Back to back 5-3 weeks with the prognostications and happy to be at 17-8 for the year. Even if on the wrong side of the pick it is fun to watch the meltdown continue in Tucson and the pick of the Huskies over the Buckeyes was borne of Pac-10 loyalty. UCLA's debacle in Salt Lake City was so far off the radar it's difficult to second guess last week's assumption the Bruins would prevail. Nevertheless, 5-3 doesn't pay for the lifestyle that OoPac prefers and with conference play about to begin it doesn't get any easier. First we review the games of last weekend -
Ohio State 33 - Washington 14 (Pick: Washington 27-17)
Four turnovers sent Washington's upset hopes into the depths of nearby Lake Washington and turned a 10-7 halftime lead into a 27-7 deficit late in the fourth quarter, leaving an exchange of last minute touchdowns by each of the teams as nothing more than peanut shells on the floor.
Utah 44 - UCLA 6 (Pick: UCLA 31-14)
If Appalachian State hadn't upset Michigan a couple of weeks back, this would be the lead-pipe lock for the upset of the year. Unfathomable. And the Bruins lost their best defensive lineman and best offensive lineman in the process. Five turnovers and 10 penalties. Abysmal.
California 42 - Louisiana Tech 12 (Pick: California 45-10)
No surprise here, just a minor intrigue about the health of DeSean Jackson as Pac-10 play begins.
Oregon State 61 - Idaho State 10 (Pick: OS 27-7)
A second week of practice time clearly improved the timing between Canfield and Stroughter. Without the pass rush Canfield will face against most Pac-10 teams, Idaho State's defense also isn't much of a measure for those 61 points. But, true this; 61 points is a bunch of points and seemed well out of reach of an offense that had been dysfunctional in their previous outing. Show me twice.
Oregon 52 - Fresno State 21 (Pick: Oregon 41-20)
It wouldn't be a surprise to find offensive coordinator Chip Kelly on track coach Vin Lananna's staff this spring. At least that was the thought as Jonathan Stewart left the Bulldogs in his contrails.
USC 49 - Nebraska 31 (Pick: USC 45-12)
413. 115. 31. If so inclined one could extrapolate a significantly large negative number from that progression. The Huskers are sure to break that trend of yards gained rushing against Nevada, Wake Forrest and USC respectively when they take the field against Ball State this week, but if you wear red overalls, you can't be very optimistic about running against anybody with a heartbeat. But then again, did you see Colarado??? Pew. and the Huskers do play the weakest division of the shallowest conference in the nation. so we may get to see them get shellacked again in the conference championship game and a bowl game. Just can't get too much of that can ya???
Arizona State 34 - San Diego State 13 (Pick: 31-17)
Pedestrian is a kind adjective for the quality of the Sun Devil pre-season, but as Dennis Erickson remakes ASU, those type games are more beneficial than testing yourself before you are ready. The penalty issue has again appeared and that has short-circuited Erickson's teams before and a sad truth is that like turnovers - if you suffer them in the early season, you tend to suffer them in the bigger games later in the schedule. Post-Erickson criticism from Idaho is a bit louder than it has been in the past so it will be interesting to see how this unfolds. His biggest advantage is the nuclear implosion 90 miles down I-10.
New Mexico 29 - Arizona 27 (Pick: Arizona 24-13)
As bad a day as ex-Arizona coach Dick Tomey had (San Jose State, below), it wasn't as bad a day as it was for the man who fired him, Wildcat Athletic Direct Jim Livengood. What Tomey saw was disappointing no doubt - but it wasn't dysfunctional. That's what Livengood saw on the sidelines as penalties, turnovers and the Lobos demolished any shred of self-respect that program could claim. Atrocious.
Stanford 37 - San Jose State 0 (Pick: Stanford 17-14)
San Jose State's performance must have been frustrating to Toomey. his is a young team but giving up 506 total yards to Stanford and gaining only 32 on the ground against the Pac-10's worst defense has to have him pulling his hair out. He should have scheduled Notre Dame instead.
Washington State 45 - Idaho 28 (Pick: WSU 45-13)
Surrendering four scores to the Vandals doesn't bode well for the Cougs when they hit the conference, but Alex Brink and his unit has shown themselves to be able to get into the endzone. That's always a good thing in the Pac-10.
Week 4
Arizona at California
Only if thoughts of payback for last year's upset in Tucson are too overwhelming for the Bears to play freely and intelligently do the Wildcats have a chance in Strawberry Canyon. If the Bears take care of the ball early and are patient with their offense, they will have their revenge. in a big way. California 49 - Arizona 10
Washington State at USC
USC will roll, but it will be interesting to see how effective Brink can be against the Trojans. It's clear anyone in the conference who wants to beat them will need their defense to play well and the offense to score at least 24 points. If the Cougs are able to get into the endzone with some regularity, it would be encouraging for those who are better than Washington State on the other side of the ball.
Oregon at Stanford
When things look too easy, they generally are. But if Oregon doesn't turn the ball over, the Ducks are too physical and too fast for the Trees to keep up. With all the flash and dash of the spread, Oregon is notably physical in space and Stanford is going to get pounded 48 - 17
Oregon State at Arizona State
If ASU struggles in this game, the Beavs might find a building block win in Tempe that could serve them well over the rest of the schedule. But the Sun Devils should make the adjustment from the sub-par quality of their non-conference opponents quickly enough to prevail over their first Pac-10 opponent - however tenuous that description may be in light of the lingering recollections of Cincinnati.
Washington at UCLA
Work the math one way and the Huskies win as the Bruin season spirals away. Work the math another and the Bruins regain some focus and retrench. Each team's chance for victory last weekend was lost in an avalanche of turnovers. Washington appears more likely to correct that flaw than the Bruins at this point - but only marginally. Montlake's Marauders 27 - Bad Bruins 18
