Buster Sports

Last week’s Pac-10 results were entirely predictable, but teams still moved up and down based on the way they played. For example, Washington appears a lot more vulnerable than it did a week ago. UCLA shouldn’t be anywhere near a bowl game. Arizona State confirmed to me that it’s the likelihood of another win this season is remote.

Rose Bowl: Just to confirm to you that I’m completely nuts: I don’t think Saturday’s game against USC is the toughest one remaining on Oregon’s schedule. It’s Arizona in Tucson on Nov. 21. I can easily see the Ducks losing that game, but not against the Trojans in Eugene. Fortunately for Oregon, Arizona already has a loss and should pick up another one somewhere along the way, either in Berkeley or Los Angeles. I’m holding out hope that BCS magic descends upon Iowa and sends the Hawkeyes to the BCS title game, setting up a potential rematch of Oregon-Boise State in the Rose Bowl. Pick: Oregon

BCS at-large: With three of its final four games at home, it’s hard to see USC finishing worse than 10-2, making the Trojans an obvious BCS at-large candidate. The question is, how creative can the BCS boys get? Let’s not waste USC. Please, please, please: wherever you send the Trojans, make sure the opponent has SEC ties. Pick: USC

Holiday Bowl: It would help the Holiday Bowl for Arizona to get hot and either knock off a USC or Oregon down the stretch, because it’s looking like the Big 12’s Holiday offering is dreck. The Holiday really doesn’t want Oklahoma State after having the Cowboys in 2008, but do you really want the North champion, which at the moment is Kansas State? Yeech. Pick: Arizona

Sun Bowl: Not sure whether the Sun Bowl would be thrilled or not with Stanford. On one hand, it’s not Oregon or Oregon State, two Sun Bowl regulars. On the other hand, it’s been so long since Stanford played in a bowl game, hard to know how well they travel. Here’s a guess: not well. The Cardinal haven’t come close to selling out 50,000-seat Stanford Stadium this season, Why would thousands travel 1,200 miles to spend a few days in El Paso? Pick: Stanford

Emerald Bowl: Oregon State is going bowling, it’s just a question of where. Here’s what it gets tricky. The Beavers could finish as high as third place, and if Arizona somehow stumbles, OSU winds up in the Holiday. But we don’t think the Wildcats will fall apart. Which means the Beavers should go to the Sun Bowl, but can’t since they went last year. OSU was at the Emerald two years ago, and wouldn’t be a popular pick with that bowl committee. That leaves the Vegas Bowl, except the Beavers played in Las Vegas earlier this season against the Rebels. Reluctantly, the Emerald is OSU’s probable destination. Pick: Oregon State

Las Vegas Bowl: We’ve already established that I’m nuts, so why stop now? Yes, I saw the Huskies ole’ defense against Arizona State, and the debacle against Oregon in Seattle. I still think UW can win three of its final four and go to a bowl. The Huskies will beat UCLA next week, and certainly they’ll get Washington State. Which means Washington will have to beat Cal on Dec. 5. I figure the Bears will have little motivation with a bowl bid wrapped up, while Washington has much to play for. Huskies over Cal, and on to Vegas. Pick: Washington

Poinsettia Bowl: The Bears should get Arizona State this Saturday to become bowl eligible, and win one other game (Arizona at home, perhaps?), but that’s it. Because all the teams above Cal will have five or more league wins, the Bears get whatever is leftover. Not that San Diego pre-Christmas is a bad leftover. Pick: California

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

Football, Pac-10, Pac 10 in the Rose Bowl, USC in BCS bowls, Pac 10 bowl predictions