Happy Football Friday Cougar Fans. It sure feels nice to catch a Bye Week earlier in the season, as opposed to the Back-to-Back Bye Weeks we had last season after Week Freaking 11! Hopefully the defense has had a chance to catch their breath from SDSU, good grief they were on the field for a while. Not much to get you updated on as of right now, unless you’ve been living under a rock this week, the only real news is that Pac 12 Presidents voted down any further expansion at this point. So without beating around the bush, let’s jump into this week’s picks!
Lucas Likes:
Ohio St 42 – Colorado 24: I don’t have much to base this pick on, as I truly know nothing about Ohio State now that they’re in the Post-Tressel Era. However, last week I did get a chance to watch the Buffs play last weekend, and I was very unimpressed.
Oregon St 18 – UCLA 12: Both of these teams could very well finish in the cellar of their respective divisions. Their two Kickers will combine for ten Field Goals, this is a snoozer!
Washington 24 – Cal 20: I am curious to see how both of these teams fare, as this will be the UW’s first game where on paper, both teams are very similar talent wise. The Cal defense looks solid thus far, can Holt’s Heroes stop anybody? I have a hard time believing the state’s third highest paid employee will keep his job if he continues to trot out the 107th worst defense in the country. This week you may have heard Sark say how good of a DCoordinator Nick Dolt is, but truly, outside of USC, what has he accomplished? Hell, I could have coordinated the players he had at SC!
Oregon 45 – Arizona 24: Oklahoma St, Stanford, Oregon and USC is a stretch of Arizona’s schedule that is probably tougher than any four game stretch in all of the land. Unfortunately, I don’t think the Mildcats stand much of a chance in this one. Remember last time Oregon was in Tucson and the Cats choked away a late lead after their fans rushed the field before the clock actually hit zeroes? It won’t be close enough for them to do so again. Hey Zona fans, at least it’s almost basketball season!
USC 31 – ASU 20: Well the Devils were a big time let down for me last weekend on the road at Illinois. All the while, the Trojans seemed to finally put it together with their smackdown of Syracuse. This will easily be the best game of the week, in the Pac 12, although, I see the Trojans winning this one, running away late!
SeanHawk Sez:
Greetings Cougs, and a big fat happy bye week to y’all. After the last three games, I guess this week is as good as any to take a breather and rest up for the grind that lies ahead? I don’t know about you, but I always thought early season bye weeks were a little….strange. I mean do they really need a rest after three games? Why not have them later in the year, when the kids have taken a flippin’ BEATING deep into conference play? My own son, a 10-year old offensive and defensive linemen, just had a bye week after their first game. So instead of maintaining their momentum, they went right back to beating the crap out of each other for two more weeks of practice? WTF is up with that?
Then again, our beloved Cougs had two weeks off last year prior to the Apple Cup, and that didn’t exactly work out. Yeah, they played well, but they still lost. It would be nice to get one smack dab in the middle of the year, but oh well. Anyway, it gives Jeff Tuel’s collar bone (or is it clavicle? Does it even matter?) an extra week to mend and get the body right, so that’s a good thing.
I guess I’m over the SD State loss. It’s disappointing to say the least, and boy would a 3-0 start have done wonders for a very young core of players still trying to find their way, not to mention injecting even more life into a fan base dying for a winning season. But it didn’t work out, and so it’s time to let it go. Instead, we find ourselves looking at a 2-1 start and a whole hell of a lot of work to do the rest of the way. Will they find four wins over our last nine games to secure a bowl bid, all the while saving some coaches from having to look for another job? Will they win just three games the rest of the way, and come up short, but do enough in the eyes of Bill Moos to keep this thing going with the current leadership? Or is it really bowl-or-bust time?? I mean what is the criteria for keeping status quo!?
I know we all speculated on bowl-or-else, and Wulff himself last December told fans to get their suntan lotion ready, we’re going some place warm next year. But who knows. Still a long way to go, and things could go in all sorts of amazing directions over these last nine games. Buckle up, it should be fun….right?!?
On to this week’s picks (and hey, I’m winning the WSU Football Blog II group. I’m sure it’s a short-lived thing so I won’t bang pots and pans and run naked by the Coug or anything…..not that I EVER did ANYTHING like that…..but anyway, I’m in first place so SUCK IT!).
Ohio St 27, Colorado 20: Ohio State is not very good. Tressel or not, they don’t have the horses this year in what is clearly a down time in Columbus. CU hangs tough as they come up short, but it should be interesting.
Beavs 33, ‘Ruins 17: Neither team is very good, and both are dying for a victory. But the Beavs will finally find an offense as James Rodgers does his best Willis Reed, and inspires the black-and-orange to victory. And I know he’s struggled, by why is Ryan Katz not playing right now?? The guy was on the COVER OF ATHLON’S over Jeff Tuel and Marquess Wilson ferchristsakes! What a terrible job by Riley and company in handling the QB’s, because this back-and-forth act is complete BS.
Washington 38, Cal 23: Keith Price’s knees are already an issue, and you have to wonder how he’ll hold up over the long grind of a season. And is it me, or is UW talking WAY too much about the refs last week vs. Nebraska, and not enough about who they are about to play in the feisty Berkeley Bears? But Cal ain’t all that on D folks. 582 yards and 33 points allowed to COLORADO!? UW bounces back big this week, and Price goes OFF. I’m calling 350+ yards passing at at least 3 TD’s against Cal’s struggling secondary, and UW wins going away.
