Buster Sports

It was too early to start making bowl predictions a week ago, and it’s still too early. But at least there’s a little more clarity today. We now know that Cal is a fraud, Oregon is legit, Oregon State has found itself, USC is back and Washington isn’t going to roll over for anyone.

This week, we’ll find out if Oregon and Stanford can take their shows on the road, the possibility that the Ducks will have to prove they can win with a backup quarterback, and whether Arizona is a one-hit wonder.

Here’s my latest stab at Pac-10 bowl projections:

Rose Bowl: Oregon looked like more of a sure thing a week ago than today. That was when USC seemed less Trojan-like. Now? I still like the Ducks, because their defense is playing at a championship level. Playing USC at home on Halloween helps, too. But this is presuming Oregon has a healthy Jeremiah Masoli and Ed Dickson. Without both, the Ducks will have trouble putting the pressure they’ll need to beat USC’s defense. Pick: Oregon

BCS at-large: As I said a week ago, look for the flesh wounds. Here’s one: I didn’t think the Pac-10 had enough juice for a second BCS berth. But the Trojans have come to life, and the Pac-10 has two elite teams. Any BCS bowl needing to fill an at-large berth will welcome a USC team with a 10-2 record. The Trojans bring television sets and story lines. Pick: USC

 

Holiday Bowl: If Stanford is finally going to end its bowl boycott, it might as well do it with style. Making your first appearance in a bowl game in eight years in San Diego is not a bad way to go. What’s more is that the Holiday Bowl may not be Stanford’s ceiling. There’s a chance Andrew Luck’s on-the-job training during the season’s first half might give the offense the pick-me-up it needs to spring an upset over one of the top two and vault the Cardinal into the Rose Bowl. Pick: Stanford

Sun Bowl: Remember those knife wounds? I’m bleeding again. A week ago, I didn’t project Oregon State in the bowl picture. Now, I’m thinking the Beavers are good enough for the Pac-10’s No. 3 bowl. Weird how that guy Mike Riley can do a 180 during the season like no coach in America. Pick: Oregon State ED NOTE: Stupid me. Of course OSU cannot go to the Sun Bowl two years in a row, per rule, as several astute readers have pointed out. So in the case that this plays out, put Washington in the Sun Bowl, and OSU in the Emerald.

 

Emerald Bowl: It’s Emerald Bowl or nothing for Washington because of the loss to Notre Dame. How so? The Huskies now must have a winning record in Pac-10 play to get to a bowl. Which means Washington will likely finish in the upper half of the league standings and get this bowl rather than the bottom two. Washington must either sweep its remaining home games (Arizona, Oregon, Washington State, Cal) or win at least one road game (Oregon State, UCLA, Arizona State) to reach six overall wins. It sure looks like Saturday’s home game against Arizona is bowl or bust. Pick: Washington

 

Las Vegas Bowl: Of the remaining five teams, Arizona is playing the best. Sure, this would mean a return to Vegas for the Wildcats (though some back room dealing could switch UW and Arizona’s bowl games), but after missing out on bowl season for 10 years, who’s is going to complain about building a little tradition in Vegas? Pick: Arizona

 

Poinsettia Bowl: UCLA and California are best positioned to get to six wins and land this crummy bowl. Both swept their non-league schedule and, as bad as they are, should pick up the WSU freebie. Cal has a better chance of finding an offense at some point this season, so we’ll side with the Bears. Pick: California

Nick Daschel covers the Pac-10 for Buster Sports, and can be reached at ndaschel@bustersports.com

Football, Pac 10 football, Oregon in Rose Bowl, Pac-10 in BCS bowl games, USC in BCS bowl games