UCLA
With four teams still legitimately contending for the Pac-10 title, there are plenty of reasons to watch. 1. Will Foles bounce back after struggling at Cal? Arizona sophomore quarterback Nick Foles wasn't terrible at California last week, but he wasn't as good as he has been -- read: really good -- running the Wildcats offense since he took over...
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Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller Went 4-1 last week -- if I could only pick Oregon games! -- and the season record stands at 43-15. And, as a few of you have generously noted, I'm on a bit of a run here -- 16-2 to be exact. A couple of these games, however, gave me pause. Stanford 33, USC...
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Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller To paraphrase a great philosopher and renaissance man, Ric Flair, "This ain't no garden party, brother, this is the Pac-10, where only the strongest survive. Wooooooo!" Folks, the screws are tightening. 1. Does USC's Pac-10 run end Saturday? It's fairly simple. If Stanford wins at USC, it's likely one of the great runs in...
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For the first time since the middle of the 2002 season, the separation (at least this year) between USC and the Pac-10 is not evident. The Trojans 14-9 victory over Arizona Sate was a clear indication that USC looks like any other solid Pac-10 team and they are fortunate to finish with 3 straight home games.
The Trojans will need to play well in all phases to successfully defend the Coliseum turf against 3 tough opponents (Stanford and Arizona are ranked and in the Rose Bowl race and you have the crosstown rivalry with UCLA). If they are able to win the final three, another trip to Pasadena is still very much alive. If they struggle, a match-up with Oklahoma in the Sun Bowl is easily be in the cards.
The Pac-10 is extremely strong this year and any 1 of 5 teams would represent the conference very well against a top 15 team on a neutral field. This type of quality is why a team with two losses in conference could play in the Rose Bowl.
Notes and Analysis for the Water Cooler and IM Chats:
Barkley in a slump: Matt Barkley was 7-22 for 122 yards against Arizona State. If you take away the short pass to Damian Williams that was turned into a 75 yard touchdown, Barkley was 6-21 for 37 yards. In the second half against Oregon, he was 5-16 for 49 yards. Did Raider quarterback Jamarcus Russell take over for the Trojans?
Hopefully the offensive coaches are doing some self scouting to help Barkley make adjustments to his tendencies. Opposing defensive coaches have enough film on Barkley to truly dissect his game and it is showing. Arizona State has a great defense but his throwing numbers were awful considering Cal QB Kevin Riley threw for 351 yards the week before.
*More Barkley, offensive line, Williams injury after the jump
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Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller Two Pac-10 defensive backs -- USC safety Taylor Mays and UCLA cornerback Alterraun Verner -- are among the 12 semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, which is given annually to the nation's best defensive back. UCLA safety Rahim Moore also was among five players who earned honorable mention. This list will be narrowed Nov....
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Bumped...P The Sark Virus Dictionary: vac·cine (văk-sēn', văk'sēn'), n. A preparation of a weakened or killed pathogen, such as a bacterium or virus, or of a portion of the pathogen's structure that upon administration stimulates antibody production or cellular immunity against the pathogen but is incapable of causing severe infection. Paragon commented below on Chip Kelly's visits with Jon...
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Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller No changes this week, which may be a first this season. 1. Oregon: The Ducks left no doubt against USC. None. Zero. Now, can they maintain the focus that got them here -- the Pac-10 title within sight -- or will they start to do most-muscular poses in their bathroom mirror? Because if they start to get...
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(Photo by Icon Sports Media)
Nothing has been easy this season for the Trojans. It seems like every week they face another tough test on the road. This week it is the Oregon Ducks (6-1, 4-0) and their terrible uniforms. Saturday’s contest will be the fourth road game against a ranked opponent. Also increasing the degree of difficulty is the Trojans must play in Autzen stadium. Even though it only seats 54,000, it is one of the loudest stadiums in the country. And it’s Halloween, so fans will be extra lubricated and extra spooky.
To make matters worse, the past few years, the Pacific Northwest has not been friendly place to visit for the Trojans. USC has lost three straight years in the state of Oregon and we all can’t forget what happened to the Trojans when they traveled to Washington earlier this season. The weather conditions in Eugen should be dark, cold and gloomy. At kickoff the weather report is predicting 57 degrees with a 60% chance of precipitation.
So to recap, a ranked opponent playing their best football of the year, in a hostile environment, with a possibility for rain, in a high-stakes game, with tens of thousands of students dressed in costumes and extra inebriated, in a part of the of the country that the Trojans have not played well in recent years…. Does it scare you?
It shouldn’t. It should fire you up. Saturday night is the perfect opportunity to for the Trojans to come together and show the haters and doubters in the country that even though we have a freshman QB, a defense that has struggled the past two games against potent offenses and are banged up with injuries, when it comes time to strapping on the pads the Trojans always come to play in big games. How does Coach Carroll fare against ranked opponents? Pete has played 38 ranked opponents since 2001. USC is 34-4 in those games. Let’s make it 35-4.
More Thoughts of the Day and Halloween costume ideas after the jump (if you dare)…
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Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller The big one is in Eugene but every game matters. Three teams are chilling at home. 1. Matt Barkley thinks Autzen Stadium is going to be a barrel of monkeys: Matt Barkley told the LA Times that he's looks forward to playing in Autzen Stadium -- "the energy is going to be awesome and...
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From the mouth of an SEC fan (Everyday Should Be Saturday and SB Nation's Spencer Hall), a little respect for the Pac-10:
Q is for Quorum. The minimum number of people needed to seat a body of oversight, or what is lacked across the board in the SEC right now in terms of quality teams. Talent abounds, but turnover has taken a hard bite out of the coaching ranks and talent pool, leaving the SEC in a state of flux. Even Alabama and Florida, the titans of the league right now, clearly have serious issues resulting from the loss of offensive players to the draft and graduation. I am as blatant an SEC homer as exists, but this year there are other conferences putting together a more complete menu in terms of teams with depth and cohesion. That conference, for the moment, is the Pac-10. Now I'm going to hide in a bombproof bunker and wait for a while until I hear the bombshells stop landing.
The gravity of those words cannot be understated, especially when you consider that he may get banished from the South permanently for committing such words to paper/screen. People who actually watch football know what's up -- after a rough 2008, the Pac-10 is where it's at in 2009.
Except, of course, for lowly Wazzu and UCLA. Those guys are still terrible.
The Alphabetical, Week 8: Admitting That The Pac-10 Is Better Is The First Step [SB Nation]
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Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller A full slate of games -- nobody's sitting home this weekend eating Doritos. 1. It's going to be nasty fun in Husky Stadium: Oregon has beaten Washington five consecutive times. And by at least 20 points each time. What was once the most bitter rivalry in the Pac-10 has become a mismatch, which has...
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Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller It was already one in the morning; the rain pattered dismally against the panes, and my candle was nearly burnt out, when, by the glimmer of the half-extinguished light, I saw the dull yellow eye of the creature open. Nick Foles and the Arizona passing game are flowing because young receivers are stepping up....
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