The Pacific-10 Conference is dominating the college football world as teams roll into week eight. Four Pac-10 teams are ranked in the Top 25, with USC leading the way at No. 1. Arizona State and Oregon State are also climbing up the rankings, each currently in the top 35. This week Oregon goes to Arizona, Oregon State plays UCLA, USC travels north to Washington, Arizona State takes on Stanford and Washington State goes to Berkeley to play California.
USC (6-0, 3-0) vs. Washington (1-5, 0-3)
This week the undefeated Trojans take on one of the weakest teams in the Pac-10, the Huskies. Last week the Trojans played what might be considered the game of the year against No. 9 Notre Dame, miraculously winning their 28th consecutive game in the final seven seconds. The Huskies, on the other hand, have lost their last 11 conference games, including last weekend’s game against the Ducks.
Saturday’s game will be the first and only home game for the Huskies in October.
“I don’t think (USC) is intimidating, they are just flat out that good,” Washington head coach Tyrone Willingham said. “I don’t think you are intimidated by them if you just realize that they are a very good, very balanced football team. They play well at the quarterback position, they play well at the running back position. It really doesn’t
matter which of the guys you have in there, the ‘Thunder and the Lightning’ (running backs Reggie Bush and LenDale White) are both very talented.”
Arizona State (3-3, 1-2) vs. Stanford (3-2, 2-1)
Stanford, which has won two consecutive games, is seeking its fourth victory of the season. The Cardinal hasn’t won three straight games since the 2001 season. However, Stanford is on a roll right now after defeating Arizona 20-16 last weekend.
Saturday’s game is Stanford’s homecoming. For most teams home field advantage is just that, an advantage, but for the Cardinal it is has been a weakness. The three games Stanford has won have been on the road, while the two losses have been at home.
The Sun Devils are coming off a bye week and two consecutive losses. Arizona State was ranked 14th early in the season before losing to USC and Oregon. Those losses resulted in disappearing from the polls all together. Ranked or not, however, the Sun Devils have a strong offense led by quarterback Sam Keller. Stanford’s game strategy should be to simply keep the Sun Devils’ offensive off the field for as long as possible.
“We just have to play well,” Stanford head coach Walt Harris said. “One of these days, all three phases (offense, defense, special teams) will play lights out. So far, that hasn’t happened. Sometimes, it’s been one side, sometimes the other. We just have to be more consistent and keep fighting.”
Washington State (3-3, 0-3) vs. California (5-2, 2-2)
Once a highly-ranked team, California is slowly moving down the rankings after back-to-back losses against UCLA and Oregon State. This weekend, No. 25 Cal hosts the Washington State Cougars hoping to boost their team confidence and get back on a winning streak. Considering that Oregon State was able to defeat Cal last weekend, the Cougars just might have a chance.
Cal hadn’t lost two straight games since October of 2003, when they were defeated by UCLA and Oregon State.
The Cougars surrendered a fourth-quarter lead to No. 8 UCLA last Saturday and lost 44-41 in overtime. Senior running back Jerome Harrison will be a main force to keep the Cougars in this weekend’s game. Last weekend, Harrison rushed for 100-plus yards in his ninth consecutive game, breaking a school record. Harrison averages 166.8 rushing yards per game, which is best in the Pac-10 and second-best in the nation.
“They have a very good receiving corps. Their running back is very quick, catches the ball well, hits the hole hard, has great balance,” Cal head coach Jeff Tedford said. “They do a nice job schematically. I think offensively they stay pretty healthy in their field positions.”