Pac-10 Preview - Week Thirteen

Oregon State (7-3, 6-1) @ Arizona (6-4, 4-3)
The road to the Rose Bowl for Oregon State continues through Arizona and the Wildcats are not ones to be taken lying down.

Quarterback Willie Tuitama has played well this season compiling 2,321 yards and 18 touchdowns to only seven interceptions. Sophomore running back Nic Grigsby has been streaky, one week topping 180 yards and the next unable to get more than 50 or finding himself benched. The Wildcats will need to their ‘A’ game if they are to keep up with the dynamic Beaver offense.

The Oregon St. offense is led by the Rodgers brothers, with freshman running back Jacquizz getting it done on the ground to the tune of 1,233 yards and 11 touchdowns and his older brother wide receiver James is a threat both through the air (603 yards and four touchdowns) and on the ground (250 yards and four touchdowns). Between the two of them, the Wildcats’ defense will certainly have its hands full. Jacquizz Rodgers has topped 100 yards in seven of his last eight games.

If the ‘Cats can knock off the Beavers, they may get a nice note and a Rose bouquet from the Los Angeles area.

Washington (0-10, 0-7) @ Washington State (1-10, 0-8)
It’s been a rough year for the lovely state of Washington, with both schools struggling badly throughout the season. While the Cougars have managed a single victory, neither team has put one in the “W” column in conference play.

Washington has been unable to get much going in the way of offense in part because of their issues at quarterback position. Neither offense is effective – it won’t be pretty. But expect the passion to be as high as ever.

Stanford (5-6, 4-4) @ California (6-4, 4-3)
The Cardinal need just one more win to become bowl eligible, however there is no guarantee they will get it against their rival Bay Area school. Stanford quarterback Tavita Pritchard continues to struggle protecting the ball, which not only hurts the offense, but the defense as well – too often the opposing team finds itself with good field position.

If they turn the ball over to the Cal offense they will surely regret it. Running back Jahvid Best has played well since he returned from a one game absence due to injury, topping 100 yards in three out of his last five games. Nate Longshore and Kevin Riley have split starts at quarterback for the Golden Bears to middling effect with Riley getting the last start against Oregon State. Both signal callers have had their troubles protecting the ball just like Pritchard and as is often the case with the Stanford Cardinal of late, this game will likely turn on who can protect the ball best.

Inside the Pac-10 - Week Twelve

By ANDREW GARDA - PAC-10 INSIDER

#6 USC 45 - Stanford 23
Four three quarters, USC had themselves another scare as the Stanford Cardinal kept pace up until the last frame when the Trojans ran off with the game.

USC again seemed to come out disjointed and undisciplined, compiling penalty after penalty as they did last season. Stanford dominated the line of scrimmage on both offense and defense, frustrating USC even further.

But as the game went on, the Trojans calmed down, cut the penalties out and wore the Cardinal defense down with a very effective rushing attack led by Stafon Johnson’s 115 yards and two touchdowns.

Both teams were keenly aware of last year’s upset in Los Angeles, despite the best efforts of Coach Carroll and Coach Harbaugh to downplay its significance or the significance of this game.

In the end, Stanford was unable to win the game needed to become Bowl Eligible for the first time since 2001. USC was able to keep pace with Oregon State, who still owns the Pac-10 conference lead.

Oregon State 34 - California 21
With this win over Cal, the Oregon State Beavers have once again found their way into the tail end of the BCS Top 25. However, that is likely not half as enjoyable as the continued lead they have over the USC Trojans in the Pac-10. Oregon State has only to hold serve for two more games in order to lock up the title, traveling to Arizona and then facing the Oregon Ducks in their yearly showdown.

The tale of Oregon State’s victory over the California Golden Bears once again centered around the Rodgers brothers, Jacquizz and James.

Younger brother Jacquizz put on another display of rushing prowess, compiling 144 yards and a touchdown while running the ball with the elusiveness Pac-10 fans have marveled at for the entire season. Older brother James was a frequent target of quarterback Lyle Moeveo but also added two touchdowns, one on the ground and one on an 86-yard kickoff return right after Kevin Riley threw his only touchdown.

California had their own weapons on display as running back Jahvid Best had his most effective outing since October 25th against UCLA, rushing for 116 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Kevin Riley threw for 117 yards but found himself sacked five times.

