FanHouse Richard Brehaut

LOS ANGELES -- Based on the inconsistent history of UCLA's football program, smart money would go against the undefeated Bruins overcoming the loss of starting quarterback Kevin Prince and winning the Rose Bowl this season.

Why? Well, let's start with the fact that UCLA has only represented the Pac-10 in the Rose Bowl twice since Jan. 1, 1986 and the last time the Bruins played a bowl game in their own home stadium was Jan. 1, 1999, when they lost to Wisconsin, 38-31.

Then there's UCLA's poor track record in bowl games. In 29 postseason appearances, the Bruins are 13-15-1, including defeats in four of their last bowl games.

Want more? Just go back to last season when rookie coach Rick Neuheisel led UCLA to a 4-8 record, the program's worst in 20 years.

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College Football Spring Storylines 2009 looks at the key developments and big news from spring ball.

Since 2002, the Pac-10 has been derisively called USC and the nine dwarves. Its more than a little unfair, but that's the prevailing wisdom. Although the conference is consistently among the deepest and most competitive around, USC's monopolized that top spot. Any chance of that changing this year begins with decisions those programs make this spring.