Arizona looked like a Pac-10 contender last year for a while. The Wildcats were 7-1 overall and 4-1 in the conference – the only loss a two-point setback to Oregon State – heading into a game at No. 13 Stanford. But there the wheels fell off, with UA ending the season on a five-game losing streak, including being blown out by Oklahoma State in the Alamo Bowl.

Five starters are due back on both offense and defense for Arizona. Nick Foles is one of the nation’s top quarterbacks. Last year, he passed for 3,191 yards and 20 touchdowns with just 10 interceptions. He led the Pac-10 in passing yards per game and was second to Stanford's Andrew Luck in total offense and completion percentage. Foles also has star WR Juron Criner to throw to. Criner had one of the best seasons in school history in 2010, posting 82 receptions for 1,233 yards and a school record-tying 11 touchdowns. Arizona is the deepest team in the Pac-12 at receiver. Keola Antolin will be the featured back after making eight starts and rushing for a team-high 668 yards and seven touchdowns on a team-high 142 carries last year. One major problem could be that all five offensive line starters are new.

On defense, arguably that unit’s two best players are both recovering from ACL surgeries. Jake Fischer, a linebacker, tore his ACL during the spring. He had 58 tackles last season, including 7.5 for loss. Adam Hall, a starting free safety, suffered the same injury during spring. Coach Mike Stoops said recently that he was eyeing mid-October as a possible return date for each player.

Arizona opens its season Sept. 3 vs. Northern Arizona. The Wildcats’ over/under win total at Bodog is 6.5.

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