Week 11 Review and Pac 10 Power Poll

Well what some had thought would be the year that saw USC’s reign at the top end never came as the Trojans were able to beat Cal who can now only get a share of the championship with a win over Stanford and a USC loss to UCLA, then it would only be a shared championship with a loss to the team that they are tied with. USC is now two games from playing in yet another national championship game. On paper it looked like this was the most vulnerable year for the Trojans but good play and a favorable home schedule helped out Pete Carroll’s boys yet again. The big news outside of LA was the upset of the Oregon Ducks by Arizona. I personally sat through this game and have never seen such as uninspired and ill prepared Oregon team take the field. Oregon has been taken to the woodshed quite a few times in the last few years but in those games they were at least able to play well in the first half or mount second half comebacks. This game was lost by a combination of poor play by the defense, offense and special teams. Amazing how Oregon has gone in the tank offensively after the hot September where many folks thought they had the nation’s best offense. Outside of 2005 which was a mirage due to an easy schedule Oregon has been a disappointing program since the departure of Joey Harrington and Jeff Tedford. Kudos to the Washington Huskies for having the intestinal fortitude to win the Apple Cup after losing at home to Stanford. The result was quite unfortunate for the Cougars who have gone in to a tailspin since beating Oregon. UCLA got a nice win against an up and down ASU team and gave them-selves at least a chance to get a bowl invite even if they lose to USC.

USC (1) – Likely outright Pac 10 champs for the 4th successive season USC now finds itself two wins away from playing for another BCS championship. USC has been dominant since the 3rd quarter of the Oregon State game and I expect them beat Notre Dame in what hopefully is a game on par with the quality of last year’s match-up.
Arizona (4) – Left for dead a month ago Mike Stoops has not only saved his job he has a contender for next year’s Pac 10 title. This team has become the team that many in the national media predicted before the season, it just took about 9 games for them to get to that point. The question for Stoops next year is whether he can keep up the momentum.
Cal (2) – All in all when you look at the whole of this season Cal fans have to consider it a disappointment. Their defense played well enough to beat both Arizona and USC but they were let down by the offense. Will Cal lay down in their bowl game like they did in the 2004 Holiday Bowl?
UCLA (6) – Dorrell avoid getting himself in trouble with a losing season. This team likely ends up 6-6 which is right about where I figured they would end up. They have the pieces to get back to 9 wins next season if the offense can open a bit more. Maurice Drew was sorely missed from this year’s Bruin team. UCLA now has two weeks to prepare for USC and if they have the effort they got against Notre Dame should at least make this game competitive.
OSU (7) – Went out and won on the road, joining three other road teams who landed tough November wins, well okay this one wasn’t tough but a win is a win in November on the road. Oregon State now looks ready to pour salt in the once might Ducks wounds in a game I’d expect to get very ugly fast.
UO (3) – The Ducks look like they have quit to me. The program seems to have morphed from that of a plucky bunch of overachievers to one that is more reminiscent of the late 90’s Trojan teams of Paul Hackett. Lots of talent but fold when things don’t go their way after a fast start. I expect a loss in Corvallis and then a poor performance in a third tier bowl where the Ducks drop a winnable game to a team that just wants to be there a whole lot more than them. Good thing Wake Forest won’t be the opponent his year.
ASU (5) – Dirk Koetter seems to love being a .500 coach. It seems as if the underdog usually wins the battle for state bragging rights in the UA-ASU rivalry but this year I expect the Cats to be the team that ends up with 7 wins not ASU. This season was probably doomed from the whole fallout of the Keller-Carpenter QB battle which wasn’t handled well by the coach.
UW (10) – Best wishes to Johnny DuRocher, now who’d have eve thought you’d hear those words out of my mouth. The Dawgs no matter how bad things get still know how to ruin WSU’s year and accomplished it in another disappointing Apple Cup for the Cougars.
WSU (8) – 2006, yep still Cooging it. They join the likely log jam of 3 6 win teams hoping for bowl bids and they are likely the last one chosen. I think they ended their season last week.
LSJU (9) – Two weeks till the Big Game. I’d expect Stanford to be loose and Cal to not care much. Still the Bears will win this one by at least 14 and the Trees can thankfully end their year of hell.