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
Las Vegas Favorite: Nebraska -3.0

Sam’s Take (57 – 22):

There is little doubt that Nebraska will have the best player on the field in tomorrow’s Holiday Bowl, but will the dominance of Ndamukong Suh and the Nebraska defense be enough to overcome a more complete Arizona team? The Wildcats are full of athleticism on both sides of the ball, and possess a significantly better offense than the Cornhuskers.

Both of these teams dealt with some incredibly bitter defeats in 2009. Nebraska lost three games (Virginia Tech, Iowa State, and Texas) by a combined four points. Arizona lost leads late in the fourth quarter of three games (Washington, Cal, Oregon). So what does that tell us about this match-up? Well it is certainly clear that both teams are used to playing close games, and I will be interested to see which team finishes stronger in what is sure to be another closely contested contest.

I have no doubt that the Blackshirts will be at their best in San Diego for Bo Pelini’s squad. However, it is important to note that while the Huskers D has been magnificent (9th nationally in total D, 2nd nationally in scoring D), Arizona has one heck of a defensive unit as well. The ‘Cats finished the regular season 21st nationally in total defense, and that should serve UA especially well against a Nebraska offense that ranks 102nd in total offense.

I believe the difference in this game will be the Arizona offense. Sonny Dykes system is predicated on the quick passing game, and I therefore expect QB Nick Foles to elude Suh by getting the ball out right away. The return of RB Nic Grigsby also figures to be a huge boost to ‘Zona, as it gives the ground game a true home run threat. I don’t expect the ‘Cats offense to light up the scoreboard by any means, but I think the unit will come up with a few key drives.

The Holiday Bowl is always one of the most exciting games of the post-season and I expect this game to be another thriller. While we may not get offensive fireworks, fans of defense should be glued to their seats all night.

In the end, I expect the Wildcats to squeak out a win.

Prediction: Arizona 17 – Nebraska 14

Arizona Player to Keep an Eye On: WR Juron Criner – Criner has been a clutch playmaker for UA all season, and against a talented defense that doesn’t allow big plays, he may have to play his best game of the year.

Nebraska Player to Keep an Eye On: WR Niles Paul – Like Criner, Paul has proven to be a playmaker for the Huskers throughout the season. He is a deep threat receiver who can also make a difference in the return game.

Dave’s Take (59 – 20):

This one definitely has the look and feel of an evenly-matched slugfest, and should be a lot of fun to watch.

I like Arizona in this one, but for a somewhat peculiar reason; Ndamukong Suh.

Don’t get me wrong; it isn’t like I think he’s overrated or anything. He is every bit deserving of all of the accolades he is receiving. But because he is as amazing of a talent as he is, the Holiday Bowl has essentially become the Ndamukong Suh Showcase Bowl in the eyes of many.

The Heisman Trophy Winner going on to lose in their bowl game (has happened to 5 of the last 6 winners) has now picked up a name; the “Heisman Curse”. But this one is no Billy Goat/Voodoo type of deal; there is logic to it. When the media spends an entire month clamoring over a player, not only is it a distraction for that player, but more importantly, it adds a huge chip to the shoulders of the opposing team.

In a sport like football where motivation and intensity plays such a big role in determining winners, being ignored by the media in favor of the other team’s stars is one of the biggest motivators out there. While Suh didn’t win the Heisman, he might as well have with all of the (deserved) hype he is getting; Defensive Player of the Year, projected first overall pick in the NFL, etc.

Arizona, meanwhile, who had one of their greatest football seasons ever, has been virtually ignored. No love for playing such a hard fought game against Oregon; they lost, after all. No love for going into USC and beating the Trojans IN the Coliseum; Stanford just did that, and “this isn’t the same USC team”. Now, once again, they find themselves overlooked.

Needless to say, both teams will be plenty motivated. But I think that the Wildcats have that extra chip on their shoulder as they likely feel they have more to prove, and I think they can pull it off.

Prediction: Arizona 16 – Nebraska 12

Oregon Ducks (8-2) vs. Arizona Wildcats (6-3)
Saturday, November 21, 5:00 PM PST
Las Vegas Favorite: Oregon -6.0
*AllPac10 Game of the Week*

Sam’s Take (46 – 18):

The race to Pasadena stops in Tucson this week, and so will ESPN College Gameday. Both Arizona and Oregon control their own destiny in the Pac-10 title race, while the fate of Oregon State and Stanford will dramatically change depending on the outcome in this one.