Oregon State kept that pressure up all game and it was definitely a factor in the pair of turnovers California had, and in the Bears’ inability to get up from the mat in the fourth quarter.

Arizona State 31 - Washington State 0
Rudy Carpenter and the Sun Devils continued their solid play as Carpenter threw for 213 yards and a trio of touchdowns in the shutout of the hapless Cougars.

While Carpenter was on his back three times in this match-up, he was able to keep the offense moving through the air. The success of the aerial attack in turn created room for the running game to compile 141 total yards, which in turn created even more room and time for Carpenter to get the ball to his receivers--offensive rhythm indeed.

The Cougars were unable to get anything going, compiling just 123 total yards and only seven yards on the ground. Washington State almost scored midway through the first quarter, but missed a field goal and barely sniffed the Sun Devil side of the field again.

With his three touchdowns, Carpenter now has 80 for his career, placing him third in Pac-10 history in total touchdown passes.

Oregon 55 - Arizona 45
In what became a wild shootout, Oregon ran out to a big first half lead, only to see the Wildcats surge back late… then fade again as Duck’s running back LeGarrette Blount made a 40-yard dash to the house with just under four minutes left in the game.

But for the Ducks, the story was quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, who had a tremendous night. Masoli threw for a career high 298 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 89 yards and a trio of touchdowns—a solid all around game to say the least

Arizona had a tremendous comeback led by freshman Keola Antolin’s four touchdowns, three of which came during the fourth quarter surge. Quarterback Willie Tuitama continued his recent trend of turning the ball over, doing it twice. The turnovers almost overshadowed an otherwise great game, as the senior complied 328 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

But in the end, the game was sealed by Blount’s fourth quarter touchdown which not only won the game but allowed Blount to tie the Oregon record for touchdowns in a single season at 15.

UCLA 27 - Washington 7
The Bruins got the job done on the ground and on the defensive side of the ball, racking up 157 yards on the ground and forcing five turnovers in Coach Rick Neuheisel’s triumphant return to Husky Stadium.

However, it wasn’t all fun and games for Neuheisel, who must be frustrated overquarterback Kevin Craft’s continued inability to protect the football. Craft threw three interceptions but fortunately for him and the Bruins, Washington only scored as a result of the first and then lapsed into its usual mistake filled and inept brand of football.

Washington couldn’t mount anything resembling an offense, barely putting together 135 total yards. The passing game couldn’t amass more than 39, a true mark of just how futile this team’s time on offense often is.

For the Bruins, senior running back Kahlil Bell ran for 97 yards and a pair of touchdowns, leading a ground attack that totaled 157 yards in the game. Craft was able to rebound as well, putting together a solid 92-yard drive to close the third quarter out, setting up Bell’s touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Still, one of Neuheisel’s first jobs of the off-season will be to insure that he has a signal-caller who can protect the ball better. If he fails to do so, the Bruins will be facing more 4-6 seasons like the one they are going through now.

Photo Credit: Collegiate Images, John Pyle (Brian Cushing)

Stanford (4-2, 5-4) @ Oregon (4-2, 6-3)

By ANDREW GARDA - PAC-10 INSIDER

Oregon fell further back in the Pac-10 race with last week’s loss to California and it will be difficult to climb out of the hole they now find themselves in. They cannot lose to Stanford if they want their chances to stay alive. Clearly, Stanford isn’t thinking conference title by any means, but a win Saturday could make them bowl eligible, so expect the Cardinal will bring their best game to Autzen Stadium.

The strength of both teams is running the football. The Ducks have the number one run offense in the Pac-10 (sixth in the nation) and Stanford is right behind at number two. Making it even more interesting is that each defense is equally adept at stopping the run. Oregon possesses the second best rush defense in the conference, while the Cardinal are ranked third. The brick wall versus the speeding truck all game long.

If the two sides grind to a halt on the ground, the passing offense need to take over and things could get ugly. Both teams are nearly as ineffective through the air as they are effective on the ground. However, at the same time, neither defense can stop the pass. Cardinal quarterback Tavita Pritchard continues to turn the ball over at a brisk pace. If he keeps that up, he could give the Oregon ground attack field position that will be too tough to overcome.

Pac-10 Preview - Week Ten

By ANDREW GARDA - PAC-10 INSIDER

Washington (0-7, 0-4 Pac-10) @ #5 USC (6-1, 4-1 Pac-10)

Two teams on opposite sides of the spectrum meet in the Los Angeles Coliseum this Saturday when the fifth ranked Trojans welcome the winless Huskies to another destination on the road to imperfection.

