Nick Daschel is a veteran sports writer and columnist who has worked on the West coast for nearly three decades. Nick has covered the Pac-10 for about 15 years, primarily focusing on the Northwest schools.
Rating the Pac-10 from top to bottom heading into Week 10 of the season:
1. Oregon: In the post-Reggie Bush era, the Ducks have put on the Pac-10’s two best single-game offensive performances: the 65-38 rout of Oregon State in 2008, and last Saturday’s 47-20 thumping of USC. Jeremiah Masoli was so brilliant in running the offense, I had to go to my press box speed card during the second quarter just to confirm: yes, Masoli is a junior and will be back to dazzle us in 2010.
2. Blank: No one is deserving of No. 2. The gap between Oregon and second place at the moment is as wide as it’s been in years. The last time a team won the Pac-10 title by two games was Washington in 1991. I think it’s going to happen in 2009.
3. USC: Pete Carroll said it “makes me sick” watching the bloodbath that was Oregon’s offense against his defense. Fortunately, there is light for the Trojans. USC ought to run the table with its remaining schedule: at Arizona State, then home against Stanford, UCLA and Arizona.
4. Arizona: The Wildcats had better have put the bye week to good use, namely how to score touchdowns in the red zone. Arizona’s short passing game has been great between the 20s, but not so much within the shadow of the end zone. The Wildcats will need all the points they can get, with three top 20 teams scheduled among their final four games.
5. Oregon State: With five wins and Washington State remaining on the schedule, OSU is assured of a bowl-eligible record. Whether the Beavers are a team to take seriously, though, depends on the outcome of Saturday’s game at California. Win that, and it all but locks up a top-four finish in league.
6. Stanford: The Cardinal have been here before, at five wins. To crack bowl eligibility for the first time since 2001, they’re going to have to win a game against a Top 25 team, as the remaining four opponents are No. 8 Oregon, No. 12 USC, No. 20 California and No. 22 Notre Dame. Good luck beating Oregon. But Cal and Notre Dame seem doable.
7. California: The Bears have righted the ship a bit, and one reason they’re one slot ahead of Washington is ASU. Cal figured out to finish off the Sun Devils, while the Huskies didn’t. The Bears have the ability to finish in the Pac-10’s top five – I mean, I picked them to win the league, those darn underachievers! – but until they beat a high profile opponent, Cal isn’t credible.
8. Washington: As long as Jake Locker stays upright, the Huskies have a chance to win three of their final four games and get to a bowl game. This team really needed a bye week, and I think you’ll see a renewed effort, particularly on defense, from Washington starting Saturday at UCLA.
9. Arizona State: Though Cal has taken a free fall this season, Arizona State is the Pac-10’s most disappointing team. Former offensive genius Dennis Erickson has had three years to light a fire under the Sun Devils offense, yet all we’ve seen is smoke. Not saying it’s time to make a coaching change, but so far, Erickson has not been a big upgrade from Dirk Koetter.
10. UCLA: Speaking of disappointing, ahem.
11. Washington State: Nice feature story last week on former WSU coach Bill Doba and how he’s doing in retirement. One thing he wouldn’t discuss: the current state of Washington State football. If only the current Cougars could hide from this shame.
"No one is deserving of No. 2. The gap between Oregon and second place at the moment is as wide as it’s been in years."
Nice!
But, let's not count out Oregon going to Stanford this weekend and to 'Zona on Nov. 21. I'd feel much more confident in that statement if these two teams were coming to Autzen.
Ok, I'm 9 out of 10 on confident scale. At Autzen... it'd be a 10.
Comments
Nice!
But, let's not count out Oregon going to Stanford this weekend and to 'Zona on Nov. 21. I'd feel much more confident in that statement if these two teams were coming to Autzen.
Ok, I'm 9 out of 10 on confident scale. At Autzen... it'd be a 10.