The recent history between Oregon and Arizona leads me to believe we are in for another entertaining thriller. Oregon has lost two of their last three games against UA, and the ‘Cats have upset a Top 25 team at home in five straight seasons.

Stanford proved that it is possible to beat the Ducks in a shootout, as long as you have an excellent QB and a balanced offensive attack. Check and check for Arizona, as QB Nick Foles actually out dueled Andrew Luck earlier this season in a 43-38 UA win. RB Nic Grigsby is expected to play, and when healthy, he provides the ‘Cats with the same dynamic ability that LaMichael James brings to UO. Arizona also has a very capable defense with tremendous speed at all three levels (UA 18th nationally in total defense), so ‘Zona has all the ingredients necessary to pull the upset.

Having said all of that, I believe the Ducks will rise to the occasion. Unless Mike Stoops finds a way to clone QB Jeremiah Masoli and RB LaMichael James, there is no way the scout team will adequately prepare UA for that tremendous misdirection spread attack. I also think Nick Aliotti’s underrated defense will prevent UA’s quick passing attack from establishing a rhythm. Sonny Dykes offense is predicated on timing, but all of the receiver screens and quick slants can be thwarted by a disruptive defense (something the Ducks clearly have).

Chip Kelly’s team understands what is on the line this week, and I fully expect to see Oregon’s best effort of the season on Saturday. The Ducks have certainly had their struggles on the road this year, but I believe they are due for a big game away from Autzen.

I think Oregon wins a high-scoring affair at the Old Pueblo, which should setup one of the best Civil War games of all time.

Prediction: Oregon 38 – Arizona 28

Oregon Player to Keep an Eye On: CB Cliff Harris – Harris is one of the best young corners in the Pac-10, and the freshman will have to be at his best against a talented UA receiving corps.

Arizona Player to Keep an Eye On: WR/KR Travis Cobb – I think Arizona will need to get something big out of the kick return game Saturday, and Cobb has already proven he can take it the distance (95 yard TD return two weeks ago).

Dave’s Take (49 – 15):

Honestly, I really don’t know what to do with myself in this game.

At first, I thought I was going to be hand-down-no-question picking Oregon. After all, it seems to be an all but forgone conclusion that they are going to put up 40+ points no matter who they are playing against; and while the defense got beat up by Stanford, it has been fairly strong all season.

But is it a sure thing that Oregon runs rampant on Arizona’s defense? It’s always difficult to actually try to look at numbers or matchups or anything else when breaking down Oregon’s offense; they just seem to shred through everything. But am I crazy for thinking that maybe, just maybe, Arizona’s very fast and talented defense might stand some chance in slowing them down a little bit?

Furthermore, why are we so quick to write off Arizona? This team did top both Stanford and Oregon State, so they have proven that they can play with the conference’s best. Nic Grigsby’s return should take some of the pressure off of Nick Foles as well.

And than there is the whole Arizona home-field advantage issue. I believe it is blown a bit out of proportion considering that both of Oregon’s losses came against excellent teams (and they are much better now than they were against Boise State), so it isn’t like the Ducks are as hopeless on the road as some are making them out to be. On the other hand, can we completely ignore that Oregon is 2-2 on the road (with the two wins coming over weak opponents in UCLA and UW), and Arizona is a perfect 5-0 at home (including wins over Central Michigan and Stanford)?

I’m not going to say that Arizona is the “better team”, but I will say they’ve got more of a chance than they are getting credit for in this one. Andrew Luck exploited Oregon’s beat up secondary, and I could see Nick Foles doing the same. It will take a near-perfect game on both sides of the ball to pull it off, but something tells me the ‘Cats have it in them.

Prediction: Arizona 41 – Oregon 38

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.

Arizona Wildcats (6-2) vs. Cal Bears (6-3)
Saturday, November 14, 4:00 PM PST
Las Vegas Favorite: Cal -3.0

Sam’s Take (43 – 16):

Arizona is the only school in the Pac-10 that has never played in a Rose Bowl. With only four games left this season, the ‘Cats control their own destiny in the race to Pasadena. So is Mike Stoops team the real deal? A defining four game stretch will provide the answer (@Cal, Oregon, @ASU, @USC). Cal started the season with the belief that they would be in the hunt for a Pac-10 title in mid-November, but now the 6-3 Bears are just hoping for a solid bowl game.

Statistically, Arizona looks like the best team in the Pac-10. UA heads to Berkeley ranked 13th nationally in total offense and 17th nationally in total defense. Across the board, the Wildcats are a solidly built football team. Offensively they can run and pass, and defensively they can stop the run and the pass.