It’s hard to imagine things getting worse for Washington, but USC head coach Pete Carroll’s squad is 23-0 in games in November. The Huskies don’t run the ball well, don’t score often and can only move the ball through the air marginally well.

Oh, and the Huskies are now coached by a lame duck, as the school announced Monday that this would be Coach Ty Willingham's last season with the team. That doesn’t mean he or the team will quit working hard, but it continues to be an uphill battle. A hill that is nearly vertical, by the way, with few handholds and it’s been greased by oil for the last month.

Expect USC to run away with this one and it’s really just a matter of which poison the Trojans decide to administer. Will they have quarterback Mark Sanchez throw the ball against a reeling secondary or will they have the tailback core of McKnight, Johnson and Gable grind it out on the ground?

One word of caution to the Trojans, though. The last two times these teams have met, it was closer than expected (27-24 last season and 26-20 in 2006).

This is a game the Trojans shouldn’t lose. But that doesn’t mean they won’t find it tougher than expected. USC is desperate for big wins if they want back in the National Title hunt. Even if they win, they cannot allow the Huskies to stay close.

#24 Oregon (6-2, 4-1 Pac-10) @ California (5-2, 3-1 Pac-10)

The Oregon Ducks have fought their way back into the Top 25 BCS rankings, but won’t get a chance to rest on their laurels as a tough Golden Bears team awaits them in Memorial Stadium. The Ducks will not only be defending their ranking, but the Pac-10 conference lead they share with No. 5 USC.

Oregon will look to quarterback Jeremiah Masoli to lead them to a third straight win. Masoli, a sophomore transfer from City College of San Francisco, wasn’t even slated to be a factor this year, but finds himself in the driver’s seat after knee injuries took out Nate Costa and Justin Roper. Masoli took over and never looked back.

California has had its share of quarterback issues as well. Sophomore Kevin Riley took the job, then lost it to senior Nate Longshore for a pair of games, only to regain it last week in their 41-20 drubbing of UCLA. Riley will need to remain consistent and protect the ball against a Duck defense that can be opportunistic.

Oregon’s offense also features a pair of dangerous running backs in Jeremiah Johnson and LeGarrette Blount who lead a rush attack that totaled 300 plus yards three times in the last four games. However, the Ducks’ unstoppable force meets the Golden Bears’ immovable objects this week. California’s defense has held opposing runners to less than 100 yards per game, so it will certainly be very interesting to see which side blinks.

Both teams are within sight of the Pac-10 lead (or at least a share of it) and both need to win in order to keep pace with USC. This will be one of the most competitive games in college football this weekend and is far and away the most intriguing game in the Pac-10.

Washington State (1-7, 0-5 Pac-10) @ Stanford (4-4, 3-2 Pac-10)

Stanford still has to be trying to figure out what happened in their loss to UCLA on October 18, as they managed to collapse late in the fourth quarter. The defense couldn’t finish the game, allowing the Bruins to drive down the field, score and burn nearly all the time left on the clock.

Cardinal quarterback Tavita Pritchard needs to start protecting the ball better and cut down on his interceptions, five of which have come in the last three games. In their last game he was abysmal, barely cresting 51 yards. He should against the terrible Cougar defense.

Even if Pritchard struggles, the Cardinal can turn to junior running back Toby Gerhart, who has been having a solid season, topping 100 yards five times in eight games Stanford. Gerhart will be the focus of this offense and it is unlikely Washington State will be able to stop him even if they know where the play is being run.

Arizona State (2-5, 1-3 Pac-10) @ Oregon State (4-3, 3-1 Pac-10)

Oregon State has played very well in conference, not dropping a game in Pac-10 play since losing the opener to Stanford 36-28.

This is a team not to be underestimated. Led by freshman running back Jacquizz Rodgers (812yards, nine touchdowns) and junior quarterback Lyle Moevao (1,779 yards, 13 touchdowns to eight interceptions), Oregon State has multiple weapons to move the ball against an underwhelming Sun Devil team which can’t keep it’s best weapon – quarterback Rudy Carpenter – upright long enough to return from any real deficit.

Arizona State needs to do something to protect Carpenter and fast. The offensive line has to find a way to not only give him time to get the ball off, but cut down on the hits he takes even after he has released the rock. It would also be a big help if the ground game could get going again. Last week they tipped past 100 yards total rushing for the first time since they did it against UNLV way back on September 19.

