The Pacific-10 Conference rumbles on with Week 9 of the season looming ahead. This week’s matchups are weak, with many of the conference’s best taking on the worst.
Still, upsets can dramatically change the outlook of a season. One interception, one fumble, maybe even one extra yard gained could ruin a team’s season.

Oregon State

(6-3 overall, 2-3 Pac-10) at Washington

(4-5, 1-4), 12:30 p.m.
Washington has a losing record and Oregon State is riding the coat tails of a two-game winning streak.
Could this really be happening? Apparently so, as the folks in the Northwest are spinning on their heads trying to figure this one out.
Washington, normally a program that enjoys unadulterated success, is having a down season by most everyone’s standards. The Beavers are not having a spectacular one as well, but are far ahead of the Huskies.
“We find ourselves in a place where I don’t think we envisioned ourselves to be,” Washington head coach Rick Neuheisel said. “(Oregon State) coach (Dennis) Erickson just said, ‘we are where we are’, but there’s still many things left to play for.”
If anyone knows how it feels to be the Huskies, the Beavers would. Oregon State has survived just long enough this season to stay competitive, but is seemingly teetering every week.

No. 10 USC (6-2, 4-1)

at Stanford (2-6, 1-4),

4 p.m., ABC
The Trojans lead the all-time series, 53-24-3, but have fallen to Stanford the last three games by a combined total of 11 points.
Don’t expect the same, though, as USC is riding high on the passing arm of senior quarterback Carson Palmer. He is second in the Pac-10 in passing yards with 303.6 per game, and leads the conference’s third-ranked offense.
“I think he’s playing great football, he’s a fantastic player,” USC head coach Pete Carroll said. “I think we’ve allowed him to throw the things that show the variety of style he has. He’s a great thrower on the run. He’s a terrific pocket passer and really quick rhythm guy.”
The Cardinal will need every bit of the conference’s third-ranked rushing attack to match up with the Trojans. USC, a contender for the Pac-10 Championship, should coast.

UCLA (6-3, 3-2) at

Arizona (3-6, 0-5), 6 p.m.
If Arizona fails to win a Pac-10 game, will anybody notice?
Aside from the record-keepers, probably not, as the Wildcats have suffered through a dismal season. Quarterback Jason Johnson has thrown for just 11 touchdowns, and has also been picked off nine times.
UCLA, on the other hand, has been both consistent and inconsistent this season. After dropping two straight to Oregon and California, the Bruins have gone on a two-game winning streak, defeating Stanford and Washington.
“They have the best athletes in the Pac-10, without a doubt,” Arizona head coach John Mackovic said about the Bruins. “I don’t know that they are leading the conference necessarily in all the categories, but they have a good, solid defense, and they have a creative offense.”