As I study this game, there is one particular match up that seems grossly in favor of ‘Zona. QB Nick Foles and the ‘Cats high-powered passing attack will be going up against a Cal defense that ranks 117th nationally in pass defense. While Cal CB Syd’Quan Thompson is an excellent defender, the rest of the secondary appears to be ripe for the picking so I expect Sonny Dykes to exploit the Bears defensive backs with quick passes (specifically receiver screens).

We will found out a lot about Cal’s resolve on Saturday. With RB Jahvid Best sidelined, RB Shane Vereen must once again prove why many consider him to be the best backup tailback in the Pac-10. Vereen has game-breaking ability, and if he can get going early that should open up the passing game for QB Kevin Riley. I think it will be critical for Jeff Tedford’s squad to start fast and ignite the home crowd; otherwise a repeat of last week’s game against Oregon State is likely.

While Cal certainly has the talent to win this game, I think Arizona is peaking just in time for a tough four game stretch. The ‘Cats have already proven they can beat a quality opponent on the road (OSU), and I expect another complete performance from Stoops team this week.

Prediction: Arizona 34 – Cal 27

Arizona Player to Keep an Eye On: DE Ricky Elmore - Elmore leads UA with 7.5 sacks, and I expect him to be all over QB Kevin Riley.

Cal Player to Keep an Eye On: RB Covaughn DeBoskie - With Best out, DeBoskie becomes the second tailback in the rotation. The Bears coaching staff has a lot of confidence in the redshirt freshman, and he will provide a nice change of pace when Vereen is on the sideline.

Dave’s Take (46 – 13):

Heading into Cal will be no easy task for the Arizona Wildcats, and the Bears will be especially motivated to go out and play a great game for injured teammate and leader Jahvid Best.

The problem, though, is that motivation hasn’t really seemed to get the Bears anywhere this season.

Coming into the year as the favorite to knock off USC atop the Pac-10, the Bears seemed to have the talent and the drive to make this a special year. When they headed into Eugene, they were a road favorite. And they got completely demolished.

They had a chance for redemption, at home, against the USC Trojans in the very next game. Same result.

Against Oregon State, another quality opponent, they once again were completely blown out. On paper, this team has what it takes to compete with almost any team in the nation. On the field though, they lack… well, for lack of a better word, “it”.

Arizona has put together a pretty special season to this point, and I think they have both the talent and the mental toughness to make sure that this one doesn’t get away from them. It should be a good one, but Arizona prevails in the end.

Prediction: Arizona 38 – Cal 28

Washington State Cougars (1-7) vs. Arizona Wildcats (5-2)
Saturday, November 7, 1:30 PM PST
Las Vegas Favorite: Arizona -31.0

Sam’s Take (39 – 15):

Think Arizona used their bye last week to prepare for Wazzu or get an early start on some of the conference powers coming up on the schedule (@Cal, Ore, @ASU, @USC)?

With all due respect to the Cougars, U of A controls its own destiny in the Rose Bowl race (a bowl the ‘Cats have never been to) so it wouldn’t surprise me to see them peeking ahead a little bit. The Wildcats have two goals this week: 1.) Win the game 2.) Come out of the win with no new injuries. Running backs Nic Grigsby and Greg Nwoko already have injury concerns, so if this is a lopsided game by the middle of the second half (which it almost certainly will be) the UA coaches must not risk the health of key contributors.

In my opinion Arizona is the second best offense that WSU has faced this season (behind Oregon and ahead of USC and Notre Dame). The Cougars are simply not equipped to handle Sonny Dykes quick screen game, and I expect QB Nick Foles to have a huge game. Looking for a bright side to all of this Cougar fans? QB Jeff Tuel is the real deal, and he’s maturing with each new road trip. I expect the stingy ‘Cats D to be all over him in Tucson, but these humbling experiences WILL pay off for Tuel in a couple of years.

Soon we will learn just how good Mike Stoops football team really is, but nothing new will be disclosed to us this week. I expect a good old fashion blowout at the Old Pueblo.

Prediction: Arizona 48 – Washington State 17

Washington State Player to Keep an Eye On: RB Dwight Tardy – Tardy looked good in his limited carries against the Irish, and the Cougs would love to run the ball in order to keep the high-powered Wildcats offense off the field.

