback who didn't get much chance to show off his elusiveness last season. Neuheisel is no stranger to unorthodox offenses after installing the Veer for quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo at Washington several years ago - and this change could hardly make the Bruins' offense any less potent.

Prince is the presumptive starter after his up-and-down 2009, while tailbacks Johnathan Franklin and Derrick Coleman also are back. Receivers Taylor Embree and Nelson Rosario return, as does most of the offensive line that gave up 29 sacks and struggled to open running room last season.

Neuheisel sees those returnees as a good thing.

``On our offensive line, finally we've got some level of experience for the first time since we've been here,'' Neuheisel said. ``You feel like you're going to be a little bit better off. I just believe we're further along at the start, and because of that, I think we've given ourselves a better chance to move the ball.''

The defense lost cornerback Alterraun Verner and defensive lineman Brian Price, but returns a solid group led by safety Rahim Moore, who led the nation with 10 interceptions last season. Defense wasn't usually the Bruins' problem last season, and Moore believes they have a chance to be solid again.

``It's not about topping last year,'' Moore said. ``If I could, I would take away the 10 picks to get 10 wins. It's about getting me better and getting everyone around me better. This is our chance to show ourselves on the biggest stage against great teams like Kansas State, Texas and Houston.''

Ah, the early-season schedule: UCLA has a visit from Stanford mixed into those three tough September nonconference games, minimizing the Bruins' chance at a strong early-season start. If UCLA stumbles early, Neuheisel's task will be tougher - and don't forget, the Bruins went 0-5 last October, repeatedly falling short of wins that could have kept them rolling.

Neuheisel's optimism doesn't waver even when thinking about his rough September schedule. He's banking on the Bruins moving forward with confidence.

``For the first time since I've been here, we have an experienced team,'' Neuheisel said. ``There's confidence in the locker room, confidence in the coaching staff, and now we just have to find results on the field to justify that confidence.''Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

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Many fans thought it was the best side in the nation by the end of last season. This year, the polls have built on Georgia's momentum and granted it the No. 1 preseason ranking, followed by Ohio State and USC. (The Associated Press has the Buckeyes at No. 2; USA Today took the Trojans.)

"To have people believing we have one of the best teams in the nation going into this thing, it's exciting for us," Bulldogs coach Mark Richt told the AP. "I don't think anything is guaranteed, but we certainly have put ourselves in position where at least the college football world thinks we're pretty good."

Georgia Bulldogs - 9.5 wins

There's no question they're good, but the Bulldogs have one of the toughest 12-game schedules in the nation, mostly because they play in the powerhouse Southeastern Conference. Away games at No. 15 Arizona State, No. 7 LSU and No. 10 Auburn loom large, with contests between the hedges versus No. 24 Alabama and No. 18 Tennessee as well as the World's Largest Cocktail Party in Jacksonville versus No.5 Florida.

Ohio State Buckeyes - 10 wins

Like the Bulldogs, the Buckeyes also have a number of tough road contests in 2008. After two scrimmages dressed up as real games versus Youngstown State and Ohio, it's off to face USC. Other tough away games include No.13 Wisconsin in October and No. 20 Illinois in November. Granted, it should be pretty easy sledding at the Horseshoe. In fact, the only ranked team that travels to Columbus is No. 22 Penn State, in October.

USC Trojans - 10.5 wins

A similarly light schedule awaits the Trojans of Southern California, which is why the oddsmakers' total is one win more and the over is currently commanding -150 odds. Pete Carroll's troops only play three ranked teams in 2008, and all of those games are at home. After what should be an easy trip to Virginia to start things off on Aug. 30, the Trojans get two weeks to prepare for Ohio State in Los Angeles. Their two other ranked opponents, No. 21 Oregon and No. 15 Arizona State, visit in consecutive weeks to start the month of October. After that, the competition eases up. Of course, this is the same highly-touted school that lost to Stanford in 2007 and Oregon State in 2006. And don't discount the fact that USC plays its biggest rivals, Notre Dame and UCLA, back-to-back to close out the regular season. On paper, the Trojans are far superior, but motivation will be high for the Irish and Bruins, especially if their historic foes are in national-title contention.

