Thank you,
Dave and Sam

EAGLEBANK BOWL
Washington, D.C.
UCLA Bruins (6-6) VS. Temple Owls (9-3)
Tuesday, December 29, 1:30 PM PST
Las Vegas Favorite: UCLA -4.5

Sam’s Take (56 – 22):

For the first time ever, UCLA and Temple will meet on a football field. The Bruins (with help from Navy) travel to Washington D.C. with a chance at a winning season. Meanwhile, Temple enters the EagleBank Bowl as one of the feel good stories of the 2009 season. The Owls are making just their third bowl appearance in program history.

The Bruins and Owls share quite a few statistical similarities, as both teams struggle on offense (UCLA 88th nationally in total offense, Temple 89th) but are considerably better defensively (UCLA 39th in total defense, Temple 37th).

If Rick Neuheisel is going to build momentum with this UCLA program then losing to Temple is out of the question. The Bruins won’t gain much respect with a win over the Owls, but a loss would set the program even further back in an increasingly competitive Pac-10 conference.

Temple hasn’t faced a team with UCLA’s talent since September 19th vs. Penn State. While I don’t expect the Owls to be blown out 31-6 (as was the case against the Nittany Lions), I do expect the Bruins to impose their will, especially on defense.

Al Golden’s club has one of the worst passing offenses in America (112th nationally in passing offense), which means UCLA will load the box to contain the excellent Temple rushing attack. DT Brian Price, LB Reggie Carter, and LB Akeem Ayers should get plenty of work.

Like many Pac-10 teams, the Bruins could use this extra month of practice time, continuing to developing freshman QB Kevin Prince. Prince was inconsistent throughout the regular season, but a solid effort on the east coast should give him something to build on heading into the off-season. Prince will face a Temple defense that ranks 74th nationally in pass defense, so he will certainly get the opportunity to make big plays.

The weather probably wont be great, and while Temple is used to playing in bad conditions I still expect UCLA to prevail. The Bruins can’t afford to take any opponent lightly and I don’t think they will overlook an Owls team that will treat this bowl like the national championship.

I expect UCLA to set the tone on defense and make enough noise on offense to pull away.

Prediction: UCLA 28 – Temple 14

UCLA Player to Keep an Eye On: WR Nelson Rosario – The physical Rosario is a difficult match-up for most defenses, and I expect the Temple DB’s to struggle with his combination of size and speed.

Temple Player to Keep an Eye On: RB Bernard Pierce – Pierce has been sensational for the Owls (1,308 yards rushing, 15 TDs) this season. He battled injury late in the season, but should be back strong for this game.

Dave’s Take (57 – 20):

If nothing else this year, UCLA showed that they could win the games they were supposed to win.

The Bruins played seven games against teams that finished with a winning record, and were 1-6 against those teams (with Tennessee being the only victory).

Against teams 6-6 or lower? A perfect 5-0.

Technically, obviously enough, Temple does fall into the winning record category. That said, picking up wins in the ultra-competitive Pac-10 and SEC is a bit more difficult than doing so in the MAC.

In fact, of the other three teams in the MAC with a winning record (Central Michigan, Ohio, and Bowling Green), Temple managed to only play one; @Ohio, a 35-17 loss.

As great of a season and a story as it has been for Temple, their very underwhelming schedule makes it hard for me to make a case that they belong in the tier of teams that beat UCLA (Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, Cal, USC, Arizona) and not in the tier of teams that UCLA beat (including Kansas State and Washington).

Simply put, UCLA is the more talented team top to bottom; and when that has been the case this season, The Bruins have gone out and won the football game. Motivation shouldn’t be a problem, either; while this is only the third bowl appearance in Temple’s history, the Bruins have struggled to get into a bowl recently, and a bowl win would be a fantastic way to cap off the season.

UCLA should take care of business with a strong defensive effort and bring the Pac-10 to .500 in bowl season play.

