Week Eight

Saturday, October 24

California 49 - Washington State 17 (pick: California 53-13)

Game over ten minutes into the first quarter. Bears open up a 28-3 first quarter lead and then there was a late surge in sales for game programs as all the subs got in the game.

Oregon 43 - Washington 19 (pick: Oregon 37-13)

Blocked punt for a touchdown, two interceptions deep in their own territory to keep Washington off the scoreboard and a 21-point third quarter as the Ducks won their sixth consecutive game against the Huskies. Only downer is the first offensive touchdown allowed in 15 quarters for Nick Aliotti's defense. All in all a pretty good Saturday afternoon in Seattle.

Arizona 27 - UCLA 13 (pick: Arizona 28-13)

How bad is UCLA? The Bruins had five takeaways from Arizona and still lost. Bruin offense racked up 211 yards of scintillating offense while allowing the Wildcats 27 first downs and 456 total yards. Imagine what those numbers would be without the five interrupted possessions.

USC 42 - Oregon State 36 (pick: USC 28-17)

More than once, the Trojans seemed to have driven the final nail in the Beavers coffin only to see one of the Rodgers brothers make a play or Sean Canfield would find TE Joe Halahuni for a key completion to get OS back within striking distance. The Beavers carved up the USC defense for 482 total yards but nine penalties a fumble and a missed field goal didn't help the cause.

Stanford 33 - Arizona State 14 (pick: Stanford 34-17)

The Sun Devils are toast - done, self-impaled by Sparky's pitchfork. Arizona State may be worse than Washington State on offense and the defense has regressed each week. And like the Cougs - it doesn't appear that Arizona State is anywhere close to solving any of their concerns in the next year or two. Maybe Dennis should have stayed at Idaho.

Week Nine

Saturday, October 31

California at Arizona State

I suppose if you have to face Oregon then USC back to back the universal karma of the schedule SHOULD give you the Cougs and ASU back to back. Ted-Heads run wild in the desert 42-13.

UCLA at Oregon State

Game pick is a no brainer, Benny's by a bunch 35-10. That out of the way, a nod to senior OS quarterback Lyle Moevao. Last year's starter for the Beavers never fully recovered from off season shoulder surgery then injured his foot in practice this week, ending his collegiate career. While Sean Canfield has emerged as a solid signal caller over the past month, it was Moevao who led the Beavers to their Civil War win in Autzen two seasons ago and directed the OS offense as they made a run at the roses last year. It's tough to lose your senior year to injury and Moevao deserved better.

Washington State at Notre Dame (in San Antonio, Texas)

There is a strong temptation to pick the Cougs in an upset. Notre Dame's record is a crass overstatement. To illustrate the point, it is a safe assumption that Washington State will not win a game in conference this season. If Notre Dame were a member of the Pac-10 they would win at most two conference games: Washington and unfortunately this one 27-13. By definition a 2-8 Pac-10 team is living in zip code pretty close to Pullman.

USC at Oregon

This USC defense is not on par with Trojan teams of the recent past and Oregon's defense is as fast or faster than the USC offense. Oregon's special teams have found a way to contribute in every game as well. Turnovers could short circuit their advantage, but this Duck team is as poised and confident a team as you will find and they will play their best game yet on Halloween. Oregon 34-21.