If the Sun Devils cannot get the run going, defenses can either blanket Carpenter’s receivers or blitz the heck out of the line and that has been exactly what opponents have done. It’s no wonder Carpenter has been hurt the last few seasons. It’s amazing he’s still alive.

Oregon State is trying to make a run at the Pac 10 title and maybe a ranking. Arizona State is just trying to get back to respectable.

Pac-10 Preview - Week Eight

By ANDREW GARDA - PAC-10 INSIDER

#6 USC @ Washington State

When USC dropped their game to Oregon State, it was the sort of loss that has plagued the Trojans over the last few years. After the loss, Pete Carroll and his team vowed to remain focused and not get caught in another trap game.

As bad as Washington State has played, the Trojans cannot afford to take them for granted, although it’s hard to imagine a scenario where USC loses to the woeful Cougars. Wazzu has lost their starting quarterback, Marshall Lobbestael, to a knee injury, which will sideline him the rest of the season and their offense has been barely able to move the ball with Lobbestael in, so one wonders how poorly the passing game will be now.

However USC has its own problems, namely a lingering injury to quarterback Mark Sanchez. Last weekend, he not only battled a bone bruise in his left knee, but had problems protecting the ball, throwing three interceptions.

If Sanchez can cut down on the mistakes and USC’s defense can continue its sharp play, this game should be an lay-up for the Trojans.

Then again, that’s what some said about the trip Corvallis.


#25 California @ Arizona

The Golden Bears have finally returned to the top 25, over a month after their September 13 loss to Maryland knocked them from the rankings. The Bears now head to Arizona to meet a Wildcats team, which couldn’t keep its unbeaten Pac-10 streak intact last weekend against Stanford. This match-up has vital implications for the Pac-10 conference championship as Cal is still undefeated in conference play and Arizona needs to win to get back up on top. Neither team can afford to let USC creep up on them if the Trojans continue to win within the conference after rebounding from their own loss to Oregon State.

The Wildcats were the highest scoring Pac-10 team until last week, when they struggled to complete drives, especially late in the game. The question about Arizona was how they would hold up against better competition. The answer was certainly not to their liking and quarterback Willie Tuitama will have to get that offense back on track against a much more potent defense than they have seen to date.

The Golden Bears hope to have stud running back Jahvid Best back from a dislocated elbow. Best has a national best average of 215 all-purpose yards per game and is ranked second in the Pac-10 with 105 yards per game on the ground. If Best is back, he will add to an offense which is also returns senior QB Nate Longshore. Cal’s offense is just getting healthy and the defense is coming off of its best game all year, a game against ASU where the Golden Bears stifled Sun Devil quarterback Rudy Carpenter and forced three turnovers.

Arizona has a very tough challenge ahead this week, their greatest test yet. The Golden Bears are peaking just in time for the trip to Arizona Stadium.

Stanford @ UCLA

Stanford comes into the Rose Bowl hot off its win against the Arizona Wildcats. However, it was a Pyrrhic victory for the Cardinal as they lost their starting quarterback in the process and the key to this week’s game may be whether Tavita Pritchard can return from his injury. The junior signal caller had his bell rung hard at the end of the first half against Arizona and was replaced by Jason Forcier, who didn’t exactly light up the scoreboard.

While Pritchard has struggled at times, he is a more consistent option than the other two choices; the ineffective Forcier and junior Alex Loukas, who was more effective with his feet than his passes.

The Bruins are a slowly developing team, making fewer mistakes and improving each week under coach Rick Neuheisel. Quarterback Kevin Craft is taking good care of the ball and limiting his mistakes, while the defense seems to be forming into a reliable – if not intimidating – unit.

Stanford has the weapons to win this game, with a solid but unspectacular running game and the ability to move the ball through the air. But without Pritchard, UCLA may be able to sell out to stop the run and make one of the less able backups beat them through the air.

And that may be a game the Bruins can win.

Oregon State @ Washington

As bad as Washington State is, they can probably take solace in the fact that they are not the worst team in Washington, much less the Pac-10. I mean, at least they have a win, even if it was Portland State.

The Washington Huskies don’t even have that going for them and it won’t get any better over the next three weeks as they play Oregon State, Notre Dame and USC.