Prediction: UCLA 27 – Temple 13

MAACO BOWL LAS VEGAS
Las Vegas, Nevada
#18 Oregon State Beavers (8-4) VS. #14 BYU Cougars (10-2)
Tuesday, December 22, 5:00 PM PST

SAN DIEGO COUNTY CREDIT UNION POINSETTIA BOWL
San Diego, California
#23 Utah Utes (9-3) VS. Cal Bears (8-4)
Wednesday, December 23, 5:00 PM PST

EMERALD BOWL
San Francisco, California
Boston College Eagles (8-4) VS. #24 USC Trojans (8-4)
Saturday, December 26, 5:00 PM PST

PACIFIC LIFE HOLIDAY BOWL
San Diego, California
#20 Arizona Wildcats (8-4) VS. #22 Nebraska Cornhuskers (9-4)
Wednesday, December 30, 5:00 PM PST

BRUT SUN BOWL
El Paso, Texas
Oklahoma Sooners (7-5) VS. #21 Stanford Cardinal (8-4)
Thursday, December 31, 11:00 AM PST

ROSE BOWL GAME PRESENTED BY CITI
Pasadena, California
#8 Ohio State Buckeyes (10-2) VS. #7 Oregon Ducks (10-2)
Friday, January 1, 1:30 PM PST

UCLA – *UCLA will receive invite to the EagleBank Bowl if Navy defeats Army

UCLA Bruins (6-5) vs. USC Trojans (7-3)
Saturday, November 28, 7:00 PM PST
Las Vegas Favorite: USC -13.0
*AllPac10 Game of the Week*

Sam’s Take (49 – 19):

Thanks to Pete Carroll and Rick Neuheisel college football fans have been reintroduced to one of the most visually attractive rivalries in all of sports. Let the pageantry commence, as Powder Blue faces Cardinal Red in the Coliseum this Saturday!

Rivalry games are always intriguing regardless of the participants’ win-loss record, but this year’s edition of the City Championship looks more evenly matched than it has in a while. USC has struggled in virtually every phase of the game in recent weeks, while UCLA has steadily improved (albeit against far weaker competition). As I study this game, four areas stand out.

1. QB Play – Contrary to most “insiders” expectations at the start of the season, freshmen QBs Kevin Prince and Matt Barkley have produced very similar seasons. Barkley has completed 57.9 % of his passes while throwing for 2035 yards 11 TDs, 10 INTs in nine games. Prince counters with 1739 yards 6 TDs 5 INTs and a 57.6% completion percentage in nine games. Barkley may have a slight edge, but it seems fair to suggest that no team has a decided advantage at QB.

2. Turnover Margin – UCLA ranks 17th nationally in turnover margin at .73, while ‘SC ranks 79th nationally at -.30. This statistic can be vital to deciding the outcome of a game, so the Bruins hope the season trend continues.

3. Sacks – Despite the struggles of the ‘SC defense, Rocky Seto’s unit still ranks 3rd nationally in sacks (32). The UCLA o-line has looked better in recent weeks, but the Bruins still rank 85th nationally in sacks allowed (27). If ‘SC can consistently pressure Prince, the Trojans will have an excellent shot to win the game.

4. ‘SC run game versus UCLA run defense – amidst all the chaos for ‘SC this season Joe McKnight and Allen Bradford have played very well. The UCLA D ranks 64th nationally against the run, so ‘SC should be able to establish a ground game.

Regardless of what the uniforms say, I see two very evenly matched teams in this one. The UCLA defense is playing opportunistic football and I also like the Bruins special teams. But if WR Damian Williams is even close to healthy, the Trojans offensive attack becomes a completely different animal. Williams was recently cleared to play by doctors and he is a true difference maker in the passing and punt return game.

Ultimately, I believe the Trojans will do just enough to retain the Victory Bell in a very closely contested game.

Prediction: USC 27 – UCLA 23

UCLA Player to Keep an Eye On: LB Akeem Ayers - Ayers has been fantastic in recent weeks, and I expect him to line up on the edges in certain situations to further boost the pass rush.

USC Player to Keep an Eye On: FB Stanley Havili - Havili has battled injury problems all year but he is still a dynamic playmaker for the offense. I expect him to have a bigger role this week.

