2008 Arizona Wildcats Football Preview

2008 Arizona Wildcats season preview from Maddux Sports. Below you can find our official Arizona Wildcats football preview as well as the 2008 Arizona Wildcats Football Schedule. Haven't had much luck beating your bookie? This season up your chances and order Maddux's winning college football picks.

Coach: Mike Stoops (5th year at Arizona)
Team Name: Wildcats
2007 Overall Record: 5-7
Returning Starters: 13

The best that the Arizona Wildcats (5-7 overall, 4-5 Pac-10) have done in the past five years is a six and six mark in 2006. Last season, the team finished in sixth-place after winning three of four at the end of the season, including victories versus UCLA and Oregon. As has happened in the past, the Wildcats stayed at home and watched the bowl season on their televisions rather than participating in it.

On offense, 10 of 11 starters return. That includes senior QB Willie Tuitama (524 ATT, 327 COMP, 3,683 YDS, 28 TDs, 12 INT), who proved to be ultra dependable, durable and accurate in 2007, breaking school records for passing yards and touchdown passes. Tuitama has a wealth of receivers to whom he can throw, including senior Mike Thomas (83 REC, 1,038 YDS, 11 TDS) and sophomore tight end Rob Gronkowski. Gronkowski has soft hands and fine moves after snaring a throw. The frontline looks to be the best this team has fielded in years. The running game is weak, which means the Wlidcats, who were 10th in passing last season, will air it out a lot.

The offense is capable of posting 36 points per game and they may have to as the defense welcomes just three starters back. Last season, free safety Nate Ness captured five picks for 91 yards. Look for him to have an outstanding senior season. The corners are primarily unproven. Senior ILB Ronnie Palmer (83 tackles, 54 solo) is good but not as good as one would hope. The defensive line is primarily composed of subs, which could be a problem.

Three swing games are on the Cats’ schedule. On September 20 they meet UCLA in California and then on October 18 the California Golden Bears visit the Wildcats. If they win both of those games, Arizona will be sitting pretty. Their final game at home on December 6 with rival Arizona State is tough to predict. Oregon and USC look to be sure loses.

With UCLA and California weakened and a relatively light schedule, the Wildcats of Arizona have a decent chance of posting a winning record and garnering a bowl invite. Both would be huge accomplishments for this program. Coach Mike Stoops (17-29 in four years) would certainly become a very popular guy if he guides this club to their first bowl appearance since 1998.

Arizona Wildcats Football Schedule

Date	Opponent	Home/Away
Aug 30	Idaho	Home
Sep 6	Toledo	Home
Sep 13	New Mexico	Away
Sep 20	UCLA	Away
Oct 4	Washington	Home
Oct 11	Stanford	Away
Oct 18	California	Home
Oct 25	USC	Home
Nov 8	Washington State	Away
Nov 15	Oregon	Away
Nov 22	Oregon State	Home
Dec 6	Arizona State	Home

 

For more info on the 2008 Arizona Wildcats football program, view the Wildcats football site or you can read about other Pac-10 teams below.