How did you feel watching the Oregon/Oregon State game Thursday night? Bitter? Resentful? Angry at the football world?

I was definitely a little sad. Two plays in Arizona’s favor and that game wouldn’t have mattered. One play in the Oregon game and our game with USC would’ve been the one for the roses.

Most of all I was jealous. Jealous of the teams getting to that final game with the big prize on the line. Envious of the students who rushed the field (after the game was over) to begin the biggest celebration of their lives.

But I wasn’t depressed. I didn’t feel hopeless, like I watching the princess ride by from my peasant knees. If anything I felt revived. Watching the Ducks and Beavers battle to the end and seeing the waves of excitement wash over the Oregon faithful reminded me why we do this college football thing.

No, our Arizona Wildcats aren’t going to the Rose Bowl this year. But we got close enough to know it’s possible. Don’t give up the dream. Don’t give up on the Cats.

–

Football at USC, 1:30 p.m. Saturday on ABC

As bad as we feel for the Beavers (getting knocked out of the Rose Bowl by your archrival two straight years cannot be fun) this was the result we wanted. Now the Pac-10′s second-best bowl is very much in play.

I stand by my prediction that Arizona ends up in the Sun Bowl with one more win but you never know. A victory over USC may be just what the Holiday Bowl officials need to start a stream of red-clad fans flowing west on I-8.

We just have to beat USC.

Piece of cake, right? The Trojans are only the only Pac-10 team Mike Stoops hasn’t ever beaten. USC is actually the only team in our league Stoops hasn’t gotten at least twice.

In fact, Arizona has only beaten USC six times…ever. 1981, ’90, ’91, ’93, ’99, 2000. That’s it.

So a win would definitely have some added symbolism. Even in a down year USC is still ranked and the Coliseum remains one of the toughest places in which to play. It would be a big statement for the UA program to cap the regular season with a road win against the conference’s marquee franchise.

You don’t have to worry about the Cats coming out flat like in the Cal game. Our guys have been gunning for that cardinal and gold bulls-eye for five years and they’ve played the Trojans close the last two. I expect a similar energy level and performance and we’ll just have to see if Arizona can make enough plays at the end to get the win.

Lucky win #7.

–

Basketball at Oklahoma, 5 p.m. Sunday on ESPNU

If this game would have been played last year it would have featured four NBA draft picks, including two of the top eight. This year it features two teams with a combined record of 7-6. Oklahoma’s 4-3 mark is actually the worst in the Big-12 right now.

That’s why you get the U at the end of the channel and not the 2.

The young Wildcats are just looking for a win of any kind. After the heartbreaking UNLV loss (is it possible to lose in double-overtime without breaking some hearts?) the UA has lost three out of four. The start of the Pac-10 season is less than four weeks away so it would be nice to build a little momentum but, alas, we only get to play Lipscomb once.

Enjoy the games and may your Wildcat Weekend be full of Wonderful W’s!

After this weekend the regular season is over and the confusion is gone. Next we get to root for all our conference brethren in bowl games, especially since a certain team won’t be participating.

OSU (8-3 / 6-2) at Oregon (9-2 / 7-1) – Thursday, 7 p.m. (all times Arizona/Mountain), ESPN
A rivalry game for all the marbles. Could you handle it? The highest of highs if you win, but the Illinois-basketball-game-times-ten if you lose.

Who do we root for?
Oregon. All things being equal I would love to see the Beavers make their first Rose Bowl since 1965, but the only way Arizona has a chance at the Holiday Bowl is if OSU loses. So…gulp…go Ducks.

ARIZONA (7-4 / 5-3) at USC (8-3 / 5-3) – Saturday, 1:30 p.m., ABC
Under Mike Stoops the Cats’ margin of defeat against USC has gone from 40 to 21 to 17 to 7 and 7. Is this the year we turn it into a negative number?

Who do we root for?
Your Nothing-To-Lose Arizona Wildcats. The absolute worst-case scenario is a winning record and a bowl game against a ranked team. The Cats should be able to play as loose as Pete Carroll’s code of sportsmanship.

Cal (8-3 / 5-3) at Washington (4-7 / 3-5) – 4:30 p.m., FSNNW
The Bears are playing for bowl position. The Huskies are playing because the schedule tells them to.

Who do we root for?
UW. It would mean one fewer team that could take our Holiday Bowl bid.

ASU (4-8 / 2-7) at Home (Till) – Next Year
Only 358 days left to rub it in!

Who do we root for?
Whomever they play next.

When the Pac-10 moved the USC and Cal games to Championship Saturday it was hoped there would be a lot more on the line. The league will have to settle for a Thursday night expedition that would make Sacagawea proud.

Oregon is 2-0 in “Game of the Year” showdowns this season having beaten both USC and Arizona to stay in first place the entire way. Can they clear one last hurdle and quack all the way to Pasadena? Can they crush their in-state rival’s Rose Bowl dreams for the second consecutive year?

Can the Wildcats take advantage of the conference bully being stricken with a three-loss illness to give Mike Stoops his best regular season record and highest Pac-10 finish?

It could make for one happy Holiday.