Jake Locker after the USC upset last weekend. PHOTO/AP
The Pacific-10 Conference season starts this weekend for the Oregon State football team with a home game against Arizona.
Some conference games have already been played by other teams, but now it really gets hot and heavy. Here’s the beginning of my weekly power poll, which is a look at how the rest conference is doing.
1. Cal: Bears keep rolling along. Beating Minnesota on the road was big last weekend. Could this be their year? Only as long as Jahvid Best stays healthy.
2. USC: Mighty Trojans had their once-a-year slip-up, this time against the Huskies. The Cougars are going to get hammered this week.
3. UCLA: Being 3-0 is impressive no matter the schedule, but the win at Tennessee was impressive. And there’s a good home win over Kansas State.
4. Washington: From low-level team to mid-pack with a win over USC. The Huskies have to do something at Stanford this week to not be a flash in the pan.
5. Arizona State: Two easy wins against lesser opponents is one thing, but the trip to Georgia this week will tell more about this team. Expect the Devils to drop next week.
6. Oregon: Wins over Purdue and Utah were nice recoveries from the Boise State incident. This week’s Cal game should be interesting.
7. Oregon State: Game with Arizona this week is crucial to win and stay on track. Beavers need to take the next step or will be left behind.
8. Stanford: Co-leader of the conference with Washington after season opening victory over WSU, but hasn’t played anyone tough. The loss to Wake Forest was to a solid team but not an ACC power.
9. Arizona: The Wildcats beat low-level teams and couldn’t be a mid-level Big Ten team. They are solid but a win this week makes them a team to beat.
10. Washington State: That was good for the Cougars to take SMU. It’s not looking good this weekend and beyond.
18 comments
JoeAvezzano says:
Sep 21, 2009
A lot of parity this year. Can't say I remember a year three games into the season where the top half and the lower half of the conference are so difficult to predict.
ckirkpatrick says:
Sep 21, 2009
Very true. No. 3-9 in my rakings will change dramatically week to week.
NAgobeavs says:
Sep 21, 2009
Cliff – #'s 3-5 are very bad.
3. UCLA – The Tennessee win was good, but it wasn't pretty. What are their other two wins – SDSU and KSU. Not exactly quality. And the score going into the 4th against a bad KSU team was 13-9. I guess you're ignoring that UCLA is playing Craft now – KEVIN CRAFT. Ultimately your ranking is based purely on the Tennessee W. Geez Cliff – I figured if anyone could step back from the SEC bias it would be the OSU beat reporter.
4. UW – Four words, don't believe the hype. I took UW and the points last week because obviously they were going to cover. But this team is going to wear out – they're not deep and the Pac-10 season is long. Great game against LSU and huge win against a beat up USC team (coming off a tough one in Columbus), but #4 in the Pac? They'll lose in Palo Alto this Saturday to Stanford (your #8).
NAgobeavs says:
Sep 21, 2009
5. ASU – They haven't beaten anyone, total unproven, and they were bad last year. ASU hasn't even gone on the road yet. Absolutely no way they are above UO and OSU in the power rankings.
I know you said you expect things to shake up significantly week to week (sounds like a hedge), so I'm sure you'll get better at this. Honestly enjoy your coverage of the beavs, but would like better rationalization for the power rankings.
angrybeaver says:
Sep 21, 2009
The list is pretty much spot on.
Was going to do my own list tonight but I think it would be the same. Need to think about the OSU loss being better than the Stanford win–that's the only one up for debate.
angrybeavers.wordpress.com
angrybeaver says:
Sep 21, 2009
The list is pretty much spot on.
Was going to do my own list tonight but I think it would be the same. Need to think about the OSU loss being better than the Stanford win–that's the only one up for debate.
http://angrybeavers.wordpress.com
ckirkpatrick says:
Sep 21, 2009
UCLA is 3-0. After this start, I'd expect them in a bowl game.
I point out that if UW needs to win or they are a flash in the pan. I wouldn't be surprised if Stanford beats them. And then watch them drop really quick.
I point out ASU hasn't beaten anyone, and expect them to drop after a loss to Georgia.
So, you agree with me, or I with you.
heartofbeaver says:
Sep 22, 2009
I think you are a little tough on Arizona. Iowa won 9 games last year was picked either third or forth in Big 11 this year (behind OSU and Penn St, equal with MSU), Iowa City is a tough place to win.
Central Michigan one of Arizona's "lower level" wins is solid team returning 18 starters and is the overwhelming favorite to win the MAC this year. If you don't believe me, ask Michigan State.
Granted Arizona traditionally has an inconsistent offense and loses Gronk only magnifies that problem, plusStoops is an easy coach to dislike…but there's a reason why the oddsmakers opened them as a 2.5 pt favorites this week..
Cliff: Pac-10 rankings « Cliff Kirkpatrick | College Sports Nation says:
Sep 21, 2009
[...] post: Cliff: Pac-10 rankings « Cliff Kirkpatrick addthis_url = [...]
aaron_ says:
Sep 21, 2009
Versus is screwing Beaver Nation out of the games with the Arizona schools. If the name wasnt already taken i probably would have changed my screen name from aaron_ to "angry beaver"!!!!!!
ckirkpatrick says:
Sep 22, 2009
Here's something I found out about Versus vs. FSN, and this is a national thing. It doesn't matter regionally. A game on Versus is show live nationally at everywhere it goes.
FSN zones so much that, like last week's game for example, was shown on a delay basis in many parts of the country. However, the big upside with FSN is that the game is replayed throughout the country, too.
angrybeaver says:
Sep 22, 2009
Well, mine wound up being completely different.
http://angrybeavers.wordpress.com
angrybeaver says:
Sep 22, 2009
Well, mine wound up being completely different. I like to grade by weekly performance, though.
http://angrybeavers.wordpress.com
centralsteve says:
Sep 22, 2009
Ok, for all of you people with the short memories: Riley's teams start slow every season!!! Do you remember this???? Do you remember where they were after 3 games last year? 1 – 2. Then on Sept 25th they came together and convincingly whooped USC!!! Do you remember??? This Saturday is Sept 26th, and our 4th game. Can anyone see a pattern??? I think they will win big this weekend and start their annual climb to the top of the Pac-10. Maybe I am just an optimist, or maybe I see history repeating itself.
angrybeaver says:
Sep 23, 2009
So your logic is "because it happened in the past it will happen every year"?
Good luck with that.
angrybeavers.wordpress.com
angrybeaver says:
Sep 23, 2009
So your logic is "because it happened in the past it will happen every year"?
Good luck with that.
http://angrybeavers.wordpress.com
WebTraveler says:
Sep 23, 2009
I don't understand all the comments about the floor dropping out. While the Beavers lost to Cincinnati, Cincinnati is a very good team. Beavers lost 28-18. The team before the Beavers lost 70-3.
Maybe the Beavers are not at the upper tier of college football, but they appear to be a good team and coached well. I agree the last game has some miscues, especially the offense couldn't score touchdowns.
I think on Saturday we'll find out what we're working with. UA is not as good as Cincy and if the Beavers drop this one then we need to be worried. Not worried right now.
centralsteve says:
Sep 23, 2009
When the sun comes up everyday, you start to expect it. Mike Riley is a GREAT coach, he know what to fix and how to fix it.