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No. 8 OREGON
Head Coach Mike
Bellotti
7-1 overall | 4-1 in
Pac-10
By Steve Summers
of eDuck.com
Oregon has an excellent chance of winning the Pac-10 because they have
two remaining home games (ASU and OSU), and will face UCLA at the Rose
Bowl. Oregon has two running backs that have an excellent chance of
rushing for 1,000 yards each for the season. Onterrio Smith had a break
out game against Washington State and ended up with 285 yards of rushing
and three touchdowns. Meanwhile starter Maurice Morris is well on track
to be the first Oregon running back to have consecutive 1,000 yard
rushing seasons. One other reason the Ducks are in the driver's seat in
the Pac-10 race is quarterback Joey Harrington. The subject of the 80
foot billboard is still in the Heisman race. If directing eight
come-from-behind wins isn't enough reason to believe that Captain
Comeback can make it happen, what else could?
No. 10 STANFORD
Head Coach Tyrone
Willingham
5-1 overall | 4-1 in
Pac-10
By ME-97 of TheBootleg.com
To ask the question if Stanford will win the Pac-10 is really to ask
whether Stanford will beat the Huskies in Seattle this weekend. Given
that Stanford has just played the top three teams in the conference the
past three weeks, the remaining competition after Saturday won't be so
imposing. In fact, the Card will face the two losingest teams in the
conference in its final two Pac-10 games in the form of Arizona and Cal.
The Cats haven't won a conference game in a full year, while the Bad
News Bears haven't won any games in a full year.
Getting to the Xs and Os of why Stanford is best suited to run the
table, look no further than the trenches. Stanford is sporting the best
offensive line in the conference, and is coming together as a unit.
Against a UCLA front seven that includes Kenyon Coleman and Robert
Thomas - players headed for Sundays - the Card were able to run for over
200 yards and at one stretch complete 12 straight passes. Stanford also
is making a name with its defense, which is a very hard statement to
swallow for Pac-10 fans. Playing through injuries, this veteran crew is
stuffing the run and holding some of the nation's best runners to just
half their yards. All of these accomplishments have come against the
toughest schedule in the country, to date.
No. 11 UCLA
Head Coach Bob
Toledo
6-1 overall | 3-1 in
Pac-10
By Tracy Pierson
of BruinOnlineReport.com
Whichever teams wins the Pac-10 will have to win the remaining games on
their
schedule. UCLA's toughest challenge to accomplish that will be when
they travel to Pullman to take on Washington State on Saturday. After
that, UCLA is at home for two of its three remaining games (Oregon, ASU)
and take only a 13-mile road trip to USC. UCLA has played extremely well
at home this season and looks unbeatable in L.A. But UCLA, if it wins
out, needs Stanford to lose once, and the best bet for the Cardinal to
lose is this weekend when it goes to Seattle to take on Washington in
tough Husky Stadium. If Stanford wins at Washington, the Cardinal is in
the driver's seat to win the Pac-10. If not, UCLA probably
takes over the wheel since it would then play contender Oregon in the
Rose Bowl, while Washington still would have to travel to Oregon State
and also play Washington State.
No. 13 WASHINGTON
Head Coach Rick
Neuheisel
6-1 overall | 4-1 in
Pac-10
By Chris Fetters
of Dawgman.com
Let's face it, the Huskies know how to win. Whether it's the residue of
good coaching, preparation, or having the right blend of athletes and
chemistry, they seemingly have what it takes to get the job done.
Another piece of the puzzle in their favor is scheduling. Of the final
three remaining conference games, the two toughest matchups (Stanford
and Washington State) are at home. Husky Stadium provides (with the
arguable exception of Autzen Stadium) the biggest homefield advantage
for any team in the Pac-10. Washington also is getting healthier by the
week. Adding in key pieces like Jerramy Stevens can only help the
Dawgs' cause.
Inconsistency will be the culprit if the Huskies don't win. At times,
the Dawgs have been rolled (UCLA). At other times they have been
torched through the air (Cal, ASU). If any coach in the Pac-10 can
outthink Rick Neuheisel, it's Ty Willingham. Stanford could come up and
pull the plug on Washington's chances right away. Moreover, what team
can keep pulling the rabbit out of the hat time and time again? The
odds of it continuing are almost too much to contemplate. And if Cody
Pickett's shoulder can't go for even one of the remaining three league
games, their chances go from decent to nil.
No. 15 WASHINGTON STATE
Head Coach Mike
Price
7-1 overall | 4-1 in
Pac-10
By Greg Witter
of CougFan.com
The Cougars, traditionally weak in November as the injuries start to
pile
up, are perhaps in the worst position of any of the Big 5 for two
primary
reasons: The remaining schedule and the Pac-10's tie-breaking formula.
Granted, they have UCLA at home this weekend but they must hit the road
for
their final two games against teams that play very tough at home:
Arizona
State and Washington. Moreover, under the tie-breaking formula, WSU's
victory over Division I-A Montana State counts as only half a win.
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