Pac-12 Football

Pac-12 Game Day: Week 6

A pretty quiet weekend in terms of hyped matchups. Only ASU/Utah could potentially have conference title implications. Oregon already demolished Cal on Thursday night, 43-15, behind an incredible 2nd half performance where the Duck’s outscored the Cal, 29-0. Here are the rest of the matchups:

Arizona State @ Utah, 12:30 PST, TV: ROOT Sports

Arizona @ Oregon State, 12:30 PST, TV: Fox College Spots

Colorado @ Stanford, 4:30 PST, TV: Versus

Washington State @ UCLA, 7:30 PST, TV: ROOT Sports

USC and Washington are on BYE weeks.

My picks are highlighted in BOLD.

Pac-12 in the Rearview: Week 5

USC over Arizona, 48-41

Ouch. Things aren’t looking well on the surface for Arizona (1-4, 0-3 Pac 12). Playing three straight top 10 teams and 4-1 USC is a tough early season stretch. Matt Barkley set the USC single-game passing yard record with his 468 yard performance. USC still looks sloppy at times as it has the entire Lane Kiffin era but it’s hard to bet against the Trojans talent.

Arizona State over Oregon State, 35-20

Arizonan State RB Cameron Marshall, running on a sprained ankle, had two tough TD runs, including a decisive 37-yarder to put ASU up 27-20 in the 3rd quarter in which he broke at least 4 tackles. If Oregon State had a mulligan for this season I am not sure they would take it. The Beavs showed some life against the Sun Devils but ultimately they are being out-performed and out-coached and the outlook is gloomy the rest of the way.

Washington over Utah, 31-14

Utah fumbled the opening kickoff, UW returned it 17 yards for a touchdown and things never got better for the Utes. UW was physically dominating and the Huskies cruised to victory to spoil Utah’s Pac-12 home opener. Keith Price threw 3 more TD passes that brings his season total to 17 (2nd in the nation) and RB Chris Polk ran for a stunning 189 yards on 29 carries. Utah lost its starting QB Jordan Wynn to a sprained non-throwing shoulder and Utah dropped to 0-2 in the Pac-12 after a dismal offensive performance.

Washington State over Colorado, 31-27

Colorado was primed to win their Pac-12 opener when Washington State stole it back with two TDs in the final 2:32 of play, including a 63-yarder from Marshall Lobbestael to Marquees Wilson. Colorado had stymied the Cougar’s star receiver for much of the game when Wilson split two DBs on a sluggo route (slant and go) and walked into the end zone. CU’s Rodney Stewart picked apart the Cougs defense all game long and finished with 132 yards on 26 carries and a TD. The game ended on a fumble by CU WR Paul Richardson that was recovered on the WSU 39 yard line by Linebacker C.J. Mizell.

Stanford over UCLA, 45-19

Stanford started off slow but once again finished strong and won their 7th straight game by 27 points or more dating back to last season. Andrew Luck showed his incredible athleticism by hauling in a one-handed catch on the sidelines via a WR reverse pass. Luck finished the game with an efficient 23-27 for 227 yards and 3 TDs. UCLA on the other hand has lost to three unbeaten teams and beat two bad teams. Most are uncertain on where they will end up at season’s end.

Cal and Oregon had the week off.

A look at last weeks action:

Stanford (3-0) over Arizona (1-2) 37-10

Illinois (3-0) over Arizona St (2-1) 17-14

Cal (3-0) over Presbyterian (1-2) 63-12

Colorado (1-2) over Colorado St (2-1) 28-14

Oregon (2-1) over Missouri St (0-3) 56-7

Oregon St (0-2) BYE

Texas (3-0) over UCLA (1-2) 49-20

USC (3-0) over Syracuse (2-1) 38-17

Utah (2-1) over BYU (1-2) 54-10

Nebraska (3-0) over UW (2-1) 51-38

San Diego St (3-0) over WSU (2-1) 42-24

Pac-12 goes 5-4 in non-conference games and Stanford takes an early lead in the Pac-12 North by virtue of being the only team in the North division having played a conference game. There is no doubting that this years’ teams look weak nationally but the season is young and bowl games are three months away.

Shaky first weekend of play overshadowed by resurrected talks of the Pac-16

Once again, talks of realignment have surfaced as Pac-12 comissioner Larry Scott admitted in interviews that the conference has been contacted concerning expansion by one or more instituion. The main school involved in the rumor is Oklahoma, which would likely be followed by calls from Oklahoma State, Texas, and Texas Tech. Billionaire Oklahoma State-booster Boone T. Pickens was quoted yesterday saying that Oklahoma State will soon be part of the Pac-12. So the rumor mill is once again swirling. On to a brief recap of the opening weekend’s action…

Oregon State loses to Sacramento State…at home.

Despite being doubled up on total yards, Washington secures a win with a last minute INT in the end zone to take their opener over Eastern Washington.

Utah looks unimpressive in home win against Montana State.

USC gets late INT to survive Minnesota by 2 points.

Oregon shoots itself in the foot and the offense does not click in a nationally televised drubbing by SEC-foe LSU.

UCLA plays it close but eventually loses and gives up a rushing TD that makes the last years Saints defense against Seattle look good.

Washington State beats Idaho Sate and scores the most points in a game since 1997 but loses their starting QB and unquestioned team leader, Jeff Tuel, to a fractured collar bone.

Colorado loses its 19th consecutive road game to Hawaii by 17 points.

And now for the good…

The Arizona schools whipped their opponents by a combined 65 points.

Cal played solid on both sides of the ball in their 36-21 win over Fresno State.

Stanford looked every bit the part of a champion, beating San Jose State by 54 points.

2011 Pac-12 Helmet Schedule

The 2011 Pre-Season Coaches Poll is out!!! CLICK CLICK »

Now…I for one am strong in my opinion that pre-season polls are as useless as a space heater in the desert but it still gives us something to talk about.

According to NCAA Coaches, the Pac-12 is going to be very top-heavy this season and I can’t say I disagree. Oregon lands at #3 and Stanford close behind at #6, but outside of those two, there are no other teams ranked in the top 25. If you like to rely on vote total and count past 25, here is how the rest of the teams with votes shook out:

#26 - Arizona State

#28 - Utah

#32 - Arizona

#46 - Oregon State

#48 - Washington

Draft 2011

37 Pac-12 players were drafted in the 2011 NFL Draft including at least 1 by each team and 9 by USC. Here is a full list of drafted players from the Pac-12 in drafted order:

Jake Locker (QB, UW) Rd 1 Pick 8 to Tennessee

Tyron Smith (OT, USC) Rd 1 Pick 9 to Dallas

Nate Solder (OT, CU) Rd 1 Pick 17 to New England

Cameron Jordan (DE, Cal) Rd 1 Pick 24 to New Orleans

Jimmy Smith (CB, Colorado) Rd 1 Pick 27 to Baltimore

Akeem Ayers (LB, UCLA) Rd 2 Pick 7 to Tennessee

Brooks Reed (DE, AZ) Rd 2 Pick 10 to Houston

Rahim Moore (S, UCLA) Rd 2 Pick 13 to Denver

Stephen Paea (DT, OSU) Rd 2 Pick 21 to Chicago

Shane Vareen (RB, Cal) Rd 2 Pick 24 to New England

Jurrell Casey (DT, USC) Rd 3 Pick 13 to Tennessee

Mason Foster (LB, UW) Rd 3 Pick 20 to Tamba Bay