Dave’s Take (50 – 18):

It’s been a pretty lopsided series over the past two decades with each side taking its turn as the dominant one; from 1991-1998, the Bruins won eight straight; from 1999-2008, the Trojans have won 9 of the 10. The lone exception, as USC fans will painfully remember, was in 2006, which cost the team a trip to the BCS Championship Game.

That, though, is what is missing from this year’s game; a team playing with something to lose. From 2003-2008, despite knowing they had a strangle-hold on the series, the USC Trojans and their fans were still anxious about the game against their pesky rival because a slip-up always meant potentially missing out on the Rose Bowl (or, in 2006’s case, the National Championship).

UCLA is already bowl eligible. USC is already out of Rose Bowl contention.

Yes, a UCLA win solidifies their bowl resume, and yes, a USC win keeps them in the running for a trip to the Holiday Bowl. But that’s just not as high-stakes as we’re used to.

So who comes out on top when the only motivatation is the purest type; pride and bragging rights? While they certainly haven’t inspired blind confidence this season, I can’t pick against USC in this spot.

While it is important to acknowledge how awful the Trojans’ defense has been, it’s also important to point out that the teams they’ve been torched by (Notre Dame, Oregon State, Oregon, Stanford) do all have top-notch offenses. UCLA ranks 88th in total yards and 90th in points scored; nearly identical, in fact, to the Arizona State offense that USC completely shut down in Tempe.

You will also remember however that that was a game that USC could have easily lost thanks to the outstanding play of ASU’s defense. UCLA’s defense is also capible of coming up big, and Kevin Prince may not gift-wrap the Trojans seven points like Danny Sullivan did on an ill-advised throw for a pick-6.

Because of UCLA’s defense, I’m not going to say it will be easy for the Trojans. I do however expect the defense to stymie UCLA’s offense all day, and I’m expecting them to be playing with a huge chip on their shoulder after getting embarassed at home against Stanford last time out.

And lastly, while I still give UCLA plenty of credit for their big win in Tennessee, it was the only win of their six over a team with a better-than-.500 record (barely at 6-5, and with @Kentucky looming, even the Vols may end up at 6-6). UCLA has played plenty of very good teams tough this year, but they’ve always proven to be a noticeable step behind when playing against top-notch teams.

I’m not ready to say that USC is no longer a top-notch team, and I’m not ready to put UCLA over that hump yet. If they prove me wrong on the field, though, all of Rick Neuheisel’s talk about the gap closing between the two schools won’t just be empty words anymore.

Prediction: USC 24 – UCLA 13

UCLA Bruins 6-5 Overall (3-5 Conference)

This Week’s Score: UCLA 23 – Arizona State 13

Next Week’s Opponent: @USC

UCLA is bowl eligible for the first time in the Rick Neuheisel era, and best of all; the team seems to be getting better every week. The Bruins were by no means perfect in their win over Arizona State on Saturday, but they probably would have lost a game like this last season. Instead, UCLA prevailed at the Rose Bowl by playing opportunistic football, especially on defense.

In last season’s meeting with ASU, the Bruins were victims of an astounding four defensive touchdowns, which fueled a 34-9 route for the Devils. The Bruins got sweet revenge this season, as the D forced six Sun Devil turnovers and scored two touchdowns.

It cannot be overstated how valuable DT Brian Price is to this team. I saw him blow up the line of scrimmage multiple times on Saturday, which was instrumental in forcing all of the sacks (4) and turnovers. The linebackers also played as well as they have all season, especially Akeem Ayers who is only a sophomore. Lastly, you have to feel good for CB Alterraun Verner. Verner played his last game at the Rose Bowl, and its fitting that a player who has created so many amazing moments in Pasadena would score on another signature pick six.

The offense failed to score a touchdown against the talented ASU defense, but there were still plenty of positives. I was extremely impressed with UCLA’s ball security, as the Bruins did not turn the ball over once against a D that entered the game ranked first in the Pac-10 in turnovers gained (21).

