Week 2 of Pacific-10 Conference play is here, and boy is it a doozy. Four Pac-10 games are scheduled along with two nonconference tussles, ensuring a strong and enjoyable weekend for Pac-10 followers. With just seven games remaining for most teams after this weekend, each grudge match becomes more and more important.
No. 12 UCLA (3-0 overall, 0-0 Pac-10 Conference) at No. 19 Oregon State (1-1, 0-0)
The ABC game of the week pits two up-and-coming teams, although Oregon State has not looked strong in games against Fresno State and New Mexico State.
UCLA, however, is looking like a Pac-10 title contender and a team with a chance of playing on its home turf Jan. 3. But for them to do so, running back DeShaun Foster and quarterback Cory Paus must have strong performances against the Beaver defense, featuring possibly the best secondary in the conference.
“[Oregon State] has a good football team,” said UCLA head coach Bob Toledo. “They will basically have had three weeks to get ready for us, so they will probably be pretty rested. They will know what we are doing and will have a good plan.”
For Oregon State to shine, star running back and Heisman Trophy candidate Ken Simonton has to get out of the funk that has held him to 211 yards rushing on 49 carries. He is still second in the conference with 105.5 yards rushing per game and has scored three touchdowns.
No. 13 Washington (2-0, 0-0)
at California (0-3, 0-1)
Those who travel to California’s Memorial Stadium may not see much of a game this weekend. The Huskies have not lost to Cal in 18 straight games, dating back to 1976. To top it off, the Golden Bears have not beaten Rick Neuheisel’s squad at home in nine years.
Running back Joe Igber and the rest of the Cal offense must be at the top of its game or the Bears may not even make it out of the gate. Quarterback Kyle Boller has not looked sharp this season and is far from filling the potential he came to Cal with three years ago.
Despite Cal’s offensive woes, the squad is still potentially dangerous.
“Certainly there has been lots of comments and conversation about Cal and the beginning of their particular season that makes an imposing coach very leery in that this is a team that has lots of pride, given the games that we have had with them over the last couple of years, and they will fight tooth-and-nail to get a victory and end a long streak,” Neuheisel said.
On the flip side, Washington’s offense, led by first-year starting quarterback Cody Pickett, has looked strong in wins over Michigan and Idaho. While Pickett has passed for a mediocre 178 yards per game, the Huskies squeaked by the Wolverines and demolished the Vandals. But against Cal, the offense is expected to shine. The Golden Bears’ defense was stellar last season, but is last in the Pac-10 in turnover margin, pass defense, scoring defense and total defense this season.
If California can’t give Washington much of a game, Golden Bears head coach Tom Holmoe may not see the day when the Ducks come calling on Oct. 13.
Stanford (2-0, 1-0)
at USC (1-2, 0-1)
After a let-down in the final minute against Oregon, many expect Southern California to come out flat against the Cardinal. This will not be the case.
Quarterback Carson Palmer threw for 411 yards against the Ducks, only to see his team lose in the final 12 seconds. But you can bet the same won’t happen this week. USC head coach Pete Carroll is an experienced coach who knows how to get his team in shape after a tough game.
“Last week was very difficult,” he said about the last-minute loss. “We had the game in hand and we did not finish it the way we wanted to. It’s unfortunate because it really illustrates the great margin of a couple of points — if we win, we’re in first place in the Pac-10, but we had to settle for the other end.”
Stanford, on the other hand, swept through Arizona State last weekend, pummeling the Sun Devils en route to a 51-28 win. However, USC is a far stronger team, and poses a greater threat to the Cardinal, especially on offense.
Stanford quarterback Randy Fasani is a virtual unknown in the Pac-10 and the rest of the nation, although he shouldn’t be. Two games into the season, Fasani is fourth in the nation in passing efficiency at 186.7. He is also 20th in the nation with 270 yards per game of total offense.
San Jose State (0-2, 0-0
Western Athletic Conference) at Arizona State (1-1, 0-1)
This is perhaps one of the more intriguing games of the week featuring a Pac-10 squad. Arizona State is on a down year, but dominated San Diego State 38-7 before losing to Stanford last week. However, San Jose State will prove to be a challenge for the Sun Devils, mostly in the form of senior running back Deonce Whitaker.
“The guy is special, he’s one of the best in the country,” Arizona State head coach Dirk Koetter said. “Maybe the best we’ll play, if not he’s in the top two. An excellent, excellent back.
“What more motivation do we need than to start off by telling our guys that San Jose State has beat Stanford the last three years in a row. I don’t think it’s going to take much more than that to get our guys motivated.”
The Spartans have looked shaky in games against USC and Colorado, but if Whitaker, who has had two sub-par performances so far, can get back on track, the Sun Devils need to look out.