Pac-10 Preview
Author:
www.BrianJamesPicks.com
Records: (Conference/All)
USC 3-0 5-0
UCLA 2-0 5-0
CAL 2-1 5-1
Oregon 2-1 5-1
Oregon State 1-1 3-2
Stanford 1-1 2-2
Arizona State 1-2 3-3
Washington State 0-2 3-2
Arizona 0-2 1-4
Washington 0-2 1-4
Leaders on the season
PASSING: ATT-COMP-YDS-TD
Keller, Arizona St 248-145 YDS-2067 TD-20
Clemens, Oregon 223-139 YDS-1794 TD-14
Leinart, USC 166-108 YDS-1646 TD-12
RUSHING: CAR-YDS-AVG-TD
Harrison, Wash St 125-741 AVG-5.9 TD-9
Forsett, California 85-738 AVG-8.7 TD-5
White, USC 81-616 AVG-7.6 TD-10
RECEIVING: REC-YDS-AVG-TD
Hass, Oregon St 47-831 AVG-17.7 TD-4
Williams, Oregon 36-680 AVG-18.9 TD-6
Hagan, Arizona St 40-639 AVG-16.0 TD-6
5 of the QB's in the PAC-10 have a QB ratingof over 100:
1. M. Leinart, USC 168.60
2. D. Olsen, UCLA 153.56
3. K. Clemens, Oregon 147.94
4. S. Keller, Arizona St 147.84
5. A. Brink, Wash St 139.59
CLICKHERE TO BET ON COLLEGE FOOTBALL USING A CHECKING ACCOUNT!
5 of the teams average over 39 points pergame:
1. USC, 52
2. UCLA, 43
3. CAL, 40
4. Washington State, 39
5. Arizona State, 39
Week 7 Schedule
#1 USC @ #12 Notre Dame
Oregon State @ #10 CAL
Washington @ #25 Oregon
#20 UCLA @ Washington State
Stanford @ Arizona
Game Of The Week
#1 USC @ #9 Notre Dame
This isn't a PAC-10 match-up but this is thebiggest game in the PAC-10. Notre Dame is the first team otherthan Arizona State that can upset the best team in college footballhistory. Notre Dame is the team of old with Charlie Weiss as thehead coach.
Since the accomplishments of USC are touchedupon in several parts of the StatFox Edge, we will focus hereonly on the Trojans’ prospects for 2005. The biggest hurdle thatHead Coach Pete Carroll will have to get over is the loss of severalkey assistant coaches, most notably OC Norm Chow. The decisionof QB Matt Leinart to stay for his senior year should ease thattransition. The team returns eight offensive starters from a unitthat scored 38.2 PPG and ranked 6th in the country in YPP. Thedefense gets only five starters back from the Pac 10’s best unitso there could be some question marks on that side of the ball.There is also a concern that this team may have been “lucky” lastyear, winning four games by 8 points or less and benefiting fromthe nation’s best turnover ratio. Still, without a major poweron the 2005 schedule, any regular season loss would be consideredan enormous upset.
It’s hard to believe that the shine on the NotreDame program following the 2002 season has worn off so quickly.Eleven wins in the next 24 games will do to that here. Failureis unacceptable in South Bend, so Charlie Weis will be under intensescrutiny as he begins his tenure as coach. The former OC of theSuper Bowl Champion Patriots inherits a team that he should beable to work with, at least offensively. The Irish welcome back10 starters there, including QB Brady Quinn, who has shown flashesof brilliance in his first two years. He is joined by the fullcompliment of linemen and a talented set of skill players. Defensivelyquestions abound as only three starters return from a unit thatwas tough as nails against the run but blistered through the air.With the fourth toughest schedule in the country awaiting, earninga bowl bid is a lofty yet attainable goal.
Top 3 Teams in the PAC-10
#1 USC the last 3 weeks have had thier handsfull. 3 weeks ago they had a game against Oregon where they weredown 13-0 going into the 2nd half then blew them out. 2 weeksago they faced Arizona State where they were down 21-3 at halfand come back and didnt give up a point in the 2nd half. Lastweek they play Arizona and they were matched touchdown for touchdownuntil about halfway through the 3 quarter. USC is running intosome real competition the rest of the way out. This week theyface Notre Dame, on November 12th they face then ranked #10, nowranked #18 CAL, and on December 3rd, the final game of the season,is against a very good UCLA Bruins team. Look for these 3 gamesto be close and they could possibly lose to one of these teams.
UCLA is coming off a big victory over 10 ratedCAL last week. They were down 40-28 in the 4th quarter and theycame back to win 47-40. UCLA has had one close game other thanagainst CAL last week. Two weeks ago they faced Washington andpulled out a victory 21-17. Every other game has been a blowout.This week they face Washington State, which should be a easy game.Thier final two games are against two very good teams. November12th they face a good Arizona State team and on December 3rd theygo to #1 USC. They are now ranked #12 in the AP poll after thewin over CAL.
CAL is coming off a disappointing loss to a verygood UCLA team. They gave up the winning touchdown with 1:38 leftin the game. CAL really only has one tough game ahead of themon November 12th against #1 USC but on November 5th they facea good Oregon team. They are ranked #18 in the AP poll after thelose to UCLA last week. They were #10 before that game.
| 
