This week in the Pacific-10 Conference, all roads lead to California. While Oregon hosts the Huskies in the northern-most matchup, Saturday’s other three games will be played in Berkeley, Palo Alto and Los Angeles.
Washington State and UCLA have the week off, giving each team an extra week to rest up for its respective rivalry game Nov. 23. The rest of the Pac-10 will spend Saturday shuffling for a bowl game.
Arizona (3-7, 0-6 Pac-10) at California (6-4, 3-3), 12:30 p.m.
California is having a season no one saw coming. After going 1-10 in 2001, the Golden Bears are currently 6-4, with their two remaining matchups against teams with losing records.
One of those teams, Arizona, has the last-place rushing defense in the Pac-10, as well as the last-place standing in the Pac-10.
In last year’s meeting, Arizona snapped a 10-game league losing streak with a 38-24 win at home. However, the Wildcats have lost 17 of their last 19 games, and are 2-12 in the Pac-10 under current head coach John Mackovic.
Tuesday night, 41 Arizona players met with university president Peter Likins, who, according to The Associated Press, told them not to give up on the season.
California doesn’t have to worry about its players giving up this year.
“We’re enjoying every minute of this season,” Golden Bears tight end Tom Swoboda said.
California quarterback Kyle Boller earned Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Week honors after throwing for 213 yards and five touchdown passes in Saturday’s 55-38 win over Arizona State.
Things are looking Golden for the Bears this week, and with a win over Arizona, they will guarantee their first winning record since 1993.
Oregon State (6-4, 2-4) at Stanford (2-7, 1-5),
2 p.m.
The mediocre game of the week award goes to the obvious choice: Stanford hosting Oregon State. Both teams have losing records in the Pac-10 and the two lowest pass-efficiency ratings in the league.
Oregon State currently leads the Pac-10 in rushing offense and scoring defense, yet the Beavers are tied with Washington for seventh in the Pac-10 standings.
The Beavers’ only conference wins have come at home against California and last-place Arizona. The Beavers averaged 31 points in those two games, and gave up an average of eight points.
Oregon State’s easy preseason schedule — The Beavers went 4-0 — is the reason OSU has a chance to finish with a winning record.
“It’s a matter for us to get on the road and try to get a win, which we haven’t in two years in the league,” Oregon State head coach Dennis Erickson said.
Saturday’s game will be Erickson’s 200th game as a college head coach.
Stanford has the last-place scoring defense in the Pac-10, as well as the last-place passing offense in a league that is known for being pass-oriented.
The Cardinal have lost three games in a row, averaging 16 points in those three games. They have given up an average 39 points in those same three games.
“It’s a special game, the last home game for our seniors, and they want to go out on a positive note,” Stanford head coach Buddy Teevens said.
“They’re dying for a win just like we are,” Erickson said.
Something may be dying, but it’s just the slow death of both teams.
Mindi Rice is a freelance writer for the Emerald.