Out of the Pac

Last Saturday's conference results held few surprises in the actual outcome, but did provide some revelations in light of some of the performances. To wit...

Arizona State @ Oregon

The Ducks still don't have an offense they can count on. Arizona State was a model of efficiency, converting three completed passes into two touchdowns during the first half. Given the struggles Oregon has experienced offensively, it is difficult to lay credit entirely at the feet of the Sun Devil defense, though they certainly are both physical and speedy. Oregon's defense continues to be the one bright spot for the Ducks, though crucial breakdowns in assignment allowed two uncontested pass completions for touchdowns and a 56 yard run that set up another score.

Penalties also continued to hurt Oregon -- 16-yard personal foul infractions assisted two Arizona State scoring drives.

Suddenly, Arizona State's upcoming games against USC and Cal, both on the road, will have major implications toward both the conference and BCS standings.

Senior quarterbacking has been a mainstay of Pac-10 champions much more frequently than not over the past 10 seasons and Arizona State with senor QB Andrew Walters may continue that correlation.

Washington @ Stanford

That the post game comments by the Stanford coaching staff indicated dissatisfaction with their performance after the Cardinal had dismantled the Huskies 27-13 in Palo Alto is telling on two fronts. First, that expectations are elevated for the team from the Farm, and second, that the final score should have been more one sided than it was. Neither bode well for Washington's future.

While Stanford may be much improved over their past few seasons, it is hard to yet imagine them among the conference powers. To have been dominated by a less than heavyweight conference foe, and to then have them state they did not play well at all has to strike to the heart of the Purple and Gold legion. Sadly, you can't quarrel with the evidence at hand. While Stanford's season is yet to be defined, it is safe to say there is little doubt about the type of season the Huskies (and their cynics) will enjoy.

San Diego State @ UCLA

If past is prologue, San Diego State should know better than to schedule the Bruins having lost the last sixteen consecutive contests. Though San Diego State had played Michigan to a near draw in Ann Arbor earlier this season, after Saturday's game at the Rose Bowl, it is now seventeen. Maurice Drew is establishing himself as one of the conference's premier running backs, running for 161 yards to bring his season average to 167 per game. A balanced offensive attack and a defensive touchdown allowed the Bruins to take control of the game. Though the defense had been susceptible to the rush, San Diego State was only able to run for 139 yards, not enough to keep the ball away from Drew and the Bruin offense and keep the score close.

Being able to potential pass for 158 yards may not be enough of a threat to keep future opponents from loading the box to defend Drew, but against San Diego State it was enough.

California @ Oregon State

After a three week layoff the question going into this contest was whether or not Cal would be able to perform at anywhere near their "A" game. The answer was most assuredly "yes". With three TD's in the first 1:47 of the game, this one started out to be a classic Pac-10 barnburner. Unfortunately, for the Beavers, they were the ones who ended up being torched -- to the tune of a 49-7 shellacking. Aaron Rodgers and Chase Lynam abused the vaunted OSU defensive secondary, and running back J.J. Arrington ran through the front seven for 108 yards.

For Cal, a perfect tune-up for this week's rematch with USC -- as for the Beavs, going, going, gone.

Now for this weeks games:

Stanford @ Notre Dame

Both teams have beaten the Huskies at home; Notre Dame by 35 points, Stanford by 14, so the Irish would seem to be the team to pick. Although North Bend is usually not a hospitable place for the visiting team, this is a game Stanford should win. Offensively and defensively, Stanford should be able to control the game. As we saw last week against Purdue, Notre Dame is still vulnerable defensively. Stanford will be able to take advantage for a 27-17 win.

California @ USC

The game of the year in the Pac-10 -- and in my view, it will live up to the hype. Certainly the Trojans are looking to atone for the only blight against their record of last season, and they will be playing host to the Bears in a sold out LA coliseum. But Cal is improved significantly from last season, particularly on defense but also with special teams. They are a bit of a stealth team, given the three-week sabbatical they had in their playing schedule due to the cancellation of their match with Southern Mississippi due to hurricane Ivan.

It is rare that a team is able to negotiate the Pac-10 without a loss so whoever wins won't necessarily have the conference crown sewn up, but certainly will have the advantage of a tie-breaker in their favor should the rest of the season run to form. I'll take the underdog in this one, as Cal is a very good football team. USC has feasted on mediocre teams, but hasn't had to be tested frequently enough for me to believe that when faced with a quality opponent such as Cal that they can perform to that level. I may be proven wrong, but for now... Cal 34-USC 28

San Jose State @ Washington

Will this be the Huskies only chance for a win this season? Probably. But San Jose put up 70 points last week against Rice... 10 touchdowns. Now the Udub in Seattle, is not the same as the Horned Owls, and it is true the Spartans DID give up 63 points in that same game. BUT - don't think for a moment that San Jose State isn't fully aware of the depleted state of the Huskies and recognize their opportunity to win one of those once every 50-year kind of games. San Jose State 27 - Washington 17. And the empty seats in Husky Stadium grow ever more numerous.

Oregon @ Washington State

A must game for the Ducks, probably for the Cougars too. Neither team has distinguished itself in any way so far this season. I'll take Oregon's defense over WSU's inconsistent offense, and hope that the Duck's offense can manage more than one touchdown and a couple of field goals. If there is to be a turnaround, it starts here. Oregon 21 - WSU 10.

Arizona @ UCLA

If this game were played in Tucson, or were it scheduled to be played in November, perhaps the pick on this contest would be reversed. But is still early October and the game is being played in the Rose Bowl, so I expect UCLA to maintain their pattern of behavior of playing reasonably well for the first half of the season, then coming apart at the seams as the weather turns colder. Maurice Drew will dominate and Drew Olson will throw well enough for the Bruins to win by 10, let's say 24 - 14.

Until next week... happy tailgating!