Oregon State 31 - Arizona 16 (Pick: Arizona 35-13)
Riddle me this, Batman. was it because a cornered Beaver is the conference's most vicious animal or were the meds wrong for the bi-polar Wildcats? Every opportunity they have been given this season to put a foot forward, Stoops squad finds a way to take two steps back. Give OS credit, a loss would have been calamitous to their season and they clearly cared a bunch more than did the visitors that they not let that happen. Arizona athletic director Jim Livengood can't be.
Stanford 24 - USC 23 (Pick: USC 63-10)
I stand by last week's comments "there is no reason for this game to actually be played. None. If this Stanford team played SC 100 times, they would lose 102. Trojans 63 - Beetle Kill 10." It just goes to show you what five turnovers will do to a team. It will be interesting to see the response of both teams. I really can't convince myself Stanford is going to tear it up the rest of the season, leaving one with the thought the Trojans have come back to pack and it's a vengeful peasantry that awaits.
Arizona State 23 - Washington State 20 (Pick: ASU 42-28)
Whatever was lacking in margin of victory, Dennis Erickson left his old stomping grounds 5-0. A "Couged" last second field goal kept the game from going to overtime, but extending the festivities likely wouldn't have changed the outcome. Questions remain about what had been a prolific Sun Devil offense facing stiffer competition after managing only 23 against one of the conference's lesser lights.
Notre Dame 20 - UCLA 6 (Pick: UCLA 32-13)
USC's stumble was more surprising but UCLA's was more shocking. Total and complete ineptitude. With Notre Dame a laughing stock across college football, the Bruins ingloriously trumped all the foibles the Irish were held to ridicule for by being much, much worse. Much worse than one could think humanly possible. Embarrassed isn't a sufficient adjective - particularly after the Bruins had let a pedestrian Domer team off the hook last season. And that's all the motivation you can demonstrate? I don't care if your quarterback was hurt. he has always been hurt and you didn't need him to win. had the Bruins simply snapped the ball directly to the tailback and limited their play calling to "left", "right" and "center" they could have put 35 up on the Irish. Total and complete ineptitude.
Week 7
Arizona @ USC
It would be a true statement to say OoPac has not been impressed with the Wildcats since the days of Keith Lewis and Ortege Jenkins. It would also be a true statement that OoPac hasn't picked the Wildcats to win very often in those intervening years. It would be another true statement that the temptation to pick them for the upset is real. At times this season the Wildcats have been able to get to the end zone with notable frequency, yet in other games they have been disengaged to say the least. With USC appearing to be forced to start back-up quarterback Mark Sanchez in place of John David Booty, a number of elements for another shocker are in place. I just don't think the Wildcats have the heart for it. though it would certainly make the rest of the conference race interesting if they did. USC 28 - Tinman Wildcats 17
Washington State @ Oregon
A week off should have the Ducks refreshed and ready to resume the conference battles. Given the results of last weekend, they should also realize the loss to California isn't the roadblock to their ambitions that it may have appeared to be after the referee's pow-wow confirmed the fumble was a touchback. But they best not overlook the turnovers that cost them their one blemish and have been the cause of the all the upsets that reopened their horizons. If the turnovers stop, Oregon's future should be quite nice, thank you kindly. But if the Ducks aren't able to hold on to the football the results of last Saturday demonstrate there are four or five more losses out there to be had. Oregon 42 - Clipped Cougs 23
TCU @ Stanford
The Horned Frogs were a favorite in the Mountain West when the season started but have mostly disappointed. They haven't scored many points per game (20.5) and the defense has suffered with the personal issues of Tommy Blake, who like Oregon State's Sammy Stroughter, found it necessary to step away from the game for part of the season. Stanford's win over the Trojans isn't going to propel them into the stratosphere of the conference rankings but it should be enough to beat an emotionally fragile 3-3 TCU. Trees Standing Tall 28 - 13
Oregon State @ California
Boy you have to wonder about this one. With SC on the ropes and California presuming themselves to be in the drivers seat, could the Beavs leverage last Saturday's rebound into another torpedo at the top of the standings? Shouldn't happen, as much fun as it would be to see. California 38 - Beavs 17.
Washington @ Arizona State
The Sun Devils appeared to be particularly vulnerable last weekend against WSU - one could almost see Jake Locker and the Huskies waltzing into Tempe and puttin' a pretty good lick on ASU. This year's Dawgs have more of a bite and ASU hasn't been forced to play for their lives and the hunch is that if forced to do so, the Sun Devils unravel some. Picking the Montlake Preppies isn't something that comes easy, but circumstance seems ripe. Despite the fact the Dawgs haven't delivered on their two earlier chances to help w/ OoPac's season tally, we'll try once again. YewW 34 - 28.