Quacks 50, Mildcats 27: Oregon hits on all cylinders, and AZ struggles yet again against a quality opponent. And what a BRUTAL four week stretch for Arizona! As Lucas pointed out above, after going on the road to OK St and getting run off the field, they were pasted by Stanford and now have Oregon and SC in consecutive weeks! Wow. I had AZ as my upset special last week, and I had an epic fail right there. But is there any chance they get out of this four-game stretch with a victory? Maybe the SC game, but I wouldn’t hold my breath. And is it time to really crank the heat on Stoops’ hot seat!? The guy is a jerk who screams at his players anyway, but if they keep losing like this, you have to wonder if they are approaching the end game with Stoops?
ASU 21, USC 19: Defense rules the day in this one, as both teams are pretty tough against the pass and neither team has a great run game. But I love Pitchfork Nation to get the W at home on a Saturday night.
SUTRA PROCLAIMS:
Colorado 27 Ohio State 13: Colorado can’t defend the pass, but no worries in this one for Buff Nation, cuz the Fluffeyes can’t throw it a lick. What’s more, Ohio State has shown itself to be vulnerable to a run/play action combo, and the Buffs provide just that….A BIG upset for a down conference playing against a VERY down super power. Until Urban Meyer steps in, that is….
Ruins 31 Beaveteds 17 Ricky is down, but let us not think that a bye week and a Rogers kid makes the Beavs any better. After this one, the donut seems even more possible, if not probable.
CAL 38 Washington 27: HUGE, HUGE game for the Crap-12 North. To date, CAL looks menacing. Meanwhile, Washington looks just like us when we have Jeff Tuel: EXPLOSIVE offense that has the potential to be dominant and a defense that is anything but. Washington’s special teams represents a real X factor in this one, but here’s to thinking that their D is weeks away from figuring it out.
Quacks 56, Mildcats 14: Old Yeller takes another step toward the Tub. Once again, Kelly decides that its a good thing for Thomas to run the ball. Quack continues to wonder why he didn’t get more calls versus LSU (and Auburn).
USC 31 ASU 24: Once again our favorite friend Dennis turns early season expectations into Lemons. Lots of impressions out there that Troy’s lack of motivation catches up to them in this one, but here’s to thinking that the exact opposite will be true: Conquest rolls on as SC lets the league know that they plan to rule the South even if they can’t play in the Big Game.
All for now. GO BYE WEEK!
Tim’s Takes:
I can’t figure out if the lack of a Cougar game this weekend means that I’ll be more focused on picking the other games or it’ll just create total apathy for the college football weekend and the picks you’re about to read will be nothing more than haphazard guesses. I suppose that, as always, the truth lies somewhere in between. If you’re in group 2 of the Yahoo Pick ‘Em League, you’ll see my team, “Crunches With Furney” near the top of the standings and know that I am a formidable prognosticator. As always, print my section of the article and book a trip to Vegas.
Ohio State 28 – Colorado 20 I think a far more interesting way to settle this would be to have a battle of the respective schools’ pregame traditions. Imagine Ralphie versus the sousaphone player who dots the “i” battling it out in the Octagon. I suppose that would just be sad. With a freshman quarterback starting and looking largely unimpressive to date, I don’t see THE Ohio State running away with this one, but they should get the W.
Oregon State 17 – UCLA 14 How are the Beavs a favorite over anyone?! Oh right, they’re playing UCLA. Avert your eyes Pac 12 fans. This one ain’t gonna be pretty.
California 24 – Washington 20 This one is being billed as the battle for third place in the Pac 12 North. As hyped events go, that’s not exactly stirring the masses, but it is a pretty important game for each team. Ultimately, I think that Cal’s good (their defense) is better than Washington’s good (their offense) and the Huskies’ bad (their defense) is worse than Cal’s bad (their offense). This all makes sense in my head and therefore I like Cal.
Oregon 49 – Arizona 20 Just when you think they’re about to break apart, Ducks fly together.And when the wind blows hard and the sky is black, Ducks fly together. When the roosters are crowing and the cows are spinning circles in the pasture, Ducks fly together! I like Gordon Bombay and I like the Ducks in this one.
USC 27 – Arizona State 20 I continue to not take Arizona State seriously.
Enjoy the weekend off! Go Cougs.
Tommy’s Prognostication:
Ohio State 31 – Colorado 24: I hope Ohio State absolutely crushes the hearts and souls (and legs) out of the Buffaloes. Just kidding about the legs part, kinda. However, I think the Buckeyes are not all they’re cracked up to be plus they’ll be starting a true freshman at QB, an uber-talented one, but a true freshman nonetheless. I think the Buckeyes squeak this one out in the final minutes.
UCLA 28 – Oregon State 17: These guys are our two biggest challengers for the title of Pac-12 cellar dweller. Like Colorado, I pray for disfunction from both of these teams. Something tells me my prayers will be answered, but UCLA will come out on top.
Washington 31 – Cal 28: Barf. It pangs me to actually pick this outcome, but I have to admit that I was at least kind of impressed with UW last week. If Keith Price can keep his legs attached at the knees, he’s going to be a good one, which is something I never would have thought I would catch myself saying. Cal is pretty good too. I’ve been saying all along that I think they’re better than people think. The thing that sets UW apart is their excellent field goal kicker, which is why they win this game.
Oregon 45 – Arizona 24: Arizona is fading fast, but dang they’ve had a brutal schedule so far. This is going to be the last game of a three game gauntlet consisting of three potential top-10 teams. I can’t see them coming out on top of this one.
USC 24 – Arizona State 28: This game could decide the winner of the Pac-12 South. I expect it to be a very even matchup, although Matt Barkley made a statement last week, while the Sun Devils slipped. I still think Arizona St. comes out on top.
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