Arizona Player to Keep an Eye On: RB Nick Booth – With Grigsby and Nwoko likely out, Keola Antolin and Booth will get the carries against WSU. The UA coaches are excited about what the 6-2 220 pound Booth can bring to the running game.

Dave’s Take (42 – 12):

The recap to most of Washington State’s games this season have been pretty similar; opponent gets out to a huge early lead and then calls off the dogs. I expect the same this week, even if Arizona does get caught looking ahead to next week, the talent discrepancy is just to large for the Cougars to make up here, especially on the road.

For Arizona, the focus here is to stay healthy, but to also try to execute at a high level, at least while the starters are still in. If they write this game off and play sloppy, they’ll still come away with the win, but it might leave a bad taste in their mouth heading into the Cal game, which they really can’t afford to have carry over.

The Cougars want to continue playing hard for all four quarters and learning good habits. Two of their remaining three games come against the current 8th and 9th teams in the conference (UCLA and @Washington), so pulling one more upset out of their hat this season isn’t completely out of the question; but it looks to be this week.

Prediction: Arizona 41 – Washington State 16

Arizona Wildcats 5-2 Overall (3-1 Conference)

This Week’s Score: Arizona 27 – UCLA 13

Next Week’s Opponent: BYE

‘Zona fans, I think this team has turned the corner. In previous seasons, the ‘Cats would not have been able to overcome a five-turnover day, but somehow this team found a way to comfortably persevere. Certainly the putrid Bruins offense had a lot to do with the outcome of Saturday’s game, but I also credit Mark Stoops defense for laying the hammer on UCLA’s pair of signal-calling Kevins.

Obviously QB Nick Foles had a peculiar (and I dare say uncharacteristic) day despite this being only his fourth start (22/34 247 yards 2 TDs, 3 INTs). We have come to expect near perfection from the sophomore, and on Saturday we didn’t get it. Still, even on an off night, Foles continued to flash his big arm, especially on a beautifully thrown TD to WR Juron Criner late in the first quarter.

Is there an offensive coordinator in the Pac-10 that is better than Sonny Dykes right now? I am struggling to find one. With RB Nic Grigsby and RB Greg Nwoko battling injuries, Dykes was able to manufacture rushing production by utilizing receiver reverses and creative misdirection, as well as conventional run plays with RB Keola Antolin.

Amazingly, nine different ball carriers combined to rush for over 200 yards, including 77 yards from Antolin and 45 from WR Delashaun Dean. This ‘Cats offense was sloppy against UCLA, but it still managed to put up 456 yards of offense because of the tremendous balance.

As mentioned earlier, the defense played inspired football, holding UCLA to 211 total yards and essentially giving up no points (UCLA had one defensive TD, and all 13 points came off of UA turnovers). If the D can build off of this performance, Arizona will have a chance to win every game on the remaining schedule.

‘Zona gets a much-needed bye this week, which should give the ailing Wildcats a chance to get healthy. UA plays Washington State next, and it is critical that the team comes out of that game as injury-free as possible, because after the Cougars a gauntlet awaits (@Cal, Oregon, @ASU, @USC).

Arizona Wildcats 4-2 Overall (2-1 Conference)

This Week’s Score: Washington 36 – Arizona 33

Next Week’s Opponent: Stanford

How did this happen? I still can’t figure out how the Wildcats lost this game. Sure, Mason Foster’s game-changing interception return for a TD may actually have been an incomplete pass (as some angles on replay have shown), but there is no excuse for blowing a 12-point lead with 4:16 left in the 4th quarter.

The final stats from Saturday’s game are painfully in favor of the ‘Cats (UA total yards: 461, UW total yards: 256). But in the end, Sonny Dykes went to the bubble screen play one time too many, and now UA will have to feel the sting of losing yet another winnable game (similar to the Stanford and New Mexico games of the previous two seasons).

As deflating as this loss is for the psyche of the team, there were also obvious positives. QB Nick Foles was tremendous even with the two interceptions (39/53 384 yards 1 TD, 2 INTs). He is clearly the right choice at QB for this offense, as he delivered the ball on time and with zip all night. For the second game in a row, Foles involved a ton of receivers in the offense (nine different players had at least a catch), and David Roberts is really starting to emerge as a big time playmaker.

I was very impressed with the route running of the UA wideouts, particularly Roberts and Terrell Turner. Even without Rob Gronkowski, this receiving unit is capable of lighting up any secondary because of the speed with which the receivers are getting off at the line of scrimmage. I expect big things from the UA passing game as the season progresses.