The ugly starts this weekend with the visiting Beavers who have played some tough competition to get to 3-3. Of their six games so far, three of their opponents were ranked and the Beavers beat the best of them (then #1 ranked USC) and nearly beat #15 Utah. While the men from Corvallis have struggled at times, they have proven they can play hard.

Nobody brings more to the table than phenomenal freshman Jacquizz Rodgers. It is hard to imagine the ineffective Husky run defense finding a way to slow, much less stop, someone who much better ranked teams have failed to stop. Rodgers is so good he makes you forget that the team can pass, but junior quarterback Lyle Moevao has been moving the ball pretty consistently and has compiled more than 1,500 yards so far this season. He is prone to streaks of bad mistakes, even against bad teams – for example, his four interceptions against the previously mentioned Washington State defense. Still, Moevao usually takes good care of it and Oregon State can move the ball.

Washington is reeling and it may be all coach Tyrone Willingham can do to keep his job, much less eek out a win against one of the more prolific offenses in the Pac-10.

Pac-10 - The Week That Was - Week Four

By ANDREW GARDA - PAC-10 INSIDER

Arizona 31, UCLA 10
While the win eluded the now 1-2 Bruins, Coach Rick Neuheisel can at least be pleased with his team’s effort. UCLA fought hard, but in the end, nemesis Willie Tuitama led Arizona to victory over the Bruins for the third time in his collegiate career. Tuitama threw for 222 yards and his second touchdown of the day sealed the victory for the Wildcats. Quarterback Kevin Craft continued to get comfortable in a job he fell into due to injuries to the starters. While UCLA played better than they did in their drubbing by BYU, they were not quite as inspired as they were in their season opening win over Tennessee. Arizona on the other hand, starts conference play on a high note and will try to rebuild the momentum they lost in their defeat at the hands of New Mexico. The 'Cats have hopes of making their first bowl appearance under Coach Mike Stoops.

Washington State 48, Portland State 9
Washington State won the game 48-9, but may have paid too steep a price as quarterbacks Kevin Lopina and Gary Rogers (who left in an ambulance with neck pain) were injured in the game. Third-stringer Marshall Lobbestael not only stepped in but stepped up, throwing for a pair of touchdowns and 149 yards in just over a quarter. Cougar wide receivers Brandon Gibson (three receptions, 84 yards, one touchdown) and Devin Frischknecht (five receptions, 110 yards, one touchdown) both made the most of their opportunities. On the ground, running backs Dwight Tardy (80 yards, one touchdown) and Chris Ivory (78 yards, one touchdowns) split the carries (11 each) down the middle to good effect. Meanwhile, Portland State couldn’t get any run game going, totaling a paltry eight yards against the Cougars’ rush defense.

#3 Georgia 27, Arizona State 10
Georgia left no doubt in the desert, that they were national title contenders with a sound win over Arizona State. A complete turnaround from last week’s squeaker against South Carolina, the Bulldogs ran out to a 21-3 lead in the second quarter and never looked back. Georgia kept tremendous pressure on ASU quarterback Rudy Carpenter, sacking him four times. They also locked down the Sun Devil run game. Sun Devil running backs compiled a mere four yards. With no threat of the run, the Georgia secondary was free to roam the field and shut down Carpenter’s receivers, while the linebackers blitzed at will. Carpenter found himself scrambling on most plays, trying to keep the play alive long enough to find an open target, often to no avail. Defensively, the Sun Devils stifled Bulldog running back Knowshon Moreno for part of the game, but in the end could not fully contain him, as he scored twice and totaled 149 yards. Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford also had a very effective day, compiling 285 yards and one touchdown through the air.

Stanford 23, San Jose State 10
Stanford had to battle back from a halftime deficit and running back Toby Gerhart was their leader as the Cardinal beat the San Jose State Spartans 23-10. Gerhart carried the ball 22 times for 148 yards and a touchdown, while struggling quarterback Tavita Pritchard scrambled for 40 yards and a touchdown, adding a 25-yard “catch” of his own deflected pass. Stanford gets back to even after dropping two in a row.