QB Kevin Prince wasn’t great, but he was efficient (15/31 161 yards, 6 carries 42 yards). How about RB/FB Chane Moline? Like Verner, Moline went out with a bang in his final home game, and his strong inside running was crucial in securing the win (25 carries 85 yards). Finally, I think everyone can now agree that WR Nelson Rosario is a legitimate feature receiver. The gifted sophomore continued to use his strong, physical frame against helpless defensive backs (5 catches 74 yards).

While beating ‘SC is no longer a requirement for postseason eligibility, it would still mean everything for the program. The Trojans are vulnerable right now, and you can bet Rick Neuheisel is hoping to take full advantage.

Arizona State Sun Devils (4-6) vs. UCLA Bruins (5-5)
Saturday, November 21, 1:00 PM PST
Las Vegas Favorite: UCLA -5.0

Sam’s Take (46 – 18):

For most of the 2009 season, Arizona State and UCLA have looked like mirror images of one another. Each team features a very strong defense, an inconsistent offensive line, and most recently, a young quarterback with great promise. The Bruins and Sun Devils also share identical conference records (2-5) with their two Pac-10 wins coming over the lowly Washington schools.

As I look at this game, the biggest difference I see is the current state of the offenses. UCLA has struggled for most of the season offensively, but the unit has begun to make strides. QB Kevin Prince’s confidence seems to be high right now, and he finally has a difference maker to throw to on the outside in WR Nelson Rosario. If RB Derrick Coleman, Milton Knox, or Jonathan Franklin can spark the running game this week, the Bruins may have a chance to crack the stingy Sun Devil D.

Arizona State is looking to rally behind a new starting quarterback this week. Samson Szakacsy will be the third QB to start for the Devils this season, and he is also the most intriguing. Szakacsy is a true dual-threat with skills most suited for the zone-read scheme that Dennis Erickson implemented in the off-season. Against Oregon, Szakacsy demonstrated his ability to keep plays alive by scrambling, a foreign concept for the ASU offense up to that point.

Ultimately, I believe the Bruins will win a tight, hard-fought game this Saturday for two reasons. 1.) It’s senior day in Pasadena, and two of the best defensive players in the history of the program (CB Alterraun Verner, LB Reggie Carter) will be playing their final game in the Rose Bowl (and junior DT Brian Price is probably gone after this season as well). 2.) UCLA can become bowl eligible with a victory, which means the USC game is no longer a must win.

I look for the Bruins to prevail in a close and very physical game.

Prediction: UCLA 24 – Arizona State 20

Arizona State Player to Keep an Eye On: K Thomas Weber - In a close game, a player like Weber becomes invaluable. His groin injury appears to be a thing of the past, so the Devils should be in scoring range once they cross the Bruins’ 40-yard line.

UCLA Player to Keep an Eye On: FB Chane Moline - Moline is coming off of a 3 TD game against Wazzu, and the versatile fullback could have a big impact again this week.

Dave’s Take (49 – 15):

Before the season even started, I remember having this game circled as an extremely evenly matched one. My opinion hasn’t changed.

Both teams have weak offenses, both have strong defenses, both are clearly outside of the conference’s top tier, and both have wins over both Washington schools.

I’d consider this game a virtual coinflip. Yes UCLA has looked to be in better form over the last few weeks, but ASU’s four-game losing streak pretty much looks like UCLA’s five-game one did.

Before the season started, I picked UCLA to finish below ASU in conference play, and I’m sticking with that prediction. I expect a low-scoring ugly game with plenty of great defense and punting, and Arizona State to come out on top when it’s all said and done.

Prediction: Arizona State 16 – UCLA 13

UCLA Bruins 5-5 Overall (2-5 Conference)

This Week’s Score: UCLA 43 – Washington State 7

Next Week’s Opponent: Arizona State

Sure, it’s only Washington State; but it was still a whole lot of fun for Bruins fans.

This one was over before it even had the chance to get started. The first three Cougar drives ended in interceptions as Marshall Lobbestael (2/6, 6 yards, 3 INTs) completed more passes to the Bruins than his own teammates. Rahim Moore snagged one and Akeem Ayers grabbed two.

