Cougars Start Season #10 in Coaches Poll

The Washington State Cougars open the season at #10 in the preseason Coaches Poll. This is the highest a WSU team has ever started the season.

North Carolina starts #1 followed by UCLA and Memphis. UCLA and WSU give the Pac-10 two Top 10 teams with Oregon at #13, Arizona #17, USC #18 and Stanford #21. That is a great showing for the Pac-10 and shows this conference is going to be awfully tough this season.

Two other notes: Gonzaga opens tied with Texas A&M at #14 and Kentucky starts at #22.

UNC, UCLA, Memphis separated by 8 votes in preseason poll [ESPN]

SEC vs. Pac-10: The Final Count

*Thanks again to The Big Lead for picking up this post, we sure got those SEC fans agitated.

The Pac-10 vs. SEC debate has been going on all season. It started before the season, actually, when LSU coach Les Miles verbally slapped the Pac-10 on SEC media day. I’m here to finally put that debate to rest by staging games between the equal teams of each conference. Since there are 2 more teams in the SEC, two games have multiple SEC teams. The outcome of these games is who I think would win if the game was played on a neutral field in Nebraska.

LSU vs. Oregon
This could very well be the real National Championship game if both teams win out and get a little help. Both teams have lost 1 game and could be undefeated. Oregon’s only lose came when they fumbled the ball out of the back of the endzone in the last few seconds. LSU lost on the road at Kentucky and snuck out a win last night over Auburn on a gutsy call. Oregon has a ton of speed and I don’t think LSU can defend the spread.
Winner: Oregon

Florida vs. Arizona State
Arizona State has been a surprise this year under the weasel Dennis Erikson. Florida has lost twice, but both were close, hard-fought games. Tim Tebow is a Heisman favorite and, like Oregon, they have a ton of speed. Arizona State has yet to be tested, their closed game a 3-pt. win at Washington State.
Winner: Florida

Alabama vs. USC
I still can’t believe that USC lost to Stanford. That has to be the upset of the year so far. The devil Nick Saban has Alabama over-performing. They lost to a bad Florida State team and a heartbreaker to Georgia. USC has not been its dominating self of the last 3 years, but they are still good enough to beat Alabama.
Winner: USC

South Carolina, Georgia vs. UCLA
This is the matchup of teams we can’t figure out and they can’t figure out themselves. UCLA loses to Utah by 30 but beats a underachieving California team. South Carolina beats Kentucky but loses to Vanderbilt. Georgia clips Alabama in OT, but loses to a Tennessee team that Alabama destroyed this weekend. I believe that South Carolina is still a year away and Georgia hasn’t proven itself yet. UCLA’s lose to Utah was the exception, not the rule.
Winner: UCLA

Auburn, Kentucky vs. California
As I mentioned earlier I think Cal has underachieved. They should have won at Oregon State two weeks ago and that hangover cost them against UCLA. Kentucky has been a huge surprise, but I still don’t think there a Top 15 caliber team, maybe its just because its Kentucky. Auburn almost beat LSU and South Florida. There lose to Mississippi State was slightly worse than Cal’s to Oregon State. Auburn has played some teams tough and Kentucky beat LSU, so I give them the nod.
Winner: Auburn, Kentucky

Tennessee vs. Oregon State
Oregon State beat Cal, although that may have had more to do with Cal then the Beavers. Tennessee got destroyed by Alabama and are perennial underachievers. I’m gonna use the old logic of Oregon State beat Cal, Cal beat Tennessee, so Oregon State will beat Tennessee.
Winner: Oregon State

Arkansas vs. Arizona
This is another interesting matchup. Arkansas is not any where near the team they were last year although they have two great running backs. Arizona almost beat USC and then lost to Stanford. This may be a tossup game, but Stoops is gonna get fired and Arizona can’t stop McFadden.
Winner: Arkansas

Vanderbilt vs. Stanford
This is the matchup of the spoilers. Stanford pulled off the biggest upset of the season, knocking off USC in the Coliseum. Vanderbilt beat South Carolina on Saturday to knock the Game Cocks out of the NC hunt. Stanford’s win over USC and Jim Harbaugh’s coaching give the Cardinal the edge.
Winner: Stanford

Mississippi vs. Washington, Mississippi State vs. Washington State
The Mississippi’s vs. the Washington’s. The bottom-feeders of their respective conferences. The two biggest wins for these 4 teams are Mississippi State over Auburn and Washington over Boise State. I’m gonna call for a split on these two games.
Winner: Mississippi, Washington State

After tallying up the score it’s the Pac-10 6-4. As you can see it’s a close race, but the Pac-10 is the better conference this season. Don’t be surprised if the National Championship winner comes from the Pac-10.

Expected Poll Shakeup, Unexpected New #1

You knew that the Top 10 would be significantly different, you didn't know LSU was going to be the new #1 in the AP Poll. Looking at the points LSU only has a 2 pt. lead, but I've got to believe that they will have an opportunity to extend that lead if they can beat Florida on Saturday.

