California 45 - Arizona 27 (Pick: California 49-10)

Arizona's defense is giving up points by the boatload, wasting the increased offensive productivity the Wildcats have found in the spread offense installed by Sonny Dykes. Still there is progress of sorts to report for the Wildcats - Mike Stoops wasn't penalized for a sideline temper tantrum.

USC 47 - Washington State 14 (Pick: USC 37 - 17 )

In their previous two games, USC had been a reincarnation of "Tailback U" - pounding teams with the running game. Against the Cougs, it was an aerial attack - USC quarterback John David Booty accumulated 289 yards passing and connected on four touchdown passes as the Trojans opened the defense of their Pac-10 conference championship.

Oregon 55 - Stanford 31 (Pick: Oregon 48-17 )

If it weren't for the turnovers in the second period, the final score would have more closely resembled the predicted tally. An important lesson in resiliency is available for the Ducks - but the more important lesson is abstinence. Squander a 21-7 lead against anyone else in the conference and the Ducks get beat - and if that isn't the lesson they found in their second half comeback, they will have missed the point.

Arizona State 44 - Oregon State 32 (Pick: ASU 35-21 )

Blowing a 19-0 lead - and overthrowing a wide open receiver that would have given the Beavers a 26-0 advantage - may end up defining the 2007 season for the Beavers.

UCLA  44 - Washington 31 (Pick: Washington 27-18 )

UCLA took advantage of a suspect Husky run defense to the tune of 333 yards and pounded the Dawgs into submission, Chris Markey's 72-yard fourth quarter scamper serving as the coup de grace. With that the luster of the Huskies' defeat of Boise State in the season's second week is tarnished and those notions of avoiding the basement regions of  the conference standings seem more farfetched in Seattle.

Week 5

California at Oregon

Clearly the marquis game on Saturday's schedule - it is hard to imagine a scenario that would disappoint college football fans. Two experienced and prolific offenses and neither team has seen their defense take control of a ballgame. Turnovers are always a key factor and the thought is Oregon got them out of their system in last weekend's game at Stanford. Jeff Tedford's California team has also experienced a couple of injuries to their defensive unit. Add the Autzen field advantage - Cal hasn't won in Eugene since the Clinton administration - and it's not so much a heart-on-my-sleeve pick to go with the Ducks 47 - 32.

USC at Washington

Trojans; 55 - 17, whatever niceties Pete Carroll has to say about UDub quarterback Jake Locker.

Arizona State at Stanford

The Sun Devils take to the road for the first time in 2007 and they couldn't have picked an easier place to do so. If the Cardinal ever do start winning football games again and someone starts showing up for their games, Stanford's new stadium could become a very intimidating place to play, maybe second only to Autzen in the Pac-10. But that's a long way down the road from this Saturday night. ASU 38 - 17

UCLA at Oregon State

Had the Huskies been able to deliver a knock-out punch to the Bruins last Saturday, the odds of a Beaver victory would have skyrocketed. Ben Olson returns to the starting line-up for UCLA, but back-up Patrick Cowan was injured against Washington, leaving a walk-on quarterback as the back-up. That is probably the only opportunity OS has for the win but truthfully, the Beaver defense hasn't shown itself to be particularly forceful.
The Beavs will also be without one of their best offensive players, WR Sammie Stroughter - so it will be a long uphill climb if there is to be an upset.  UCLA 35 - OS 21

Washington State at Arizona

Whoddathunk that other than Oregon/California, this match-up could be the most offensive minded of the week's contests. Alex Brink and the Cougs have just enough more moxie, intelligence and discipline to come away with a 38-27 road win.