Offensively, UCLA was in complete control, led by Kevin Prince who had a fantastic day (27/40, 314 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT). The highlight of the game (especially from an amusement factor) came early in the second quarter when Prince broke a 68-yard touchdown run. That about sums up just how much control the Bruins had over this game. Chane Moline had three rushes for 25 yards; all three for touchdowns.

While it has been a frustrating season for Bruins fans to drop five straight after winning the first three, the last two games have reminded us that this program is going in the right direction, and has to this point in the season won the games they were supposed to. I wouldn’t consider any of the five losses a disappointment at this juncture. Then again, with the exception of Tennessee, I wouldn’t really consider the other four wins major accomplishments.

That said, for a young team, going out there and not letting one get away against an inferior or evenly matched opponent shows a lot of maturity. They come to play every week, and are getting into good habits.

Now comes Arizona State, the game I’ve had circled since the beginning of the season as one of the most evenly matched for both teams. Both have un-explosive offenses, both have fantastic defenses. UCLA has shown that they aren’t quite ready to compete with the top dogs yet, but they are a tier above the bottom dwellers.

Now they face an evenly-matched foe, at home, with a chance to gain bowl eligibility. How much compete do the Bruins really have? Gut check time!

#1 Star: Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars
Alma Mater: UCLA
Stats (11/15): 24 Rushes for 123 Yards, 1 TD, 2 Receptions for 22 Yards

The Jacksonville Jaguars vs New York Jets turned out to be one of the best football games of the week, and Maurice Jones-Drew once again showed why he is one of the best running backs in the game leading his team to a 24 – 22 victory over the New York Jets in the Meadowlands.

Just three minutes into the game, Jones-Drew broke a 33 yard rush to the left side to give the Jaguars the early 7 – 0 lead. The game went back and forth throughout, and with the Jags trailing 22 – 21 with 5:04 left in the game, they started a drive that would prove to be the game winner.

Although Jones-Drew only had the one touchdown, his biggest play came right after the two minute warning when the Jags were at the Jets 10-yard line on 2nd and 6. Jones-Drew rushed up the middle for nine yards and took a knee at the Jets one to all but seal victory as the Jaguars were able to ice the game from there and kick a game winning field goal as time expired.

After the game, Jones-Drew apologized to his fantasy owners for not taking the easy touchdown that the Jets were giving him. He stated that the team always comes first, and that selfless play earned him the number one spot this week. If Jones-Drew continues to play this well, the Jags could potentially make a run at the Wild Card this year.

#2 Star: Steven Jackson, St Louis Rams
Alma Mater: Oregon State
Stats (11/15) 26 Rushes for 131 Yards, 1 TD, 9 Receptions for 45 Yards

With the St Louis Rams going up against the New Orleans Saints this weekend, it looked as though the Saints would breeze to another win and stay undefeated through their first nine games. Although they did end up winning the game, Steven Jackson and the Rams made sure that it wouldn’t be easy for them.

Steven Jackson finished the game with the third most rushing yards of the week, and he seemed to rush at will on the Saints all game long with his five yard average. His longest rush of the game came on the second play of the game (30 yards) and set the tone for the rest of the way. With 55 seconds left in the first half down 14 – 7, Steven Jackson rushed to the right for a two yard TD to tie the game up before half time.

It was another frustrating loss for the Rams, but they have to have some confidence going into their game next week against the Arizona Cardinals after proving this week that they can hang against anyone.

#3 Star: Justin Forsett, Seattle Seahawks
Alma Mater: Cal
Stats (11/15) 17 Rushes for 123 Yards, 1 TD, 5 Receptions for 26 Yards

Justin Forsett rounds out the top three this week and is also the third running back to make the list. With Julius Jones out with a chest injury, Forsett finally got his chance to start his first game of the year and was able to shine throughout.