Boise State 37, #17 Oregon 32
Going in, the Ducks needed to limit mistakes and not fall behind, they did neither. Oregon quarterbacks threw three interceptions and Boise State ran out to a 24-6 first half lead. A late surge by the Ducks was not enough this time, as Broncos’ signal caller Kellen Moore threw for 386 yards and three touchdowns in the freshman’s first career start on the road. Jeremiah Masoli was the latest Ducks quarterback to fall to injury, as he exited the game in the first quarter with a mild concussion. This forced headman Mike Bellotti to utilize three quarterbacks with very little success until freshman Darron Thomas, the fourth quarterback used this season, came onto the field for the final stanza. Thomas gave the passing attack some bite, as he threw for 210 yards and three touchdowns in just one quarter of work. This was Boise State’s first road win against a BCS-conference team in the program’s history.

Photo Credit: SEC Sports Media

Pac-10 Week Four Preview

By ANDREW GARDA - PAC-10 INSIDER

Arizona @ UCLA
Both teams are in need of a win in order to right ships that just a week ago appeared strong and sturdy. Before the Wildcats suffered a tough loss to New Mexico, quarterback Willie Tuitama was playing mistake free football. He needs to put his two interception performance against New Mexico behind him, because a shaky Bruins’ secondary lies in the waters ahead. They also need tailback Nic Grigsby to revert to form as well—he totaled 304 yards and five touchdowns. On the other side of the field, Coach Rick Neuheisel is wondering just which team is going to show up this weekend. The fighting, clawing, ‘never say die’ scrappers from the victory against Tennessee, or the not quite ready for prime time players that got blown out by BYU? Sadly, it is probably more the latter than the former. Quarterback Kevin Craft cut down on his mistakes against BYU, but still has a long way to go as a starter. That goes for the team around him as well. After the embarrassing loss last week, it may be all the coaching staff can do to keep the kids focused on this game and not last week’s. While UCLA is not as good as they were week one, they are not as bad as week two, and Arizona is no BYU. That said, the Wildcats will still have an edge in nearly every aspect of this game (other than home field) and should be the victors in this match-up.

#2 Georgia @ Arizona State
A week ago, Arizona St. was thinking about perhaps beating Georgia and making a statement. While they were doing that, their foot came off the gas and UNLV took advantage. Despite Georgia’s not-exactly-strong win against South Carolina, the Bulldogs come in heavily favored to win while ASU is still trying to figure out what happened last week. The key to this game for both sides comes down to one man – Arizona State quarterback Rudy Carpenter. If the offensive line can keep him from being hammered by the Bulldog defensive line, Carpenter should be able to exploit a secondary that is second to last in the SEC, allowing 236.3 yards per game. Arizona State is putting over 300 passing yards on the board each week. The Sun Devils have allowed just five sacks so far this year – and enormous improvement – and the Dawgs have amassed only six on defense, so keeping Carpenter is a possibility. The senior signal caller attempted 23 passes last week, while the team ran 36 times—the first time this season the team ran more than it passed. But it didn’t get the job done, as the rushing attack was only able to garner 3.6 yards per attempt and couldn’t kill the clock before UNLV got back in the game. In order to win, Carpenter needs to have a big game, and to do that he needs to be standing.

Meanwhile, Georgia will need better production from star running back Knowshon Moreno and quarterback Matthew Stafford. Like ASU’s offensive line, the Bulldog line is under the microscope. They must protect Stafford better after allowing South Carolina to get to him four times last week. The Sun Devils defense will try to repeat South Carolina’s success at stumping Stafford and stuffing Moreno, but the run defense will have to stop the bleeding after allowing 100+ yards in both of the last two games. That will be a tall challenge, with the talented sophomore coming in with something to prove. ASU has been good against the pass in this young season, but Stafford will put that to the test in the first top end challenge the Sun Devils will face.

If Coach Dennis Erickson’s boys upfront can protect Carpenter, they might make a game of this and perhaps bounce back into the rankings. But if Georgia can keep the pressure on and Moreno can rebound from his lackluster game last week, Georgia could make it a long evening in Tempe for the hometown team.

Portland State @ Washington State
I hesitate to say that Washington State should be able to beat Portland given last weekend’s events. Still, this is a bounce-back game for the Cougars and they should be able to win at home. The Cougars will be looking to reboot their season against Portland State, but need the defense to play better after having been manhandled in the first three games. Meanwhile, the offense needs to cut down on turnovers. Six interceptions from the quarterback position is too many, as they have continually put the defense behind the 8-ball and on the field more often than they can handle.

