Pac-12 Roundup Week 8

(It's heating up for Coach Wulff.)

Sorry for the delay in getting this out. I’ll spend less time talking about what happened last week and more about what is to come with this weekend’s upcoming slate of games.

There were quite a few surprises in the Pac-12 last weekend, not so much in the winners, but by how much some teams rolled others en route to big wins. There wasn’t a single close victory in any conference game. You could call it “blowout weekend” if you will.

Arizona 48 UCLA 12
Lowdown: What a mess of a game. The Wildcats played their first game without Mike Stoops, the they came out firing on all cylinders. Nick Foles was his usual efficient self, but the biggest surprise was how poor UCLA’s defense looked against AZ’s rushing attack which had been considered at best, poor all season long. The larger story was the embarrassing scuffle that broke out between both squads. The fight occurred while referees were distracted by a streaker who had been disguised as an umpire. You can’t make this up. The result were suspensions and a seat that’s scorching for UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel.

Up Next:
The Wildcats see if they can continue their winning ways as they finally settle into the soft part of their schedule. However, Arizona can’t be favored in their matchup against Washington at Seattle. I anticipate the Wildcats dropping this one, before possibly winning three of their final four games after. It’s a lost season for Arizona, but finishing 5-7 would be a nice finish for a once desolate squad.

UCLA has to find answers as they host our sturdy Golden Bears this weekend. On top of Neuheisel’s hot seat, the Bruins have to battle six suspensions, the loss of senior safety Tony Dye, and what was easily their worst performance of the year. How the Bruins play against the Bears will say a lot about their fortitude, and perhaps more tellingly, their ability to rally behind their embattled coach.


Oregon 45 Colorado 2
Lowdown: Poor, poor Colorado. A brutal schedule that includes 13 regular season games in 13 weeks. The suspension of most players in their secondary. The loss of their top two offensive players. This is how your write the recipe for a disastrous season. Despite the absence of Darron Thomas and LaMichael James, the Ducks steamrolled Colorado. They could have started their second stringers, and elected not to pass a single down, and would still have pulled this one out.

Up Next:
Things get worse for Colorado. Much worse. They go to Tempe to face the Sun Devils, and then host USC the week after. Their only chance for hope next season, is to pull off two wins out of their final three games which include Arizona, UCLA and Utah. They should get receiver Paul Richardson back for that game, and even finishing with three wins would give fans in Colorado some hope that things will be better next year. I mean they have to, right?

Oregon will continue in their winning ways and improve to 7-1 when they host WSU this weekend. They will hopefully get both Thomas and James back for their critical three game stretch against Washington, Stanford, and USC. I think the Ducks are capable of winning all three, but without the aforementioned players at full strength, the Ducks are likely to drop at least one. Don’t be surprised if it’s to the Huskies next Saturday.

USC 31 Notre Dame 17
Lowdown: The Trojans shocked the nation in steamrolling the Domers for the bajillionth time. Most had thought Notre Dame had turned the season around and USC was showing signs of cracking at any moment. Most were wrong as USC made a statement game that they were still indeed capable of beating most teams. Notre Dame showed that BCS bowl talks were premature, and quite frankly, a bit ridiculous.

Up Next:
USC’s 6-1 on the season. And that win against Notre Dame was impressive. You have to give them that. But I still maintain that this is at best, a “good” team. This isn’t just sour grapes, and I think you’re going to see that over the next few weeks. The Trojans will still likely finish with 9 wins, but I think they get rolled by the Cardinal this weekend, and likely drop their matchup against Oregon as well.

Stanford 65 Washington 21
Lowdown: The biggest knock against the Cardinal was that they hadn’t played anybody of actual strength. Let’s be honest here, Stanford’s front schedule is incredibly soft. Then came along Washington, and the Cardinal rolled up 400+ yards on the ground and 65 points. It was Stanford’s most dominant performance of the season and reason to believe they are actual national contenders. WTF, Washington.

Up Next:
Here’s where Stanford proves their mettle. They face USC this weekend, and finish their season against Oregon, Cal (rivalry game), and Notre Dame. The Cardinal should be favored in all three. There’s a very real possibility Stanford plays for the national title this year. I think Stanford is quite good, and a top 10 team, but I don’t think they’re national title caliber. The Pac-12 isn’t that strong this season, and their biggest threat Oregon, is another dislocated elbow away from being Alamo Bowl bound. The stars appear aligned for Stanford, it’s just up to Andrew Luck, I mean Stanford to take advantage of the situation.

Washington has been one of the biggest surprises in the conference this season, but showed they’re still a season away from challenging for the conference elite. They’re still one of the better teams in the conference however, particularly on offense. They face a suddenly dangerous Arizona team, and you have to think Huskies fans are already wringing their hands at the idea of Nick Holt’s defense facing Arizona’s passing attack. I’m thinking the Huskies finish with 8 wins this year.

Oregon State 44 WSU 21
Lowdown: Both teams battled it out, but Oregon State answered every time WSU made some attempt at making it a game. The Beavers played filthy on defense, and knocked out quarterback Jeff Tuel early in the game. The Beavers just might be finding that mid-season magic again, as their offense has found a way to score behind freshman QB Sean Mannion. They’ve averaged over 36 points in their past three games.

Up Next:
Despite their improvements, OSU is still just 2-5 over the easiest portion of their schedule. Their remaining schedule includes Utah, Stanford, Cal, Washington and Oregon. I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Beavers slated to lose all of them. How they perform against Utah and Stanford will be critical. If their defense can continue to play aggressive, and if the offense continues to click under Mannion, this Bear fan will find himself weeping the week before and after the Cal game.

Washington State on the other hand is seeing a once-promising season swirl down the drain. The Cougars have lost three in a row in a critical three game stretch against UCLA, Stanford and Oregon State. Bowl Eligibility depended greatly on the Cougars winning two, but at the very least one of those games. They enter in the toughest stretch of their schedule, and to be honest, I can’t see WSU finding three wins with Oregon, Cal, ASU, Utah and Washington lined up. Coach Wulff’s job might the least secure after Neuheisel in the Pac-12.