Forsett’s 7.2 yards per carry was best in the league this week among running backs who rushed 15 times or more, and he showed his explosive speed and breakout ability every time he touched the ball. Justin Forsett’s 11-yard touchdown run with 20 seconds left in the first quarter topped off an impressive 99-yard drive for the Seahawks, and even though they lost the game, Forsett was able to get a career high in rushing yards with 123.

I’m not sure how long Julius Jones is supposed to be out, but I think Justin Forsett guaranteed himself a lot more carries the rest of the way even if he splits time with Jones. This was a promising start for the Seahawks and Forsett, and I look for them to be able to build on Forsett’s potential and be a fun team to watch for the remainder of the year.

Honorable Mentions:

Oregon State’s TJ Houshmandzadeh (9 Receptions for 165 Yards)
Stanford’s Oshiomogho Atogwe (5 Tackles, 1 INT, 1 FF, 1 Pass Deflection)
Oregon State’s Sabby Piscitelli (9 Tackles, 1 FF)
Arizona’s Gilbert Arenas (20.0 Pts, 5.5 Rebs, 9.0 Asts, 2.5 Stls, 7.0 TOs, 37% FG Pct)
UCLA’s Baron Davis (19.3 Pts, 5.0 Rebs, 7.3 Asts, 2.3 Stls, 2.7 TOs, 40% FG Pct)

Ding Dong’ the merry-oh, sing it high, sing it low.
Let them know
The Wicked Witch is dead!

For some reason, this song was running through my head as I watched Stanford pummel USC.

For Trojans fans, it has been a fantastic ride for the last seven years. So fantastic, in fact, that Trojan fans are completely guilty of taking it for granted. Every single one of them (myself, included).

Virtually every hiccup along the way has cost USC a trip to the National Championship, which in turn turned the Rose Bowl into a consolation prize of sorts. USC fans are always disappointed to “only” win the Pac-10 and “only” go to the Rose Bowl.

And that’s one of the reasons why fans around the conference have hated the USC Trojans and their fans for the better part of a decade now, and as Stanford drove the final nail into the coffin that Washington had opened and Oregon had closed, there is plenty of reason for the rest of the conference to celebrate.

A friend of mine asked me, “Dave, you know your Pac-10; Is USC done for? I mean, I know they are this season, but are they done for good?”

I’m surprised at how many people are living in the moment so badly that they are actually asking this question. NO, USC isn’t done for good. They still have one of the best coaches in the country and a never-ending stable of 4 and 5-star talent. They will be a serious contender for the Pac-10 title next year, as well as the years to come.

The beauty, though, is that they won’t be the only serious contender. 2009 will not mark the beginning of the end of USC as a football power; but it will mark the end of their stranglehold over the rest of the conference.

PAC-10 ON THE RISE – FIVE TEAMS IN THE TOP 25

Many college football fans are going to continue to be ignorant and disregard the Pac-10.

They will continue to laugh off the conference for no reason at all, and ignore evidence of its strength. They will continue to hold the ridiculous double standard that when SEC teams beat each other up (which has been non-existent this year), it is an indication of how strong the conference is, but when the Pac-10 beats itself up, it is an indication of how weak the conference is. How does this even begin to make sense?

Of course, if you are one of these people, you are scoffing and preparing your “LOL PAC-10 TEH SUX” comment. Good for you.

But for the more reasonable, it is hard to ignore that the Pac-10 is on the rise.

Perhaps the strongest evidence of the Pac-10’s strength is the amount of BCS ranked teams it has. Heading into this weekend, the Pac-10 currently has 20% of the teams in the BCS top 25 with five; #11 Oregon, #17 Stanford, #18 USC, #19 Oregon State, and #25 California. The ACC and Big 10 each have four, the SEC, Big East, and Mountain West have three, the Big 12 has two, and the WAC has one.

What makes this even more impressive is the fact that the Pac-10 is the only conference that schedules only three out of conference games. They actually have to play a true round robin, and don’t have the opportunity to dodge big conference opponents or schedule an extra softy like other teams do.

TEAM-BY-TEAM, EVERYONE IS GETTING BETTER

What impresses me most about the Pac-10 this season is that as great and deep as the conference has proven to be this season, from the looks of it, it is only going to get better.

