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 94 (Last:
93)
The only question heading into the scrimmage in Pullman
was how many points Pom Pom would rack up before he
called off the dogs. The answer was "41," as the Trojans were
content to let the clock run out in the first half despite having the ball
at the two with 30 seconds left. I wonder if that was even more insulting than
trying to score? In this era of offensive gluttonery in college
football, $C's 7.8 points allowed per game is nothing short of remarkable. Well, Oregon State remained unimpressed.
2. Arizona 83
(Last: 79)
Similar Wildcat teams in the past have tended to fold
when faced with the kind
of adversity they were staring at last Saturday night. Maybe this year
is different after all. Maybe this is the season they break their ten-year bowl drought.
It would be a fitting end for senior Willie Tuitama, who currently holds every meaningful passing
record at Tucson Tech, and more importantly, just might be enough
success for the Boot Computer Analyst to stop lying about where he graduated from.
3. Oregon 82
(Last: 82)
Besides spending copious amounts of time in the
recovery room, Soregon spent their week off trying to shore up a
secondary that has not lived up to preseason expectations. It would seem that the Ducks
employ the Bend-and-Break defensive strategy, as their opponents' 96% success rate in the red zone demonstrates.
Belotti and Co. will find out if the Spam Devils have
any fight left in them as they trek down to the desert this Saturday.
4. Oregon
State 81 (Last: 81)
His younger brother might have
the flashier name and get more publicity, but older bro James needed
only three carries to do what Jacquizz couldn't with 20; break 100. Sibling rivalries aside,
this is not the same River Rat team that didn't belong on the field at Penn State just five short weeks ago. Having already played (and beaten)
the conference juggernaut, OSU has the second-most realistic case for a Rose Bowl berth.
5. kal 77 (Last:
84)
Clearly the weenies don't have the running game to match
their hated rivals, as they could only muster 120
yards against 'Zona, half of them on one play. This was the
least of their problems, as their ten-point halftime lead vaporized in a span of six
minutes, no doubt eliciting the rage of Coach Tedford for one of his vintage post game
tirades. This year's battle over who stole the fight song from
whom takes place in Strawberry Canyon, as kal welcomes fellow UC school EL Lay.
6. Stanford 76
(Last: 83)
Nothing hurts worse than getting sucker-punched with
your guard down. Cardinalmaniacs wanted to believe that this time around
would be
different. All the signs pointed to our first win in Pasadena since
guys named Bookman and Mitchell roamed the backfield. The cruel hand of fate had other
ideas and Stanford's volatile postseason stock took a nose dive. If there is one thing you
can count on from The Farm, it's that every year they
will lose a game they shouldn't and also win one they shouldn't. Stay tuned.
7. Arizona State 66 (Last: 69)
If ASU doesn't find a
way to pitchfork the Ducks, it would be nigh impossible for them
to play a 13th game, even with the Washington schools still left to slaughter. Not
bowling would be a huge disappointment to Tempe residents, and just might show that Dennis Erickson's
best days are behind him. Rumor has it that Slick Rick
has offered him a recruiting assistant position should he choose to opt out early.
8. UCLA 59
(Last: 53)
Kevin Craft might be the toughest hombre in the
country. He consistently weathers repeated physical abuse due to his green
offensive line, and maybe more mental abuse yet from his unstable core
of coaches. But whereever he gets his motivation, he culled just enough to lead the Baby
Blues on a game-winning touchdown drive, finding his tight end with ten seconds remaining. There are
no guarantees that he will finish the season as the starter
(or be in one piece), but for now, he is the King of Westwood.
9.
Washington 24 (Last: 28)
Tyrone's Terriers don't have much to play for as this
season heads to a merciful end, but this Saturday's game against
Neutered Dame just might be a final shot at personal redemption for
the Kennel Master. It will be a telling sign if "his" players come out inspired
and perform new tricks, or if they continue to roll over and play dead. By "telling,"
I mean "if they have any hope of avoiding a winless
season." Conflicted Booties wonder what type of outcome would lead to the most gratification.
10. Washington State 17 (Last:
21)
Paul Wulff thought he was moving up in the college
football world, but shortly after his first
practice with his new team, he realized he had taken a step
down. Still showing no discernable signs of improvement, one wonders how the head man keeps
up the team's spirits amidst a season so putrid, it will no doubt go into the
Pac X record books as the benchmark for futility. His job
is still more secure than Tyrone's, if only because no one else desires it.
Are you fully subscribed to The
Bootleg
? If not, then you are missing out on all the top Cardinal
coverage we provide daily on our website. Sign up today for the biggest and best in
Stanford sports coverage with TheBootleg.com
(sign-up)!