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 92 (Last:
94)
No one can question that this version
of Peter's Punishers has a stifling defense, but lately their offense
has looked downright mediocre. They didn't miss a beat when Norm Chow
left, but so far Lane Kiffin's absence seems noticeable. It won't matter if their opponents
can't score more than ten points though, a feat only accomplished by those lovable Beavs. No
chance UW pulls that trick in Compton this Saturday, and one
is left to ponder if they will have a better showing than the Cougs.
2. Oregon 86
(Last: 82)
Jeremiah Masoli seems to
have taken command of the quarterback spot for Team Nike, but everyone
knows he is just a knee tweak away from triggering another second-half collapse in Autzenville.
The last two times the Quackers were ranked, they celebrated by losing the very next week.
Will this time be different? Can the pollsters be fooled thrice?
Tune in Saturday to find out the answers to these and other pressing questions!
3. Oregon State 81 (Last: 81)
It's been relatively quiet in Corvallis with no
newsworthy items hitting the wire,
so Riley is either doing
a good job of keeping his boys occupied or a better job
of covering up their indiscretions. Speaking of indiscretions, the Beavs welcome back starting left tackle
Tavita Thompson after serving his one-year suspension for using a banned substance to melt away excess
pounds. Still speaking of indiscretions, OSU fans are preparing a warm
welcome for beleaguered former coach Dennis Erickson as they await his return to Reser.
4. Arizona 80
(Last: 83)
"Air Zona" was having severe mechanical issues
last Saturday night and never
did pull away from the tarmac. Held to only eight yards of
passing in the second half, it's surprising the felines were able to stay within a
TD, and probably frustrating all the more. With head man Mike running out of family members
to hire and pin blame on, the dream of playing a
bowl game in January instead of December rests on the shoulders of the players.
5. kal 79 (Last:
77)
The cure for a battered defense is a punchless
offense, and that's just what the weenies got in their victory over UCLA. The Barely
Bear offense isn't much to brag about either, but they do have their workhorse tailback galloping
around with no injury issues. A win at home against Whoregon
is a must if they want to keep their dim Rose Bowl hopes flickering.
6. Stanford 76
(Last: 76)
It
had been two months since Stanford fans didn't have a game
to dissect
and disseminate, and with a lackluster opponent on the horizon, there is
a general feeling of malaise surrounding The Farm. Hopefully the players are eager to get
back on the field and take out some anger after the UCLA debacle, and Vegas is
betting they are with a 30 point spread. The BootComputer is
putting the over/under on the Cards rushing yards at 340. Place your bets now.
7. Arizona State 60 (Last: 66)
The downward spiral continues in Ericksonland.
Since their overtime
loss to the Running Reb's,
AS-Who? has lost five games in a row, failing to be competitive
in the process. That courtesy would have been appreciated by the diehards who had to
suffer through the latest indignity, a 54-point defensive surrender on their home turf, coming off a
bye week, no less. Despite Carpenter's injury-induced ineffectiveness, no one seems
to be calling for No. 7 Jr. to step in and save the day.
8. UCLA 55
(Last: 59)
Having limited his penchant
for throwing picks a week earlier against Stanford, Kevin Craft made
up for it in a big way against that other Northern California
team. Four first-half interceptions (two returned to paydirt) and several other miscues had Bruin fans
flashing back to the opener against Tennessee. There would be no second-half turnaround this time, and
Craft was eventually removed in favor of Forcier the Younger. A
microcosm of the game was a 22-yard fake punt gain on 4th and 23.
9. Washington State 17 (Last:
17)
The BootComputer was feeling
merciful this week as Wazzu, for no
other reason than not losing last week, has someone to look down
on. Since their fate is mostly out of their control, I promise to keep them
in the nine slot if they don't allow any more opponents to crack the 60 mark.
If that seems unreasonable, I will at least keep them here
for one more week, provided Yoo Dub loses by more than 69 at $C.
10.
Washington 16 (Last: 24)
The only remaining suspense in the Huskies season was
wether
or not Tyrone's players had truly quit on him. We
got our answer rather quickly, and it was a resounding "Yes."
In what was their last chance to salvage some dignity for their
soon-to-be former head coach, the Pups played their worst all around game of the year,
and the BootComputer is putting them in the cellar for that effort. SInce the UW Athletic
Department is into releasing meaningless statements, I would like to state
for the record that I am taking my name out of the coaching search.
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