1-6:

Oregon – Still in control of their own destiny atop the Pac-10, Oregon has steam-rolled through most of their opponents, including USC and Cal. Their two losses have come against very good ranked opponents; and they’d love to have the Boise State game back as that continues to look more and more like an anomaly. The Mike Belotti to Chip Kelly transition was seamless, and with a fantastic and innovative system in place on both sides of the ball, Oregon will be a power for years to come. They have both Jeremiah Masoli and LaMichael James returning next year, and this was the year for the offensive and defensive lines to rebuild; both should be even stronger in 2010.

Stanford – Their late surge has given them back-to-back wins over conference powerhouses in Oregon and USC as well as a chance of a trip to the Rose Bowl if the cards fall right. Jim Harbaugh has turned this team around in a hurry, and they have taken on his personality as a hard-nosed physical team that never stops working. This was supposed to be the year to break in Andrew Luck, but he has already emerged as a star at the quarterback position. He will likely be even better next season, and Harbaugh’s excellent ability to recruit will be even easier after the display the Cardinal have put on over the last few weeks.

Oregon State – Year in and year out, Mike Riley churns out one of the most consistently strong teams in the Pac-10. The Beavers have finished in the Top 25 for three straight years, and from the looks of it will keep that streak alive here in 2009. Their excellent post-September play (as always) has put them in a position to take at least a share of the Pac-10 title with a win over their rival Ducks. Mike Riley is one of the best in the country at recruiting and developing players into his system, and there is no reason to believe the Beavers won’t continue to be a threat to make noise in the conference for as long as he’s at the helm.

Arizona – Hard to believe Mike Stoops was on the hot seat not too long ago. With the help of Sonny Dykes and the emergence of Nick Foles at QB, the Wildcats have an electrifying offense. They also have an extremely fast and talented defensive unit. With Oregon and USC still ahead, the path to the Rose Bowl is a difficult one, but it isn’t out of the question. And even if the ‘Cats do fall short this season, the valuable experience that they are gaining from playing meaningful conference games in November will pay huge dividends in creating a championship atmosphere next year and beyond.

USC – Remarkably, the once invincible Trojans find themselves staring at a potential Poinsettia or Emerald Bowl berth. This was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Trojans with an inexperienced quarterback and a defense that was almost entirely turned over from last season, but we refused to believe that it would be. Tons of injuries on offense didn’t help, either. But while the Trojans may be down and out this year, they will be right back in the thick of things next year. And for the first time in seven years, they won’t have the target on their back. It should be a lot of fun to see how Pete Carroll rallies the troops next season and beyond now that USC’s aura of invincibility is gone.

Cal – Hard to consider this year anything but a disappointment considering the high hopes coming in. On paper, Cal was right up there with USC among the most talented teams in the country. Jeff Tedford has done an outstanding job recruiting, and while the Bears haven’t been able to get over the hump yet, they seem to be an annual threat to do so. Every year we hype Cal up as one of the conference’s top teams and they end up falling short; they strike me as one of those teams that as soon as we all decide to finally count them out, that will be when it all comes together and they catch everyone off guard.

7-9:

UCLA – The fact that UCLA is the 7th or 8th best team in this conference is about as good of an indicator of the Pac-10’s strength as anything else. Yes, they have five losses; but all to the teams listed above, proving only that they aren’t quite in that tier yet. The Bruins did go into Tennessee with a redshirt freshman quarterback and take that game, and they also dominated what has turned out to be a pretty decent Kansas State team that beat Kansas a few weeks ago. Rick Neuheisel has been stockpiling great young talent, and this team is clearly going in the right direction; they just need to put it all together. A win over Arizona State or USC would make them bowl eligible, too.

Arizona State – Possessing arguably the best defense in the Pac-10, ASU has had a frustrating year due in large part to their inability to get anything going on offense. It is pretty clear that they are only a playmaker or two on offense away from making the jump into the category above. Even without one, Georgia, Cal, and USC were all near-misses that could have easily gone the Sun Devils’ way. If this team can get better play from the offensive line and quarterback next year, both very realistic possibilities, near misses will start turning into wins.

