DuckNews.com - OoPac 11/09/07

Four of five on the picks last week is much more to my liking - and puts the season tally at 37-21. Now the conference race hits the stretch run and it's a far different picture than was imagined last August. California, UCLA, and to a lesser degree USC have fallen short of expectations. With Dennis Erickson at the helm it was expected ASU would be improved but I don't think anyone envisioned them starting out 8-0. A stalwart defense in Corvallis hasn't been enough to offset an inconsistent offense. Arizona remains an enigma - dangerous at times but also absolutely woefull in a number of games they should have won. Stanford knocking off SC is perhaps more difficult to believe now than it was when it happened, and the Cougs haven't been good on both sides of the ball for one game yet. Jake Locker has been entertaining in Seattle but the Huskies for the most part haven't been. Then there are the Ducks... unlike the rest of the conference Oregon has met each of their challenges and avoided - so far - playing down to the competition, no small feat in the Pac-10 this year. Before we get to this week's predictions let's review last weekend's action.

Arizona 34 - UCLA 27 (Pick: Arizona 38-16)

This wasn't as close a game as the score indicates, Arizona took control of the game in the second quarter and built a 34-17 lead before surrendering 10 mostly meaningless points to the Bruins in the fourth. The Wildcats gained 341 of their 469 total yards through the air but interestingly could only convert three of fourteen third downs.

Washington 27 - Stanford 9 (Pick: Stanford 38-27)

Had the 27 right for the Huskies - but how I came to think the Cardinal would score 38 is beyond me. Neither team can get to the end of the season quick enough.

Oregon 35 - Arizona State 23 (Pick: Oregon 45-23)

Again on the large stage, the Ducks were as good as any team in the nation. I don't think ASU was as good a team as USC but the Ducks were able to avoid any hangover after their defeat of the Trojans and methodically put a good thumping on the Sun Devils in the first half. Then they spent the second half playing some of the best defense Autzen Stadium has seen in a while, Rudy Carpenter probably still hears footsteps - defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti used every blitz in the book and bounced the ASU quarterback all over Rich Brooks field. Fitting they did so on the day that the defensive minded Brooks returned to Autzen to be honored for his selection to the U of O Athletic Hall of Fame.

USC 24 -Oregon State 3 (Pick: USC 21-13)

You need more than three points to beat the Trojans and with Sean Canfield injured and Yvenson Bernard at less than 100% the Beavs had little to no ability to get into the end zone.

California 20 - Washington State 17 (Pick: California 38-17)

The Bears snapped a three-game losing string with the victory at home, but one can't help but marvel at how far the Bears have slipped from their lofty pre-season expectations. From Pac-10 and BCS contender to needing a Justin Forsett 44-yard touchdown run with less than three minutes remaining to ice a victory over the 1-5 Cougars. Not what Tedford had imagined after he walked out of Autzen a month ago, I'll wager.

Week 11

Arizona State @ UCLA

A great game for ASU to get well with after suffering their first loss of the season to the Ducks last Saturday at Autzen. "Stick a fork" in the Bruins is an appropriate metaphor for the Sun Devils - and I expect they will, ASU 35-10

USC @ California

Back in September this game was viewed as potentially the conference championship game. Now it's for the Sun Bowl for the Bears. After a month of uninspiring football, it's hard to imagine the Bears pulling off what would now be considered an upset. The Trojans have much more to play for and are probably as healthy as they have been all season. USC 34 - Bad News Bears 24

Stanford @ Washington State

If the Trees can manage only nine points against the Huskies in Palo Alto, they aren't scoring many more when the snow starts flying this weekend on the Palouse. The whisky in the flask numbs the winter chill in Martin Stadium and the Cougs light them up pretty good, 34-7.

Washington @ Oregon State

Lyle Moevao will start at QB for the Bennies and that's the good news. The bad news is that it is going to be cold and it's going to rain - probably hard. I'd rather have the ball in Jake Locker's hands. Washington 27-13