This week saw no changes in my power poll standings, I may need to check my records but I don’t think that has ever happened. Now I understand it is quite obvious that from viewing games this year Cal is at this point of the season a better team at this point than USC. However I made a pledge to keep USC at #1 until they lose and the Trojans did managed to escape the suddenly tough Washington schools with two close victories. Oregon appeared to have been listening to the media a tad much and got mauled down in Berkeley by a Cal team that still has to be kicking itself for the huge crap they took on themselves in Knoxville. The two coaches with the first name Mike in the Pac 10 both had stakes all but planted in their hearts taken losses in what have to be considered at least winnable games on paper. Expect changes at both schools next year and if Dirk Koetter can’t right the ship soon (a visit to USC isn’t going to do much to help that) he could be getting a pink slip too. I won’t totally discount the idea that Walt Harris could get canned as going 0-12 no matter the talent level is not acceptable especially when the school put up over 100 million for a new stadium. Bill Doba has done enough to stay at WSU another year, they should have enough to get to 6 or 7 wins and go bowling. This week the big game on the slate is the Oregon-UCLA tilt, UCLA has traditionally dominated Oregon at Autzen Stadium (the Ducks have only beat the Bruins twice in the history of the stadium) but with UCLA facing it’s first top 20 caliber team and without Ben Olson I see the Ducks coming back strong. Cal needs to not look past WSU who have quietly (like UCLA) put up a nice season. Stanford has it’s best shot at a win this week with the Mildcats in tow and while USC looks to get healthy versus an ASU Sun Devil team that has had two weeks to think about their devastating loses to Cal and Oregon. Finally Washington can get to five wins and all but end any chance of a winning record in Beaverland with a match-up in Seattle.
1. USC (1) – Haven’t really played a complete game since Arkansas. The defense has played well but isn’t forcing turnovers. If ASU was in a healthy state mentally I’d think they could beat the Trojans however healthy mental state and ASU Sun Devils are not two phrases that should be connected at this junction of the season. USC now has the chance to get a bit healthy before the schedule stiffens up.
2. Cal (2) – Cal flat out damaged Oregon, they outplayed Oregon in all aspects of the game and now just need to avoid a letdown at WSU. The Bears have to be considered the favorite now to win the Pac 10 championship however by the time they do play USC expect the Trojans to have regained some of their mojo.
3. UO (3) – The Cal game was over after the first play. Oregon must re-establish the running game and forget about the past week to get by always pesky UCLA. I was quite disappointed with some of the player antics seen on the field versus Cal. Without a doubt the worst performance by Oregon with Gary Crowton at OC.
4. UW (4) – The Huskies proved they are for real even in a loss at USC. No longer can anyone on the home or on the road look past the team in Purple. Please note this Oregon Ducks for your match-up with the Dawgs looms in a dangerous spot of the schedule sitting right before the big game versus USC.
5. WSU (5) – The Cougars beat everyone who they should, that should get them to a bowl game, however this week they face an amazing opportunity to get themselves in the Pac 10 race if they can beat Cal at home. I don’t think WSU has the horses to do it but watch out for Mkristo Bruce to attempt to take Nate Longshore out of his rhythm with some early heat.
6. UCLA (6) – UCLA has faced only one quality opponent this year in what has been the Pac 10’s easiest schedule. UCLA can’t get in a track meet with Oregon, to win this game the Bruins can’t give up more than 21 to the Ducks and I just don’t see that happening. UCLA faces 4 very tough games in the next 4 weeks, the easy slate of the schedule is over. They will need to win at least one of them to have a shot at getting to a bowl this year.
7. ASU (7) – Well ASU is at the crossroads. They need to show something against USC, a win is not needed to salvage this year but getting the passing game back and putting in some effort is a must. ASU could still easily recover and win 7 or 8 games this year as after the USC game they face all winnable games. I just have the feeling that ASU will throw in the towel and things could get very ugly in Tempe.
8. OSU (8) – More Beaver fans than normal seem to have taken up hunting. Oregon State might as well end the Matt Moore era and play for next year. Problem for Mike Riley is that he wants to continue having a job and needs to get some wins to save himself. Basically the mood in Corvallis is really getting ugly and I think that the coaches and players will actually be happy to have a road game up in Seattle. I don’t see the Beavers keeping this one within 10.
9. Arizona (9) – Arizona has no offense which makes it very hard to win games, that their D let down and let UCLA score 27 is a sign that Mike Stoops may have lost this team. If Coach Stoops loses to Stanford I could see him getting fired after the game. The Cats will be favored the next two weeks and then get a bye before they play up in Pullman. This is truly Mike Stoops last stand, look for him to be coaching somewhere on the Oklahoma defensive staff next year.
10. Stanford (10) – The Cardinal actually showed a bit of a pulse in South Bend. If they repeat that effort they will beat the Arizona Wildcats and give the New Stanford Stadium its first win.
.jpg)