The running game should have made this offense dangerously balanced against U-Dub, but somehow,  Grigsby, Nwoko, and the rest of the backs were only able to manage a meager 77 yards on the ground. Sonny Dykes has to be disappointed in that total considering the ‘Cats were leading the conference in rushing heading into the UW game.

Defensively, Arizona played pretty well but still managed to give up a ton of points. Jake Locker only passed for 140 yards, but he tossed three TDs, and ran for a huge 56-yard TD on his way to 92 yards rushing. I do not doubt the talent or speed of the Wildcats D, but sometimes that isn’t enough. This unit has to get mentally tougher and prevent the big play.

Next up for UA is a revenge game with Stanford. The ‘Cats recent history with the Cardinal can only be described as painful, making this Saturday’s game at the Old Pueblo a virtual must win.

Arizona Wildcats (3-1) vs. Washington Huskies (2-3)
Saturday, October 10, 7:00 PM PST
Las Vegas Favorite: Arizona -3.0

Sam’s Take (25 – 12):

After a very disappointing (and controversial) loss in South Bend, Washington must refocus for a critical conference game against Arizona. This game is huge for both the Huskies and ‘Cats, but especially for U-Dub. For all the great things that Sark’s Dawgs have done so far this season, they cannot afford to move to 2-4 (1-2 in Pac-10) or else the road to the postseason becomes much tougher.

Arizona on the other hand, is well rested and feeling good after their big win in Corvallis against Oregon State two weeks ago. The offense now belongs to QB Nick Foles, and if his first start is any indication of what is to come, the Pac-10 better watch out for the Wildcats. RB Nic Grigsby comes back this week too, so Sonny Dykes will have all of his playmakers available (except for Gronk of course).

While UA certainly has all the ingredients necessary to win this game, I believe UW plays at another level inside Husky Stadium (especially on defense). I expect QB Jake Locker to take control of this game, while also getting help from RB Chris Polk. The UA secondary is as gifted as any in the conference, but I still think the Washington receivers will come up with some big plays.

I look for Sark’s Huskies to put the Notre Dame debacle behind them by claiming an important Pac-10 win over a very good Arizona team.

Prediction: Washington 30 – Arizona 27

Arizona Player to Keep an Eye On: DE Brooks Reed - Reed will be coming after Locker all night, and this could be his breakout game after a slow start so far in ’09.

Washington Player to Keep an Eye On: CB Desmond Trufant - Trufant showcased his promising ability against Notre Dame, and he could be a key to stopping Foles and Co. this week.

Dave’s Take (29 – 8):

Five weeks into the season, and we still really don’t know a whole lot about where these two teams stand in the conference. For both of them, a win here would certainly help matters.

With the USC upset came something the Huskies haven’t had in a while; expectations. They haven’t been able to meet those expectations in the two games since, getting crushed by Stanford and losing in heartbreaking fashion last week in Notre Dame. Now back at home, the Huskies have the opportunity to prove that the Trojans game was a sign of good things to come, not a fluke.

Washington’s offense is clicking, no doubt about it. Jake Locker is finding his receivers and using his feet when he can’t; and freshman sensation Chris Polk is keeping defenses honest with his outstanding play in the running game. The defense, however, comes into Saturday’s game a huge question mark.

For Arizona, it’s a chance to not only improve to 4-1 and a perfect 2-0 in the conference, but to do so with a pair of tough road wins. The Wildcats get three straight games at home after this one, and they’d love to head into that stretch undefeated in the conference.

With Nic Grigsby’s return, Nick Foles’ job should be even easier this week. Foles is no Jimmy Clausen, but he is an excellent pocket passer who should be able to exploit the weaknesses in the Washington secondary.

Washington’s defense plays better at home, but I still think Arizona has the edge. They’ve had an extra week to prepare for Washington on both sides of the ball, and if Nick Foles brings his A-game like he did against Oregon State, Arizona comes out on top. That’s no guarantee though; this will only be Foles’ second start, and against an explosive team like the Huskies, the margin for error is extremely slim. But I think he’s up to the task.

Prediction: Arizona 38 – Washington 27

Arizona Wildcats 3-1 Overall (1-0 Conference)

This Week’s Score: Arizona 37 – Oregon State 32

Next Week’s Opponent: BYE

It’s safe to say that Sonny Dykes “AirZona” offense is back in a big way. The quarterback switch at UA couldn’t have worked any better in Corvallis, as Nick Foles was tremendous (25-34 254 yards, 3 TDs 0 INTs). Foles demonstrated Tuitama-like command of the offense, hitting 10 different receivers throughout the day.