The most disappointing thing about this is that so far this season the Pac-10 has proven that it is better than the SEC. It has a better non-conference record against BCS teams than all other conferences. The California-Oregon game is up there for game-of-the-year so far. For the SEC's Kentucky the Pac-10 has Arizona State, which I would argue is better then Kentucky and will prove it be the end of the season. If LSU struggles against Florida or loses, which is a very strong possibility, I expect USC to regain its rightful perch atop the AP Poll.

Week 5 Rankings [ESPN]
Which conference is worse? [Musings from the Coast]

WSU, UW Wrap

The Cougars officially have no defense. Arizona QB Willie Tuitama threw for 346 yards and 5 TDs. Not to mention the fact that their freshman RB had 186 yards and as a team the Wildcats had 567 yards of total offense. The best news was that Arizona actually had to punt the ball, unlike USC, but it didn't happen until 5:50 were left in the 3rd quarter.

Alex Brink had a good day statistically, 347 yards and 3 TDs, but he continues to make poor decisions. He threw a ridiculous interception, rushes his throws when the pocket breaks down, and is consistently inaccurate when he rolls to his left. The way this team is playing I would be surprised if they win another game besides Stanford.

Closer to home, the Washington Huskies were gift-wrapped an upset over the #1 team in the nation and couldn't deliver. USC kept turning the ball over, 3 times, getting a punt blocked, and missing a field goal yet the Huskies still come out on bottom 27-24.

While the close score may make UW fans optimistic, it should not. The only reason why Washington was close was because of USC shooting itself in the foot. Look at the UW scoring drives: 14, 22, and 9 yards. This offense was not driving the ball on the Trojans defense, it was scoring off mental mistakes. Jake Locker only threw for 90 and continues to be very inaccurate. Louis Rankin only rushed the ball 12 times for 39 yards. The UW defense played a better game then expected, but close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.


Arizona's new passing game leaves Cougars in desert dust [Seattle Times]
Huskies stay close to #1 USC, but mistakes hurt [Seattle Times]
Photos Courtesy of Seattle Times

Cal Survives Oregon

Wow, what a game! Although it wasn't the high scoring affair that everyone thought, I think it was an even better game then expected. When Cal's Marcus Ezeff hit Oregon's Cameron Colvin it left the game in the hands of the officials. After seeing the replays they clearly made the right decision. That ball was fumbled out the side of the endzone and Colvin lost the ball before it crossed the goal line.

No matter what, it was a great game and now California is still in the National Championship hunt. With Oklahoma's lose to Colorado and South Florida's upset of West Virginia the Bears will move up to at least 4th in the country.

No. 6 California 31, No. 11 Oregon 24 [ESPN]

Photo Courtesy of ESPN

Pac-10 Recap

The first weekend of Pac-10 play was a wild one, without any upsets.

You know going into the game that in order to stay close and possibly upset #1 USC the Cougar offense had to play lights out. It would be an understatement to say they didn’t deliver losing to the Trojans 47-14. Alex Brink only through for 165 yards and made some costly mental mistakes. His interception was just plain stupid and his disgust with a screen play call caused him to chuck the ball into the ground and draw an intentional grounding penalty near his own goal line. The secondary is one of the worst in the country and just got shredded by John David Booty who was 28 for 35 with 4 TD’s. You knew it was going to be a long day when USC went for it on 4th and 2 on the 1st drive and scored the TD.

Down to their 3rd-string QB to start the 4th quarter UCLA used its running game to defeat the Huskies 44-31. Washington’s Jake Locker was 9 of 23 for 63 yds. through 3 quarters before heating up in the 4th. Although Locker finished with 216 yards and 4 Tds he did not look sharp at all. His accuracy was horrible and he showed that as a freshman he is not prepared to lead his team to a big road victory yet. The Husky defense knew UCLA was going to run the ball yet their top two Rbs finished with 193 and 109 yards respectively. I believe we are seeing the real Husky team, the one that will continue to finish with non-winning seasons.

Brink struggles against USC as Cougs fall 47-14 [Seattle Times]

Huskies can't stop UCLA in 2nd half, fall 44-31 [Seattle Times]

Justin Forsett leads No. 6 Cal’s quick start in 45-27 win over Arizona [USA Today]

Sun Devils rally past OSU [Oregon Live]

Cardinal just can’t hang on [San Jose Mercury News]

Pac-10 Football Update

This is a very interesting and inspiring story even if its about a Husky. This kid has had a tough go of it and hopefully he can right the ship at the U.

Huskies cornerback Byron Davenport finally breaks free [Seattle PI]

A 2007 season outlook preview for the Cougars

2007 Season Preview [WSU Offical Athletic Site]

Big praise for the Beavers new strong safety.

Beavers' Stronger Safety [The Oregonian]

Backup USC QB has a hairline fracture in his throwing hand, Booty has got to get hurt for this to have any impact on their season.

Sanchez Injures Right Thumb [LA Times]

Got this story from Ted Miller's Sports Rant. It's about how Cal QB Nate Longshore is looking forward to redeming himself, Cal, and the whole Pac-10 with the game against Tennessee this year.

Longshore can't wait to face Tennessee again [Inside Bay Area]