San Jose State @ Stanford
San Jose State comes to Stanford with an offense that moves the ball well, but is not as effective getting into the end zone. Stanford does a better job of scoring, but so do their opponents. This combination could spell disaster for the Cardinal, if the Spartans pick up their game in the red zone. While they looked good beating Oregon State, Stanford has been beaten handily over the last two games. San Jose State dropped their one big test at Nebraska, but otherwise has kept their opponents putting up points. The Cardinal should model their game on Nebraska’s and attack with the pass.

Boise State @ #17 Oregon
After an overtime comeback against Purdue last Saturday, the Ducks host Boise State with starting quarterback Justin Roper sidelined. Tailbacks LeGarrette Blount and Jeremiah Johnson will try to keep the dynamic offense moving on the ground, while Boise State will trot out running back Ian Johnson and wide receiver Titus Young to carry their offense. Oregon will likely turn to Jeremiah Masoli to carry the quarterback load, though true freshman Chris Harper may get some work as well. Regardless, the run game will be pivotal for the Ducks, as they try to limit their inexperienced quarterbacks. Boise State boasts a defense ranked 28th in the nation, giving up just 257 yards a game. They will try to put the Oregon offense in passing situations, turn on the pressure, and try to create turnovers, just as they did last week against Bowling Green. Oregon cannot afford to get behind this week, the way they did against Purdue. Boise State is also capable of explosive offensive play and if they get out in front by a bunch, the game will be in the hands of Oregon’s quarterbacks. Something the Ducks do not want to happen.

Photo Credit: Collegiate Images

Trojans left to ponder stunning loss to Cardinal

By JOHN NADEL
AP Sports Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Perhaps Southern California just isn't that good.

What other explanation can there be?

The Trojans entered Saturday's game as 41-point favorites over a Stanford team coming off three one-sided losses and playing its first road game of the season.

The site was the Los Angeles Coliseum, where USC had won 35 straight since losing to the Cardinal six years ago in the fourth game of the Pete Carroll era.

Oh, one more thing - quarterback T.C. Ostrander couldn't play, meaning Tavita Pritchard would make his first career start against one of the nation's toughest defenses.

Final score: Stanford 24, USC 23. The Cardinal scored the winning points with 49 seconds remaining on Pritchard's 10-yard touchdown pass to Mark Bradford on fourth-and-goal and Derek Belch's conversion.

Four plays earlier, Stanford converted on fourth-and-20 when Pritchard hit Richard Sherman for a first down at the USC 9, just past the first-down marker.

There was fair warning things weren't quite right a week earlier, when then-No. 1 USC was holding on at the end of a 27-24 victory at Washington over a team coming off two straight losses.

After that, the Trojans fell to No. 2 in the AP Top 25, just two points behind LSU. Now, after being victimized by one of the most startling upsets in college football history, USC (4-1, 2-1 Pac-10) is ranked 10th.

``We lost. We've got to face that fact and move on,'' said Trojans quarterback John Booty, who passed for 364 yards but threw four interceptions including one that set up the go-ahead touchdown. ``Now, we have to put it behind us.''

The same might be said for USC's national championship hopes, although with all the upsets happening, it's possible there won't be one unbeaten team standing when the regular season ends, much less two.

``Our season's not over,'' defensive end Lawrence Jackson said. ``This loss is not devastating. We still have seven games left. We are still a good team with great coaches, even though we walked out of here with a loss. We need to find character and bounce back.''

That shouldn't be too difficult the next couple of weeks, with Arizona (2-4) paying a visit next Saturday and the Trojans traveling to Notre Dame (1-5) on Oct. 20. Though, after what happened Saturday night, no game is a walkover right now for USC.

After that, USC hits the road of the nastiest part of the schedule with games at No. 2 California, No. 9 Oregon and No. 14 Arizona State.

USC had to face Stanford (2-4, 1-3) without several topflight players sidelined by injuries including tailbacks Stafon Johnson and C.J. Gable, offensive linemen Kristofer O'Dowd and Chilo Rachel, linebacker Brian Cushing and defensive back Josh Pinkard.

Still, the Trojans pride themselves on their talent and depth, understandable considering they've been at or near the top of the recruiting wars under Carroll, who has coached USC to a 69-13 record since taking over.

USC dominated Stanford statistically, rolling up 459 yards of total offense to 235, but committed five turnovers while forcing only one.

The game turned late in the third quarter, after USC had taken a 16-7 lead. Not counting their final possession, when they took a knee with the game in hand, the Cardinal gained 186 yards and scored 17 points the last three times they had the ball.