Washington – Rome wasn’t built in a day, and the Huskies have a long way to go to get back to respectability. That said, they have the right man to get them there in Steve Sarkisian. This has been made evident by their hard work and no-quit attitude, which helped them play a respectable game against LSU and pull off huge upsets over USC and Arizona. As Coach Sark brings in more talent, the Huskies should continue to rise, and until then they will likely continue to be a thorn in the side of the conferences top dogs.

10:

Washington State – And than there’s the Cougars. While WSU has made a few strides, they are hard to notice or get excited about with how rapidly the rest of the conference is rising. The situation looks pretty dire in Pullman, but on the bright side, there really isn’t anywhere to go but up from here.



THE WRAP UP

Looking at this conference from top to bottom, how can you deny its strength? Every single team (with perhaps the exception of WSU) appears to be either getting better or at the very least maintaining their competitive spot. From the looks of things, the Pac-10 is going to be a flat-out dogfight of excellent teams with top-flight talent for years to come.

Isn’t that what earned the SEC the reputation of being the nation’s best conference?

It’s about time to drop the bias.

UCLA Bruins (4-5) vs. Washington State Cougars (1-8)
Saturday, November 14, 12:30 PM PST
Las Vegas Favorite: UCLA -18.0

Sam’s Take (43 – 16):

November in Pullman… does it get any better? Excuse the sarcasm, but the near-freezing temperature is just what the doctor ordered for a Cougar squad that is looking for any kind of advantage. UCLA is certainly not used to the cold, so it will be interesting to see how the Bruins handle themselves (especially if snow starts falling).

After a two-month drought, UCLA finally found a way to win their first Pac-10 game of the season by defeating Washington last week. The Bruins did everything they could to hand UW the game (committed five turnovers), but the win kept UCLA’s bowl hopes alive.

I’m sure Rick Neuheisel has been preaching ball security all week in practice, especially with less than ideal weather conditions expected for Saturday. I believe the only way UCLA can lose to WSU is if they turn the ball over frequently, so it wouldn’t surprise me to see Norm Chow go with a relatively conservative game plan.

QB Kevin Prince has been cleared to start this week, which is especially good news for Bruins fans considering the progress that Prince has made as of late. The freshman QB shouldn’t have much trouble dissecting the nation’s 118th ranked passing defense, unless Chow elects to primarily pound the ball on the nation’s 115th ranked run defense. Either way, Wazzu is probably in for a long day.

The Bruins may have to grind this game out for a little while, but I expect Rick Neuheisel’s club to return to sunny Southern California with a chance to become bowl eligible next week.

Prediction: UCLA 33 – Washington State 14

UCLA Player to Keep an Eye On: RB Derrick Coleman – Coleman will get the start this week in place of Jonathan Franklin, and he is the perfect “bad weather” tailback. I expect the 235-pound bruiser to be very effective Saturday.

Washington State Player to Keep an Eye On: C Kenny Alfred – I don’t spotlight o-lineman often, but Alfred is a difference maker who may actually be capable of containing the “unblockable” DT Brian Price.

Dave’s Take (46 – 13):

There isn’t much doubt that UCLA is in the bottom half of the conference; that much is clear because they’ve played everyone but USC in the top half.

Yes they head into this game against Washington State in 9th place in the conference, but the gauntlet of @Stanford, Oregon, Cal, @Arizona, and @Oregon State is the reason why. When they played a team at their level in the bottom half of the conference (Washington), they pulled off the win despite a very ugly game in which they lost the turnover battle 5 to 1.

This week, they play a team they are a level above. Washington State has proven that they simply can not compete in the Pac-10 at this point, and despite the fact that UCLA is not an upper-echelon team, it would take a perfect storm of UCLA at their worst, WSU at their best, and a ton of favorable bounces for the Cougars to walk away with the victory.

Needless to say, I don’t expect that to happen.

Prediction: UCLA 31 – Washington State 10