A classic example of how what should have been a 3-1 week can turn 180 degrees on a guy - quarterback injuries, unwelcome underachievement again in Seattle and Stanford being ... well, Stanford by not showing up for Notre Dame - perhaps they were looking ahead to this weeks Big Game. Before we look ahead to a strong finish on what is now a 41-28 record with the picks, we will quickly look back at last week's games.

USC 44 - ASU 24 (Pick: USC 48-21)

About as figured - USC is healthy and hitting their stride, rumors of their demise apparently greatly exagerated. The Sun Devils were overmatched from start to finish as the Trojans positioned themselves for a record sixth straight conference championship.

UCLA 16 - Oregon 0  (Pick: Oregon 31-17)

Once Brady Leaf went down with what appears now to be a season ending injury this game became something far removed from anything one would have imagined from the Ducks. With two quarterbacks getting their first meaningful game experience there wasn't a lot of offensive firepower available - and UCLA was able to use three Oregon turnovers to build a 9-0 lead before the Duck defense finally surrendered a touchdown late in the fourth quarter. A sorry, sorry turn of events for a team that had been both potent and entertaining offensively.

Notre Dame 21 - Stanford 14 (Pick: Stanford 24-17)

Not too much of a surprise perhaps - the game was basically a pick 'em from the start... but despite the improvements this year under first year coach Jim Harbaugh, this loss serves to demonstrate how far the Cardinal have yet to go...

Washington State 42 -Washington 35 (Pick: Washington 28-17)

A week after suffering too many turnovers to count in a loss to Oregon State, senior quarterback Alex Brink rallies the Cougs back to steal the Apple Cup out from under the Huskie's noses... a fine way to end what was a very solid career for the WSU signal caller, but not enough to save Bill Doba's job as the head coach

Week 14

UCLA @ USC

UCLA has no chance and it shouldn't be close. USC, playing for the Rose Bowl berth and their sixth consecutive conference championship is probably playing their best football of the season and after last year's upset at the hands of the Bruins you can rest assured this date has been circled on Pete Carroll's calendar. USC 55-10

Oregon State @ Oregon

If ever there was a season to break the home team's stranglehold on this series it is this year. Oregon's offense is a hollow shell of its former self and the Beaver defense is close to the best in the conference. But special teams and turnovers may be the determining factor and the weather is likely to play a role as well and given the only team in the conference nearly as beat up as the Ducks are the Beavers - might as well stick with the trend one more year... Oregon 17 - 13.

California @ Stanford

If Stanford can't beat Notre Dame, they certainly aren't beating California. The Bears haven't enjoyed the season they expected in Strawberry Canyon but running up 50 on the Cardinal would go a long way to erase some of those painful memories. Cal 52-Felled Trees 10

Arizona @ Arizona State

As distasteful as it is to do so, the pick has to go with the Wildcats. Their losses to the Ducks and the Trojans over the past three weeks have shown the Sun Devils to be something of a paper tiger - able to look impressive against the lesser lights in the conference but unable to stand toe-to-toe with teams that are good on both sides of the ball. Arizona isn't a great team, but they are better than ASU at this point and will thwart a Fiesta Bowl invite that appears to be waiting to be extended to the home town team. Arizona 33 - ASU 21

Washington @ Hawaii

A BCS bowl berth is at stake for the Rainbow Warriors and after pinning the first conference loss in two years on Boise State last weekend, it doesn't appear they will be denied in the season's last week. And after their late collapse against the Cougs - it is hard to imagine Washington offering much resistance to Colt Brennan and the lethal Hawaii offense. At least the Huskies will be able to enjoy some beach time... Hawaii 48 - 13