Pac 10 Power Poll and Week Five Review

Oregon/Cal was a classic game, that, I unfortunately left with a heavy heart. Both teams played tough but in the end turnovers did in Oregon. I would have liked to have seen the Ducks stay with the run when they were up in the fourth quarter but they got greedy and forced some throws. Give Cal credit for win these teams are about even as the score proved but the Ducks have to be kicking themselves for losing in a game they were in control of. The Arizona schools routed at home and the LA schools picked won in the north as well in what was a 0-4 day for the schools of Oregon and Washington. The top of the Pac 10 has shown to the nation that they belong up there with anyone in the country. Some poll voters such as Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit actually moved Oregon up in the rankings after a loss. Next week is fairly blasé in the Pac 10, the best game will likely be what now may be a resurgent Wildcat squad playing a reeling Beaver team who gave up 40 unanswered points to UCLA which included a total breakdown in special teams play in the 4th quarter.

1. USC (1) – They played likely their worst game since early 2002 and still won. Maybe worries have out there due to health issues. The Trojans need to get healthy for the second half because they have some tough road match-ups with Oregon, Cal and USC looming. I just don’t see the Trojans winning out with this murderers row schedule. Luckily they face Stanford this week and should be able to rest a bunch of players.
2. Cal (3) – Tedford coached a smart game but his team will have some major problems if Longshore misses any games. I’d rank Cal, Oregon and USC as 1A, 1B and 1C but the Bears won on the scoreboard and that is all that matters.
3. Oregon (2) – A heartbreaking loss but to be minus 4 in turnovers and almost win shows you that if Oregon doesn’t turn the ball over they are pretty much unstoppable. A bye week might be a good thing here before they play the Cougars who should be all but filleted and gutted by the time they arrive in Eugene.
4. ASU (4) – It is kind of hard to judge this team as they haven’t played much competition this year (though that Colorado win now looks much better). As long as the weather doesn’t do something really weird in Pullman the Devils should take care of business and be approaching the Top 15 by the time they play UW in two weeks.
5. UCLA (5) – Well the Bruins didn’t start out well but they sure finished with a bang and rejoined the Top 25 in the media poll. They were really helped by the F minus special teams effort by the Oregon State Beavers. I expect them to run rough shot all over Notre Dame this weekend sending the Domers to 0-6.
6. UW (6) – A couple of breaks go the other way and the Huskies have their biggest win since beating Purdue in the anti-climatic 2001 Rose Bowl and biggest regular season win probably since the Wammy in Miami. A bye week will be well appreciated for the Dawgs who probably face too high of an uphill battle when they go to Tempe in two weeks.
7. UA (10) – As well as the top of the Pac 10 has played the bottom is playing awful. The Wildcats found an offense and crushed WSU. Are the Cougars that bad or has UA turned the corner? The Cats get to play Oregon State at the perfect time and can get to 500 on the season with a win next week.
8. OSU (8) – I’d put them lower but with the way that WSU and Stanford played last weekend not sure I can do that and the Beavers at least played pretty solid on defense. The Oregon State special teams played like they though that Jerry Pettibone was the Head Coach again.
9. WSU (7) – Letting Arizona score 40 on you is an awful sign. I think we can safely say that unless WSU pulls a miracle and wins at least one of their next two games versus ASU and UO there is hardly any chance that WSU can get to a bowl game this year which is needed for Doba to continue to coach.
10. Stanford (9) – Back in their usual spot and getting to play a likely very motivated USC team after their poor performance in Seattle will only add to the Cardinal woes.