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	Sunday, September 3 Dawgs tagged as early favorites
	By Ed Graney Special to ESPN.com Season notes: 1999 record: 7-5, 6-2. Coach: Rick Neuheisel. Starters returning:13 (6 offense, 7 defense). Outlook: Neuheisel is well aware how the past four Pac-10 preseason favorites fared: "Terrible," he said. Three of them couldn't even muster winning records. And yet Neuheisel's second team in the Pacific Northwest seems to have everything needed for a title, beginning with an emotional and multi-talented quarterback in senior Marques Tuiasosopo. Problems arise when he tries too hard to make the big play, something he promises will change this year by throwing the ball away or even taking a few more sacks. A few receivers must emerge to dissuade opponents from using eight-man fronts intent on slowing Tuiasosopo's scrambles or the shifty moves of sophomore running back Paul Arnold. Ja'Warren Hooker might have been that receiver, but the junior qualified for the 2000 Olympics. An NFL career awaits senior tackle Chad Ward (6-foot-5, 330). The defense spent far too much time on the field last season, thanks in part to Washington's 27 turnovers. One starter (tackle Larry Tripplett) returns up front and there is hardly the dominating personnel of past Husky defenses. Linebackers and cornerbacks figure to be under constant pressure until the line develops. Keep an eye on: Free safety Hakim Akbar. He was slowed by nagging injuries last year and still managed to be chosen second-team all-conference. As the front seven is rebuilt, the junior Akbar (6-1, 195) can lessen pressure on many with another big season. He has 128 career tackles and added 15 pounds in the offseason. It's a good season if: The Huskies finish no worse than second. A healthy Tuiasosopo means Washington is in every game, needing only a handful of youngsters to come through for a huge season. A gut-check stretch (Miami, at Colorado, at Oregon) arrives early. Survive it unscathed and a Husky team that doesn't play USC could be smelling like a Rose. Ed Graney covers college football for the San Diego Union Tribune.		AROUND THE PAC 10 Arizona Arizona St. California Oregon Oregon St. Stanford UCLA USC Washington Washington St. ALSO SEE Pac-10 preview: Run, but don't hide