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 95 (Last:
94)
The
waves of stud athletes the Trojenz kept
marching onto Foster Field was reminiscent of the seemingly endless Persian army
confronting the Spartans in the movie "300." For three quarters though, $C had to be
thinking "not again," with Pom Pom was wondering how he would spin this one to the L.A.
media. In the end, the bad guys won, but not before
they suffered one last indignity to perhaps sprout the rivalry seed planted last year.
2. Oregon State 88 (Last: 85)
The win over kal on Saturday was the first time the
Rodents had been tested since their last-minute collapse at Utah, and they passed with
flying colors. Two more games stand between them and the Rose Bowl,
and they will more than likely be favorites in both. This
is uncharted territory for the current Corvallis cadre, but it appears this Beaver Bandwagon will not
be slowing down anytime soon, so hop on and enjoy the ride.
3. Oregon 84
(Last: 82)
I guess Jeremiah Masoli can throw the ball after
all. The much maligned mallard lit up
the
'Zona secondary for 300
yards and, just for good measure, rolled up another 80 on the
ground, accounting for five of Oregon's seven touchdowns. As a team, the Lucks weathered a
second-half surge by the Kitties, picking up their second scare win in as many weeks. A
bye week and a chance to keep the hated Beavs out
of the Rose Bowl should stoke the Civil War fire to a roaring blaze.
4. Arizona 76
(Last: 79)
It
was an old-fashioned Pac-10 shootout at the Autzen Corral, as the lifeless
'Zona bodies watched the Ducks waddle off
into the sunset. As if
one Gronkowski wasn't enough of a load to handle, Willie T utilized
his fullback "Gronk the Younger," as the brothers combined for 227 yards receiving and two
touchdowns. Ultimately it was their defense that failed them, spotting Oregon 45 first-half points and a
late TD that sealed the deal. Their Holiday Bowl dreams vanquished,
the Mildcats host the hottest team in the conference when OSU comes to town.
5. kal 75 (Last:
80)
Tedford's season-long game of Two Card Monte
with his quarterbacks has been a bit predictable lately, as
the
Riley of Spades has popped up more often than
not. After Kevin's consecutive pick-sixes to end the weenies' afternoon in Corvallis, we may see Longshore
under center for the Big Game, which has Stanford fans grinning. Quote of the week comes
from UC Barf-eley linebacker Zack Follett, when asked about his two personal
fouls: "I'm not in the NFL, so I don't care. Those refs were horrible."
6. Stanford 74
(Last: 78)
Who would have thought Stanford would have the most offensive success
against the nastiest defense in the country? I don't know if moral victories are for
real, but moral losses sure are, and the Card certainly avoided one by taking it to
Pete's Playmakers. We bow to no program, pompous coach or point
spread, and we most definitely do not bow to Berkeley. Bring on the Bears!
7. Arizona State 63 (Last: 62)
I'm
not sure how
much you can glean from
a home win against WSU, especially considering the Deviled Eggs' offense was
shutout for two quarters. Nonetheless, the consecutive wins over those Washington schools means their slide is
officially over, and the once on-life-support bowl hopes are showing signs of stabilizing. The 31-0 shutout
was the first time ASU blanked their opponent since Jake Plummer
and Co. pulled of the feat against Scott Frost's #1 Nebraska Machine in 1996.
8. UCLA 54
(Last: 50)
Fielding perhaps his worst team ever as a head coach,
Slick Rick still got to stick it to
his former employer,
27-7 Saturday night on Montlake. That doesn't excuse the continuation of
the pathetic quarterbacking El Lay has had to endure this year, as
Kevin Craft added three more picks to his impressive resume, bringing his season total to
16, with only seven TDs to balance out the failure rate. On a brighter note, the
Bruins' woeful offense has opened the door for punter Aaron Perez
to break the school's all-time record for total punts, previously held by Nate Fiske.
9. Washington State 13 (Last:
15)
Being down by
ten points at halftime, on the road, with
their starting QB knocked out with a concussion is something to hang
your hat on when you've suffered through a season like the Cougars
have. This kind of effort (and the fact that they actually
have a win) is what keeps their BPR score nearly double that of their
in-state brethren.
The
numbers will shake out this weekend though, as immutable force meets
indifferent object in what promises to be the most lowly-attended Apple Cup in history.
10.
Washington 7 (Last: 10)
The Huskies have
become unwatchable. 39 yards passing... are you kidding me? For those that
have bothered to keep coming to the games, that is insulting, and there went the
last shot at a home win for the 2008 Purple People Eaters. Impromptu exit polls showed
that 91% of Husky fans would trade Tyrone for Rick, 7%
would trade Tyrone for Chow, and 2% would trade Lorenzo Romar for Eric Reveno.
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