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)
Though the offense has taken its fair share of criticism
this season, the defense remains
untouchable, and could very well go down
in history as the best in the modern era. Consider that in
their last five games, $C has only allowed 13 points and one touchdown (that came
after a turnover gave AZ the ball at their 15-yard line), and has lowered their season
average to 6.6 points per game. Petey wont fall for Jimmy's
flattery this time around as the Trojan Horse rolls into Palo Alto Saturday evening.
2. Oregon State 85 (Last: 82)
After a dismal start, the River Rodents have quietly
moved their way back into relevancy and into the Top 25. Will they fare
better than the other three ranked Pac X teams before them, or finish out their
improbable run to the Rose Bowl? One of the Rodgers brothers is having a
banner season, as Quizz is literally running away with the conference rushing
crown, taking advantage of Toby's missed time. Someone should look into
the nepotism section of the NCAA rule book as it has just been pointed out to
the BootComputer that OSU has six pairs of brothers on their squad.
3. Oregon 82
(Last: 81)
It's
not often you can
turn the ball over four times, give up a safety and not
complete a pass more than ten yards downfield all game...and still pick up a win.
Whoregon pulled this rabbit out of their hat at Autzen last Saturday thanks in large part
to a running attack that had Cardinal defenders whiffing all afternoon.
Speaking of whiffs, when is that new baseball team set to make their debut?
4. kal 80 (Last:
83)
Once again, Tedford proved that there is no way
to scheme your way around speed. Since he took over
for
Holmoe in 2002, Jeff's offenses have been held to
ten points or fewer only three times; all against $C. The field goal-only effort Saturday
night was kal's lowest output in those six-plus seasons, and ended their yearly Rose Bowl chatter
right on cue. Next up is a trip to Corvallis to
face the team that crippled their 2007 season, and eventually stole their bowl slot.
5. Arizona 79
(Last: 79)
Zona got their complimentary 59 points from the Pullman Gift Basket, but
allowing their hosts to rack up 28
cost them any chance at
bonus BPR points this week. As most teams do, Stoops' Sphinxes inflicted
their pain via the running game, as Nic Grigsby accounted for the majority of the
yards, and has seemingly been let out of the doghouse after previous fumble-itis flare-ups. The win
does guarantee the kitties will be bowling for the first time
in ten years, which has to soften the blow from the basketball program's explosion.
6. Stanford 78
(Last: 80)
As much excitement as Jim Harbaugh
has created
by breathing life back into the football program, the pain that has
been generated by so many "woulda, coulda, shouldas" has certainly balanced the ledger. If you
ask most fans though, this is preferable to the detached numbness of the Teevens/Harris regime. All
probabilities aside, Stanford does have a winning streak against their next
two opponents to protect, starting with the immovable force that is the Toejam defense.
7. Arizona State 62 (Last: 58)
They had to wait
for their game against UW, but
the Sunset Devils
kept their flickering bowl hopes
alive after a huge fourth quarter, and ended a six-game slide. Everyone
looked sharp on offense as Rudy Carpenter tied John Elway for fourth on the Pac
X all-time passing TD list at 77, and even the hobbled Keegan Herring rambled for more
yards than in his previous five games combined. A second helping
of dessert is on the way as the Cougars come to Tempe this weekend.
8. UCLA 50
(Last: 55)
As the postgame crowd has dwindled over the
course of the
season, Nueweasel has switched from the PA, to a megaphone, and
now to a whisper when delivering his state of the program address.
No one wanted to hear his excuses and platitudes after another display of mistake-riddled ineptitude
that UCLA tries to pass off as football. Kevin Craft continued to improve on his pursuit
angles as he tossed up another pair of picks, and the
defense responded by allowing 31 unanswered second-half points to turn this one into a laugher.
9. Washington State 15 (Last:
14)
Props to Wulff's Warriors on ending their scoreless
streak in style, putting up 28 against a bowl-bound team. That still
doesn't excuse the defense from becoming the Pac-10's all-time worst (by the
points allowed metric, anyways), relieving the 1980 Beavers of that dubious
honor. Now before you raise your hand and point out that they only played
11 games
back
then, this happened in game No. 10 for the Cougs, and
more importantly, they still have one more game to add to their new record.
10.
Washington 10 (Last: 12)
Halfway through the third quarter, it looked like the
Fuskies
had a better than average shot at
their first non-loss. Then reality set in to the tune of
a 23-0 run by the opposition, and all was normal in the
universe again. Afterward, 'Rone was spouting his recycled rhetoric about effort and execution while his
"fine young men" were gathered around JR "Get me outta here" Locker to hear his latest
stand-up material. Hopefully UW won't end their illustrious streak against the
Ruins this weekend, as that would take the shine off of the Apple Cup.
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)!