Odds to Win the Heisman Trophy

Tim Tebow, Florida - 7/2
He won it last year, so it's no surprise he's the favorite to do it again, making him just the second player to go back-to-back. Ohio State's Archie Griffin turned the trick in 1974 and 1975, and Tebow's coach, Urban Meyer, is pretty sure his star quarterback can match the Buckeyes legend.

"There has never been anyone quite like him," Meyer told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I am very lucky to be his coach."

Chris Wells, Ohio State - 5/1

The man they call "Beanie" was a star recruit out of high school, so it's not like nobody knew who the star tailback was before he rushed for 576 yards as a freshman in 2006 and 1,609 as a sophomore. But perhaps his finest moment came last year versus Michigan when he rumbled for 222 yards and two touchdowns in the Buckeyes' 14-3 victory over the hated Wolverines.

Knowshon Moreno, Georgia - 8/1

If the Bulldogs are to live up to expectations, they'll need a huge effort from their sophomore running back. This might be the last year of college ball for Moreno, who rushed for 1,334 yards and for 14 touchdowns as a freshman, while adding 253 receiving yards on 20 receptions, so expect big things for the man from Belford, N.J.

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Big East Conference odds

Work left to do: Villanova, Syracuse, DePaul, West Virginia, Providence

Notre Dame and Louisville appear to have done enough to make the move, so we'll make them locks. The Cardinals, despite a modest RPI, are trending way up and have clinched at least a tie for third in the Big East, which should be more than enough with their pair of big road wins. Villanova got back to .500 and gets back to more solid footing. Syracuse got a very important road win and crippled a fellow contender in the process. West Virginia's fate could be in its hands Tuesday at Pitt.

Work left to do:

Villanova [18-9 (7-7), RPI: 21, SOS: 5] Pounded Rutgers to get back to .500. If Cats can get their last two (at UConn, vs. Syracuse), that should be enough with strong computer numbers and a host of wins away from The Pavilion. The Cats have beaten Texas and swept the Big 5 (never easy in Philly), but have a couple of losses to bubble teams (Xavier, Drexel), too. I still think they'll be OK, possibly even at 8-8.

Syracuse [20-8 (9-5), RPI: 53, SOS: 62] History says 10 wins will be plenty, but it might be hard for the Orange to get that last one with a final two vs. G'town, which is trying to win the league title, and at Villanova, which will be desperate for a W. The relative lack of nonconference heft and the weak computer numbers are still concerns, but the Orange have won four in a row and got a very, very big win at Providence on Saturday.

DePaul [16-12 (8-7), RPI: 54, SOS: 18] Beat Cincy and should get past South Florida to get to 9-7, but then what? They have beaten Kansas and Cal (right after the DeVon Hardin injury) earlier this season, but also have lost to Bradley and Purdue, among others. They'll likely need a couple of BE tourney wins, too, but we'll see ...

West Virginia [19-7 (8-6), RPI: 58, SOS: 125] The game at Pitt on Tuesday night could decide the Mountaineers' fate (barring a deep tournament run). They can still get to 9-7 in the Big East without it by beating Cincinnati, but the nine wins would be against UConn, Villanova, St. John's, South Florida, DePaul, Rutgers, Seton Hall twice and the Bearcats. Beating bubble foes is fine, but where's the beef? Outside of beating PG-less UCLA in nonconference play (still a top quality win), there's not a lot to fall back on (besides maybe NC State). WVU vs. Syracuse would be an interesting debate, as the teams don't play in the Big East regular season. WVU has the best win, but Cuse has played the much better schedule.

Providence [17-10 (7-7), RPI: 70, SOS: 33] The Friars likely saw their at-large hopes die at home in the four-point loss to Syracuse, barring an unexpected run to the Big East semis or more. The RPI, bad already, won't be helped by playing St. John's and South Florida in the final two league games.

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