Even with Nic Grigsby sidelined for most of the game and Keola Antolin battling injury as well, the ‘Cats offense found a way to move the ball. Third-string tailback Greg Nwoko was spectacular as a runner (9 carries for 44 yards), and receiver (4 rec. 76 yards).

Foles has re-energized the talented receiving corps, as Delashaun Dean, Terrell Turner, David Roberts and Juron Criner were all able to make plays in the passing attack Saturday.

While the UA defense gave up plenty of yards (407), the secondary still managed to come up with a couple of big interceptions. Trevin Wade continues to be a dangerous playmaker at CB (picked Canfield off in 3rd Qtr), and Devin Ross also had a big INT in the final minutes of the game.

A special kudos goes to punter Keenyn Crier. Crier is one of the best punters in America, and he proved it on numerous occasions against the Beavers. In the fourth quarter alone, Crier was able to pin OSU inside the five-yard line three times (resulting in a TD, INT, and safety for UA). A strong argument could be made that his punting won the game for the Wildcats.

It appears that Grigsby and Antolin will be healthy for the game against Washington, which should allow Dykes to employ an even more potent (and balanced) attack.

With the QB controversy now resolved, the ‘Cats seem to have found their offensive identity. If Nick Foles can build on his solid debut, Arizona will be firmly in the conference title race all season.

Arizona Wildcats (2-1) vs. Oregon State Beavers (2-1)
Saturday, September 26, 4:35 PM PST
Las Vegas Favorite: Oregon State -3.0

Sam’s Take (20 – 7):

Both the Wildcats and Beavers are coming off of disappointing non-conference losses, and now the two schools will look to regain some momentum by starting the Pac-10 season with a win.

Arizona is making a quarterback switch this week in order to generate some much-needed production in the passing game. With Nick Foles taking over, Sonny Dykes should be able to run the same type of offense that Willie Tuitama thrived in.

Foles is certainly no Willie-T yet, but the UA coaches are confident that his big arm will allow the talented receivers to make some more plays. I think it is critical that Foles gets into a rhythm early because the OSU defense has been stout against the run (17th nationally) and it won’t be easy for Nic Grigsby to run wild.

Oregon State’s offensive game plan has been fairly easy to diagnose lately; get the ball to the Rodgers Brothers early and often. I expect more of the same this week, and it should be interesting to see how Jacquizz and James perform against a speedy UA defense. I believe Mark Stoops D will try everything possible to put the game in QB Sean Canfield’s hands, especially given the cover skills of the UA secondary.

I have gone back and fourth with this pick, and I think home-field advantage may be the difference. I’m going with the hometown Beavers in a tightly contested game that comes down to the final minutes of the fourth quarter.

Prediction: Oregon State 24 – Arizona 21

Arizona Player to Keep an Eye On: WR Delashaun Dean – Dean is a huge part of this offense, but he has struggled so far in 2009. Maybe the QB switch will get him going.

Oregon StatePlayer to Keep an Eye On: WR Darrell Catchings – He is getting healthy and could be the key playmaker besides the Rodgers brothers on Saturday.

Dave’s Take (20 – 7):

Both Arizona and Oregon State come into this game hoping to start off conference play 1-0 and avoid a two-game losing streak.

After a dreadfully bad performance in Iowa, Matt Scott has lost the starting job to Nick Foles. The Wildcats hope that this move will spark the passing game; I believe that it will, and it may be as soon as this week. The Beavers’ passing defense has not been strong this year, and if they continue to have trouble pass rushing, a pure passer like Foles could have a big day.

Defensively, the Wildcats will have to find a way to stop the Rodgers brothers. While it is never an easy task, I think Arizona’s defense might match up well here; they are a small but speedy unit, and Oregon State’s offense relies on a lot of speed.

I’d like to take the Beavers here; the idea of taking a quarterback making his first start in a hostile environment like Corvallis is crazy to me. But I’ve got this feeling that Nick Foles is going to provide the Wildcats’ offense with the spark it needs, which would also open up Nic Grigsby even more. I just haven’t seen enough in the line play and offense of Oregon State to pick them.

If the Beavers are going to win this football game, they not only need better play on both lines, but they also need to start stretching the field with some long throws, something we haven’t seen them do this season. Something tells me Arizona surprises a lot of people with a road win here.

Prediction: Arizona 24 – Oregon State 20