You can read the entirety of my Thursday chat here.
But sometimes you just want a Reader's Digest version. So here you go.
Wyatt (Tempe) Will the Sun Devils make a bowl game this year?
Ted Miller (3:13 PM) The over-under on wins feels about 6, so it's a question of whether you are optimistic or not for Todd Graham's first season. My first guess is no, but I might change that if they beat Illinois in week 2.
Matt (Kingsley, NM) Which PAC12 team has the best 1-2 combo at RB?
Ted Miller (3:20 PM) Lots of good ones.... good depth behind Cameron Marshall at ASU... Cal is outstanding with Isi Sofele and CJ Anderson... Oregon is great if you count De'Anthony THomas as an RB behind Kenjon Barner, which I sort of do but sort of don't ... USC has 2 1,000-yard guys... I'd say USC with Curtis McNeal and Silas Redd, two true and proven RBs. But I'd guess Oregon fans like the Barner-Thomas combo.
Shane (Oregon) Bennett or Mariotta....who's your pick?
Ted Miller (3:22 PM) Hold on... coin flip... I, personally, tend to favor experienced players... but it seems like there's a lot to like about Mariota. Still, anyone making a prediction is just flipping a coin... we're not watching practices. All I've ever seen of Mariota was the spring game.
Andy (Seattle) Realistically, how many wins do you think the Cougs get? And who's better long-term and right now, Marquess Wilson or Kasen Williams?
Ted Miller (3:24 PM) Wilson and Kasen Williams? Not really a legit comparison. Wilson is a preseason All-American... Williams has talent but he's mostly about potential... As for the Cougs, I also see their over-under as 6 wins... the key is the opener at BYU.. win in Provo and things set up nicely.
Austen Bryant (Sunny Brook Auto Wash) What type of impact do you see Rich Rod having on the Wildcats this year if any at all?
Ted Miller (3:27 PM) You can't win without good players, and the Wildcats are really thin up front on defense. I like the offense with QB Matt Scott, but I'm not sure Arizona will be able to score enough to win consistently. So I see this as more of a "get to know you" year. It may take a couple of years, in fact, for Rich Rod to recruit his players and get things trending up...
Daniel (Pasadena) Ted, which of these PAC-12 non-conference games do you see as the highest chance for an upset? Nebraska at UCLA - Washington at LSU - Wisconsin at Oregon St - Arizona St at Missouri - Cal at Ohio State
Ted Miller (3:28 PM) Cal-Ohio State... I like the Bears matchup with the Buckeyes O-line. Of course, Cal has been pretty rotten when it's traveled east i the past. UCLA and Nebraska has the potential to be interesting.
@JChungz1 (Poughkeepsie NY) If Oklahoma, USC, and Alabama or LSU end up undefeated at the end of the season, what two teams do you think would be picked for the national championship.
Ted Miller (3:36 PM) Alabama and LSU play each other on Nov. 3. So if the winner of that game also wins the SEC and is undefeated, it would be in the championship game. USC-Oklahoma could be close. USC would probably top the Sooners in the polls, but it depends on how the BCS standings stack up with strength of schedule.
Jon (SL,UT) Rumors have been aplenty about Oregon sanctions... anything from 4 years probation to a slap on the wrist. Which end of the spectrum is more realistic?
Ted Miller (3:38 PM) the rumors are completely unfounded... people who know nothing acting like experts. I think Oregon will get a firm slap on the wrist... it will hurt but it won't be close to USC-ish...
Benny Beaver (Reser Stadium) Do we need to start looking for a new head football coach? Everyone in the North seems to be passing us by.
Ted Miller (3:45 PM) I'd say no.. be careful with the "grass is always greener" perspective... just three years ago, Riley was the toast of the town.
Jeremy (Honolulu) Of the four teams with new head coaches, which one do you see making the most progress from last year to this year?
Ted Miller (3:48 PM) I think UCLA and Washington State have the best chance to take a positive step forward. Not good to hear about so many early injuries, particularly for the Bruins, though.
Colin (Bel Air, MD) What becomes of Stanford without Andrew Luck?
Ted Miller (3:51 PM) Stanford isn't going anywhere. Even last year, they were far more than just Andrew Luck ... see the NFL draft... The Cardinal's front seven on defense is first-rate and the run-first, TE-heavy offense will continue its style of smashmouth play. This feels like a top-25 team going forward with potential to go higher on a regular basis. Recruiting has been very good.
Jeff (Seattle) Through the first 6 games of the season, what would you think will be the Huskies' record? 1-5? 2-4? 3-3?
Ted Miller (3:59 PM) 2-4... decent shot at an upset to go 3-3, but not sure how you'd pick the Huskies over LSU, Oregon, USC or Stanford. The Cardinal would seem the most likely, but Stanford has owned the Huskies of late.
cougarbrian (Spokane) Ted - what unit do you see as the biggest surprise this year? Does a lightly-rated offense or defense stand out to you that will play above what people think of them?
Ted Miller (4:04 PM) I think Arizona will move the ball well. I think UCLA, Oregon State and Washington will be much better on defense (if they can stay healthy). I wonder if Cal's offense might be better than expected. And what if Stanford gets good QB play?
