Pac-10 Week 6 Power Rankings
| 4
|
by user Deuelio
#1 Cal
The most serious threat to Pete Carroll and USC, the Bears hammered a good Oregon team on Saturday. The Bears have won five consecutive blowout games and are quickly putting the Tennessee fiasco behind them. Cal’s victory over Oregon propels them to the top of the heap in the Pac-10. Circle Nov. 18 on your calendar, when Cal travels to USC.
#2 USC
The Trojans have looked vulnerable, winning close games on late defensive stands. The offense, despite averaging more than 400 yards of total offense a game, has struggled in the red zone. Injuires to Dwayne Jarrett and now Steve Smith have derailed the passsing game and a sickening injury to fullback Ryan Powdrell has made running more challenging for the Trojans. Still, they’ve won 50 of their last 52 games and are ranked No. 3 in the country.
#3 Oregon
Took a hit at Cal and didn’t respond. The Ducks have got to rebound against UCLA this week if they want to stay in the top three of the conference. The Ducks had some serious momentum going and appeared to be a serious threat to USC and they still might be, but the coaching staff will have to see what Cal did defensively and adjust, because USC’s defense is just as fast and good as Cal’s, if not slightly better. Needs to take care of the ball better too, four TO’s against Cal and four TO’s against Oklahoma earlier in the year.
#4 Washington
Are the Huskies for real? Yes, they appear so. Plus, Willingham gets major credit for the classy way he handled the final seconds of their game with USC, saying simply "it was a very difficult situation to officiate." The officials, after huddling to determine how much time should remain on the clock, spotted the ball and wound the clock without Washington knowing it and the clock ran out before the Huskies had a chance to throw for the winning touchdown. Isaiah Stanback and Sonny Shackleford are a dangerous combo and the defense is fast and hard hitting. Washington hosts OSU and then plays Cal, ASU and Oregon in a key stretch of the season.
#5 Arizona State
Got a week off after the Cal and Oregon debacles but now must travel to USC. Fortunately for the Sun Devils, the Trojans look vulnerable and Dirk Koetter could use a win in a big way. The Sun Devils have to work Rudy Carpenter and get his head on straight if ASU is to have a chance. The once great Carpenter has struggled in his last two outings, including just 33 yards passing against the Ducks on September 30.
#6 UCLA
UCLA is 2-1 in the Pac-10 and sitting in the upper echelon but they’ve beaten Arizona and Stanford, two of the leagues’ bottom feeders. Now the Bruins will be without starter Ben Olson as they travel to Oregon, but a fast and aggressive defense may help them in Eugene. Autzen Stadium can be a tough place for a rookie QB to make his debut. That, combined with Oregon’s beatdown at the hands of Cal will make Saturday very interesting. If UCLA plays Oregon tough in Eugene, UCLA will move up a step.
#7 Washington State
The Cougs have two of the conferences top wideouts in Jason Hill and Micheal Bumpus, but I’ve never been sure that Alex Brink was solid. The Cougs are 2-1 with wins over Stanford and OSU, both on the road, but the meat of their schedule is upcoming starting next week with a home game vs. Cal. Play Cal solidly and the Cougs could move ahead of Brink. Can Bill Doba coach? It looks that way, as he’s taken a WSU team that nobody thought much of, and made them competitive and dangerous...just ask USC.
#8 Arizona
Just because they’re more competitive than OSU, but they’re still not very good. The defense is great but the offense has never gotten going and to top it off, their savior Willie Tuitama has his second concussion of the season. Perhaps we’ll get a look at Stoops’ character if Tuitama plays this season. No way should a guy with two concussions in less than two months be playing football. But this is the same coach that celebrated the injuries of Oregon’s Kellen Clemens and Dennis Dixon in a close loss to the Ducks last year.
#9 OSU
Mike Riley has to be feeling the heat. The natives are getting restless which is sort of odd considering Oregon State’s putrid past. This is a school that had 28 losing seasons in a row before hurricane Dennis Erickson rolled into town and took the Beavs to a Fiesta Bowl. Now Beaver fans think they should be playing in big time bowl games every year. If OSU has designs for the top-25, Mike Riley should go and fresh, new blood should take over the program. Erickson? Pat Hill? Gary Crowton from Oregon? Somebody, anybody.
#10 Stanford
Hello? Anyone? Is this thing on? Walt Harris, we hardly knew ye.
