Below are our exclusive
BootPowerRatings of the Pac-10 Conference. Each week during the football season,
we will release our secret formula rating all the Pac-10 teams. The
BootPowerRating (BPR) is calculated by utilizing a range of factors rumored to
include: past results, statistics, common-opponent comparative results,
strength-of-schedule, home-stadium environment, cheerleader attitude and an
unrevealed school spirit multiplier. The resulting rating score falls within a
1-100 scale, where 100 approximates a Rose Bowl-bound team and a score of 1 is
somewhere south of D-1.
1. USC 93 (Last:
92)
In what has been a brutal year for Pac X quarterbacks,
Matt Sanchez's
ailing knee coaxed three of $C's five turnovers
by way of the INT. Or, this was Petey Bird's way of forcing his
defense to sack up after consecutive uninspiring performances. Either way, the win meant the Baby
Blockers jumped back to No. 4 in the polls and back into the National Championship discussion.
The impending massacre in the Palouse on Saturday just might showcase
the biggest talent discrepancy since Tom Hanks worked on the set of Bosom Buddies.
2. kal 84 (Last:
81)
The weenies are in
second place more by default than any doing of their own. Whenever the deck is
shuffled in the conference, kal abstains with one of their bye weeks (how many do they
get anyway?). You know what they say about idle hands though,
and the last time a ranked Berkeley team went into Tucson, it came up empty-pawed.
3. Stanford 83
(Last: 75)
In what was a must-win game for a realistic
shot at a 13th game, the good guys
gutted one out, thanks in large part to new campus hero Alex Loukas. Having
their way with the nasties that line up across from them, Stanford's offensive line is
in search of a nickname and taking names at the same time. Speaking of names, they
should rename the Red Zone the Card Zone as The Trees
are a league best 19 of 21 on their scoring opportunities inside the 20.
4. Oregon 82
(Last: 80)
Soregon nearly screwed the pooch vs. El Lay as their D
was flummoxed by a Norm Chow late-game curveball.
After the onsides kick was recovered, a collective sigh of relief resounded through Autzen
and all was forgiven. More concerning to the Feathered Faithful has to be the reduction
of the spread attack to the single wing, as if UO quarterbacks weren't vulnerable enough already.
If it seems as though the Duck BPR is too low,
consider that two-thirds of their conference wins have come against the Apple State schools.
5. Oregon State 81 (Last: 79)
Before you scold the Beavs for taking advantage of WSU in a criminal
way, remember that it wasn't very long ago that they were the conference whipping varmint. Besides,
Lyle Moevao's four interceptions are either grounds for a point-shaving investigation,
or a case for backup Sean Canfield to see some action against U Dub.
6. Arizona 79
(Last: 87)
Before having their
paper-tiger tails ripped to shreds by Stanford, Zona
was bitten by the running-back bug in their only loss, proving to be an
omen that more should have seen coming. Maybe more surprising was the paltry 16 points
Willie T and Co. brought to the table, done in by their red zone ineptness. Perhaps
the lone bright spot in defeat was the emergence of wideout
Terrell Turner, who benefited mightily from the attention drawn by "Gronk" and Mike Thomas.
7. Arizona State 66 (Last: 69)
It would be easy to chalk up the Stunned Devils' recent
scoring woes to MVP Rudy Carpenter's hobbled wheel, but that's
only part of the problem. I don't have
the answers for the rest (and, apparently, neither does Dennis Erickson's staff) but the
sad fact is the ASU has only averaged 11 points per game during this current
win drought. Kudos to their defense for not throwing in the towel in Compton, but in
hindsight maybe they should have saved their energy. A week off
provides an opportunity to retool and heal up before they tangle with the Duckies.
8. UCLA 53
(Last: 55)
Thought to be
in a coma (turns out it was just
an intense nap), Norm Chow was left alone until he regained consciousness for the
start of the fourth quarter. By then the lead was insurmountable and the Ruins felt
the familiar sting of another loss, on the field and on the roster, as top WR
Terrence Austin was gurneyed away after a spine-tingling hit. No time
to get skiddish as the Bay Area Bruisers invade the Rose Bowl this Saturday.
9.
Washington 28 (Last: 28)
As can be witnessed from any angle, this
season has accelerated the graying process for Ty "a yellow ribbon 'round my eyes"
Willingham. If the lackluster play of his recruits aren't enough to make his follicles suicidal,
scathing editorials from booster websites just might be doing the trick. The Sheriff remains optimistic though,
telling anyone who will listen that Washington can still finish with
a winning season. Perhaps someone should point 'Rone towards the Myopia Department on campus.
10. Washington State 21 (Last:
26)
The hapless Cougs' latest emasculation has sent Paul Wulff to the intramural
fields in Pullman to look for help. Never mind that they had more penalty yards
than net offensive yards, or that they were outscored 39-0 in the second half, or that
they were outgained 548 to 132 or.... wait, where was I
going with this? At least the hoops squad is more than respectable these days.
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