FUTURE OF THE PAC 10!

There has been a lot of talk as of late about the new Pac 10. What teams will they expand to? Why are these the teams? There are a lot of things to take into consideration. I'm going to give you my opinion on who I think and why I think its headed this way.

When you think of the PAC 10 expansion you think of two west cost schools right off the bat. Utah and BYU. They are the biggest schools with the best programs in both major sports on the west coast. Both schools have great programs in football and basketball both schools have been in the hunt for BSC bowl games and Utah has played in two of them. Both schools recruit well and have a huge fan base. These would be my choices for the Pac 10 at first glance. Both schools have a certain religious commitments that causes Sunday games to be over looked which might not be a huge problem.

One BIG problem neither city is fun for entertainment or travel. This causes problems to be over looked. Utah is the winner in this on though. Much larger city and large fan base with athletic programs who have been to the top.

So if we have one school who is our next contender. Ill give you a few names. Colorado, Boise State, UNLV, SDSU and Fresno State.

I will do a little process of elimination. SDSU and Fresno State both don't have strong followings in both sports. One sport dominates the other in both schools. Fresno not a huge TV market and SDSU doesn't have the best football program and doesn't play on a home field. Something many of the PAC 10 schools have. Both schools are out of the process on those notions.

Boise State! Great program in football, a team who has made a lot of noise in the BSC bowl games and will continue to dominate on the Smurf Turf. This is very good for the resume but small town, small TV market and not a very good basketball program hurts the school from moving on. Maybe a great choice to beef up the MWC along with Fresno State.

This leaves two schools. Lets start with UNLV. They are a great basketball school on the verge of the old days. They have a great arena on campus and great TV market. The Rebels football team isn't good and the stadium although good it isn't on campus. BUT yes there is a but. The city has the money or can find the money to build one. With an on campus stadium and a rising program that will help winning and fans. That isn't far off. Bobby Hauck will have the program in the right direction. They have the top attendances on the west coast for basketball. UNLV shows a lot of promise.

Colorado is in the BIG 12. Enough said right? Wrong. Many think Colorado is built for the west coast and would fit in better with the travel and TV markets. They say many west coasters are from the Rockies but I don't see it. Colorado wouldn't move from the Big 12. Sure they have had a few down seasons but the Buffs are a top program and have won in the Big 12 before. They would bring a lot of promise to the PAC 10 but I don't see it. Keep the schools close, Colorado is more mid west then west coast. They have one thing in common with the west cost schools they are usually in the top five for party schools with the likes of ASU and SDSU. But they aren't going anywhere. More football schools in the mid west where they belong. The basketball program isn't going anywhere.

Leaves my pick to UNLV. Rebels and Utes in the Pac 10 gives them a championship game in football and possible site in Vegas. This would be one major move for the Pac 10. It will all probably be decided in the coming months so keep the look out.

SIMSZEE