``Stanford deserves all the credit,'' Carroll said. ``They did a heck of a job and we just had a ton of mistakes. We made enough mistakes and they capitalized. This just goes to show, the guys who play better win.''

Booty cracked a bone on the tip of his middle finger on his throwing hand when he hit it on a helmet in the second quarter, but played on.

``He fought through it and was doing all right,'' Carroll said. ``We could have made a change but we went with our guy. I don't know about next week.''

USC dropped several passes, committed eight penalties for 80 yards, and made several other mistakes as well.

The young wide receivers continue to struggle, perhaps making Booty appear to be playing worse than he really is, and the offensive line didn't protect well.

Pritchard, a 6-foot-4, 200-pound sophomore from Tacoma, Wash., entered having thrown three passes for the Cardinal. He completed 11 of 30 for 149 yards and the winning touchdown with one interception.

Not great numbers, but good enough.

``He went into this thing with no fear, and played a great game,'' first-year Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh said. ``Our guys just played like their lives depended on it. They played calm, too. They kept believing in it. They got it done with technique and heart tonight.''

Source: ncaafootball.com; Photo Credit: Collegiate Images

Hollywood ending: Stanford shocks No. 2 USC, 24-23

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Led by a backup quarterback, Stanford pulled off a stunner.

Tavita Pritchard threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Mark Bradford on fourth-and-goal with 49 seconds remaining Saturday night, giving the 41-point underdog Cardinal a 24-23 victory over No. 2 Southern California.

In a season that started with Appalachian State's improbable victory over Michigan at the Big House, and a week after half the top 10 went down, the Cardinal pulled off what may very well be the biggest upset of all.

The Cardinal (2-4, 1-3 Pac-10) scored 17 points in the fourth quarter and moved 45 yards in 11 plays for the winning touchdown after USC's John David Booty threw the third of his four interceptions.

A leaping Bradford caught the ball over cornerback Mozique McCurtis in the corner of the end zone, leaving the crowd of 85,125 at the Los Angeles Coliseum in stunned silence. Bo McNally's interception thwarted USC's final chance.

In the days leading up to the game, first-year Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh stuck to his preseason assessment that USC might be the greatest college football team ever. In the end, the Trojans weren't the best team in the Coliseum.

The Trojans (4-1, 2-1) dropped from No. 1 to No. 2 in the AP Top 25 after barely holding on for a 27-24 victory over underdog Washington in Seattle last weekend. They'll drop a lot more this week after losing to a team that was playing its first road game of the season and had been outscored 141-51 in previous Pac-10 action.

USC's 35-game winning streak at the Coliseum is over. The Trojans hadn't lost at home since Stanford beat them 21-16 on Sept. 29, 2001, in the first year of the Pete Carroll era.

Pritchard, a sophomore from Tacoma, Wash., filling in for T.C. Ostrander, completed 11 of 30 for 149 yards and the winning TD in his first college start. The numbers weren't great, but he was awfully good when it counted.

Ostrander didn't play after suffering a seizure in a restaurant last Sunday. He's OK, but might have trouble getting his job back from Pritchard, a nephew of former Washington State quarterback Jack Thompson.

The Trojans rolled up 459 yards in total offense to just 235 for Stanford. But USC's five turnovers and Pannel Egboh's block of USC kicker David Buehler's PAT attempt early in the game provided decisive.

Booty went 24-of-40 for 364 yards, but in the end, that wasn't enough for the Trojans. Patrick Turner caught nine passes for 83 yards and Davis had five receptions for 152 yards. USC netted only 95 yards on 38 rushing attempts.

The winning drive came after Wopamo Osaisai's 18-yard interception return gave the Cardinal the ball with 2:50 remaining. Stanford was in big trouble when facing a fourth-and-20 from the USC 29, but Richard Sherman caught Pritchard's pass over the middle right at the first-down marker to keep the winning drive alive.

The Cardinal trimmed USC's lead to 16-14 on the first play of the fourth quarter when Anthony Kimble scored on a 1-yard run, capping a 75-yard drive.

Booty threw a 47-yard touchdown pass to freshman Ronald Johnson less than four minutes later to cap an 86-yard drive and give the Trojans some breathing room. But it wouldn't last. Derek Belch, whose conversion provided the margin of victory, kicked a 26-yard field goal with 5:43 remaining to put the Cardinal within striking range.

Source: ncaafootball.com