Arizona 48 - Washington 41 (Pick: Washington 27-20)
After playing three solid quarters against Oregon, then allowing the Ducks 24 fourth quarter points the week before, the Huskies gave up 22 to the Wildcats, surrendering a 41-26 lead in the game's last twelve minutes. It is assumed Tyrone Willingham's job is safe for another year, the athletic director even announced an extension recently saying that a turnaround on Montlake would take time. That was before the Wildcats - a team dealing with an unsettled coaching situation due to their own miserable play this season - sent the Dawgs howling into the night once again. If a team can't hold a 15 point lead for 12 minutes there will soon be teeth behind those howling voices.
Oregon State 23 - Stanford 6 (Pick: OSU 24-17)
Even with Yvenson Bernard injured and not playing in the second half, the Beaver offense was able to get enough points on the board for the victory. The OSU defense - considered to be the strength of the team since the preseason - limited the Cardinal to 181 total yards and -8 yards rushing. OSU quarterback Sean Canfield was effective and for the third consecutive game was available to avoid interceptions. If those two pieces to the Orange and Black attack remain intact the rest of the season the Beavs could wreck some true havoc in the final stretch of the conference race.
Arizona State 31 - California 20 (Pick: California 28-21)
A cut and paste error left this game unmentioned in last week's posting. It was as much wishful thinking that the Bears were given the nod in the original article, it seemed the Sun Devils would be a good opportunity for the Ted-Heads to bounce back from their loss at UCLA the week before. It would be ASU's first game against a quality opponent this season and although they would be at home, Sun Devil Stadium isn't the most intimidating of environments. That was obvious when the Bears jumped to a 20-7 lead. A trademark of Teford's teams has been their tenacity but this time, for whatever reason, they simply quit playing for him, the first time I've seen that in a Teford team. ASU posted 24 unanswered points and California fell from 2nd in the nation - and one quarter away from being ranked 1st until they collapsed against the Beavers - to 6th in the conference. Remarkable.
Oregon 24 - USC 17 (Pick: Oregon 42-28)
An instant classic. and a landmark win for the program. Down the stretch Oregon executed their offense, a swarming defense bottled up the USC attack and the Ducks took full advantage of the three second half turnovers they were able to force. USC's defense was all they were advertised to be and more, but Dennis Dixon was flawless. and Jonathan Stewart ground out 103 of the toughest yards you will ever see. However this season plays out for the Ducks, this tape is going to be in the VCR for a long time to come.
Washington State 27 - UCLA 7 (Pick: WSU 23-17)
The Bruins got what they had coming to them. Losses to Utah and Notre Dame gave them no right to be sitting at 4-0 in the Pac-10 and the Cougs gave a good exhibition as to why. Dwight Tardy rushed for 214 yards and Alex Brink was 28/46 and 271 more through the air. Pretenders the Bruins were and pretenders they will remain.
Week 10
UCLA @ Arizona
If the stench of this game weren't so overpowering, it might actually be an entertaining comedy of errors. Neither team should win. Arizona probably will, 38-16
Washington @ Stanford
Washington should win this game. Jake Locker alone should be enough for the Huskies to come away with their first conference win. But they won't - their defense will fritter away all of Locker's offensive production and the Huskies will be 0-6. If I were Locker, I'd make the defense walk home. Stanford 38- Washed Up Huskies 27
Arizona State @ Oregon
For the second Saturday in a row, the conference heavyweights will go toe-to-toe in Autzen Stadium. Oregon's offense was held to about half of their season averages in yards and in points by a very physical and very fast USC defense last week but the Sun Devils aren't of that caliber. Although any Dennis Erickson team is dangerous, in his first year with the program there isn't the athleticism his teams normally have though it is true the Sun Devils have been much more productive than they were last year on the offensive side of the ball. Another concern is that nearly all of ASU's games have been at home, they have not faced a quality team away from Tempe and it is awfully late in the season for a team to be faced with that for the first time. Autzen's crowd will get to them, Oregon's offense lit them up last year in Tempe and will do so again and the Duck defense - which has steadily improved all season - will put more pressure on ASU quarterback Rudy Carpenter than he has seen since the last time he faced them. Oregon 45-23.
Oregon State @ USC
It would not be hard to pick the Beavs for the upset - SC isn't the offensive juggernaut that it has been the past few seasons and as noted above the Beaver defense has been stout and seems to really be coming into its own. Quarterback John David Booty will return after being out three weeks for the Trojans so it isn't out of the realm of possibility that he will be less than sharp. The problem with picking the upset is I just don't see enough offense from the Beavers in the face of a terrific Trojan defense to win the game. USC 21 - OSU 13
Washington State @ California
After last weekend's second half performance I'm betting the protesters that had been living in the trees surrounding Memorial Stadium weren't evicted by a court order, I'm guessing they were driven out by Tedford's maniacal afternoon practice sessions. If ever a team deserved getting the riot act read to them, the Bears are it and I assume the head coach made his point. Too bad for the Cougs they had to be the first to come calling. California 38- WSU 17