But sometimes you just want a Reader's Digest version. So here you go.
Wyatt (Tempe) Will the Sun Devils make a bowl game this year?
Ted Miller (3:13 PM) The over-under on wins feels about 6, so it's a question of whether you are optimistic or not for Todd Graham's first season. My first guess is no, but I might change that if they beat Illinois in week 2.
Matt (Kingsley, NM) Which PAC12 team has the best 1-2 combo at RB?
Ted Miller (3:20 PM) Lots of good ones.... good depth behind Cameron Marshall at ASU... Cal is outstanding with Isi Sofele and CJ Anderson... Oregon is great if you count De'Anthony THomas as an RB behind Kenjon Barner, which I sort of do but sort of don't ... USC has 2 1,000-yard guys... I'd say USC with Curtis McNeal and Silas Redd, two true and proven RBs. But I'd guess Oregon fans like the Barner-Thomas combo.
Shane (Oregon) Bennett or Mariotta....who's your pick?
Ted Miller (3:22 PM) Hold on... coin flip... I, personally, tend to favor experienced players... but it seems like there's a lot to like about Mariota. Still, anyone making a prediction is just flipping a coin... we're not watching practices. All I've ever seen of Mariota was the spring game.
Andy (Seattle) Realistically, how many wins do you think the Cougs get? And who's better long-term and right now, Marquess Wilson or Kasen Williams?
Ted Miller (3:24 PM) Wilson and Kasen Williams? Not really a legit comparison. Wilson is a preseason All-American... Williams has talent but he's mostly about potential... As for the Cougs, I also see their over-under as 6 wins... the key is the opener at BYU.. win in Provo and things set up nicely.
Austen Bryant (Sunny Brook Auto Wash) What type of impact do you see Rich Rod having on the Wildcats this year if any at all?
Ted Miller (3:27 PM) You can't win without good players, and the Wildcats are really thin up front on defense. I like the offense with QB Matt Scott, but I'm not sure Arizona will be able to score enough to win consistently. So I see this as more of a "get to know you" year. It may take a couple of years, in fact, for Rich Rod to recruit his players and get things trending up...
Daniel (Pasadena) Ted, which of these PAC-12 non-conference games do you see as the highest chance for an upset? Nebraska at UCLA - Washington at LSU - Wisconsin at Oregon St - Arizona St at Missouri - Cal at Ohio State
Ted Miller (3:28 PM) Cal-Ohio State... I like the Bears matchup with the Buckeyes O-line. Of course, Cal has been pretty rotten when it's traveled east i the past. UCLA and Nebraska has the potential to be interesting.
@JChungz1 (Poughkeepsie NY) If Oklahoma, USC, and Alabama or LSU end up undefeated at the end of the season, what two teams do you think would be picked for the national championship.
Ted Miller (3:36 PM) Alabama and LSU play each other on Nov. 3. So if the winner of that game also wins the SEC and is undefeated, it would be in the championship game. USC-Oklahoma could be close. USC would probably top the Sooners in the polls, but it depends on how the BCS standings stack up with strength of schedule.
Jon (SL,UT) Rumors have been aplenty about Oregon sanctions... anything from 4 years probation to a slap on the wrist. Which end of the spectrum is more realistic?
Ted Miller (3:38 PM) the rumors are completely unfounded... people who know nothing acting like experts. I think Oregon will get a firm slap on the wrist... it will hurt but it won't be close to USC-ish...
Benny Beaver (Reser Stadium) Do we need to start looking for a new head football coach? Everyone in the North seems to be passing us by.
Ted Miller (3:45 PM) I'd say no.. be careful with the "grass is always greener" perspective... just three years ago, Riley was the toast of the town.
Jeremy (Honolulu) Of the four teams with new head coaches, which one do you see making the most progress from last year to this year?
Ted Miller (3:48 PM) I think UCLA and Washington State have the best chance to take a positive step forward. Not good to hear about so many early injuries, particularly for the Bruins, though.
Colin (Bel Air, MD) What becomes of Stanford without Andrew Luck?
Ted Miller (3:51 PM) Stanford isn't going anywhere. Even last year, they were far more than just Andrew Luck ... see the NFL draft... The Cardinal's front seven on defense is first-rate and the run-first, TE-heavy offense will continue its style of smashmouth play. This feels like a top-25 team going forward with potential to go higher on a regular basis. Recruiting has been very good.
Jeff (Seattle) Through the first 6 games of the season, what would you think will be the Huskies' record? 1-5? 2-4? 3-3?
Ted Miller (3:59 PM) 2-4... decent shot at an upset to go 3-3, but not sure how you'd pick the Huskies over LSU, Oregon, USC or Stanford. The Cardinal would seem the most likely, but Stanford has owned the Huskies of late.
cougarbrian (Spokane) Ted - what unit do you see as the biggest surprise this year? Does a lightly-rated offense or defense stand out to you that will play above what people think of them?
Ted Miller (4:04 PM) I think Arizona will move the ball well. I think UCLA, Oregon State and Washington will be much better on defense (if they can stay healthy). I wonder if Cal's offense might be better than expected. And what if Stanford gets good QB play?



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