Pac-12 fans are going to want to hug Commissioner Larry Scott.
Photo by Kirby Lee-US PRESSWIRE
No new Sean Miller rumors this week?
Good. Now we can go back to talking about the games. Specifically, what does the new Pac-12 media rights deal mean to those of us who watch the games?
The Grand Kenjon leads Oregon into Knoxville.
Photo by Kirby Lee-US PRESSWIRE
This week’s Pac-10 schedule features the first conference game, a future conference game and the league’s only 2010 matchup with an SEC team.
Here’s your TV grid:
The TWIT-Pac is back with another round of unsolicited sports-watching advice!
Even though last week’s crossroads game didn’t go well for the Wildcats, the good news is there are no games pitting a league leader against a bowl contender so the Dreamers (“8-1 still gets us to the Rose Bowl!”) and the Realists (“7-5 is the absolute ceiling!”) can root for the same teams this week.
Cal (3-2 / 0-2) at UCLA (3-2 / 0-2) – 12:30 PM (all times Arizona/Pacific), ABC
The Bears have been waiting two weeks to take another stab at scoring their first touchdown of the conference season.
Who do we root for?
UCLA. The identical records make this one appear to be a coin flip but Cal still has a bigger upside and Arizona gets UCLA at home. (Let the record show this is my third straight week backing the Bruins and it hasn’t worked out too well so far.)
USC (4-1 / 2-1) at Notre Dame (4-1) – 12:30 PM, NBC
The Irish have lost seven straight to USC. That’s probably why they added Washington State to the schedule.
Who do we root for?
USC. I haven’t been shy about my desire to see the Trojans fall this year but I only want Pac-10 teams to wield the sword. Besides, you don’t want to have to root for Notre Dame twice in the same year, do you?
Stanford (4-2 / 3-1) at ARIZONA (3-2 / 1-1) – 4:30 PM, Versus
Stanford has beaten the Cats by one point in each of the last two seasons. We do not want to play another close game with them.
Who do we root for?
Your Arizona Wildcats. Last week’s loss was in the budget. This week needs to start a string of home wins or we could go broke.
Washington (3-3 / 2-1) at ASU (3-2 / 1-1) – 7:15 PM, FSN
The Huskies recovered well from the heartbreaking loss at Notre Dame. Can they bounce forward after the heart-stopping win against Arizona?
Who do we want to win?
UW. But it’s not as obvious as you might think. If we get our wish and ASU ends up close to the bottom of the standings, there’s going to come a point when we want them to knock off a bowl contender for us. With WSU behind them and USC ahead of them ASU has a much tougher remaining schedule than U-Dub. It wouldn’t be a disaster if the Huskies ended up with a fourth loss here, but it’s never bad when ASU loses.
With all four games on TV and none of the games overlapping the Arizona contest you out-of-towers can sit back and soak in the Pac-10 action all day.
I expect all you in-of-towners to be at Arizona Stadium however. We’ve got a home field to defend.
Here it comes. A fork in the road. A crossroads. Any other highway-based metaphor. And I’m not just talking about the Arizona football team.
This week YOU have a decision to make. You have to figure out – right now – how good you think the 2009 Wildcats are. Are we a middle-of-the-Pac team for the fifth consecutive year? Or does this squad have a chance at something more? Your weekend’s rooting interests depend on it.
There are three league games on Saturday besides our own and two of them pit a conference leader against a bowl bubble team. The bottom line is this: If you think by the end of the year the Cats will be fighting for a low-end bowl you want the top teams to beat the middle teams now. But if you think there’s a chance the UA can make a run at the big prizes you want teams ahead of us in the standings to go down.
Are we decent-good or good-great? With the Cats/Dawgs playing late you don’t have the luxury of seeing how that game goes first. It’s time to take a stand, people.
Me? I’m partaking of the optimism. This may end up being our last day as a contender so I’m going to enjoy it. Let’s topple some giants!
Oregon (4-1 / 2-0) at UCLA (3-1 / 0-1) – 12:30 PM (all times Arizona/Pacific), ABC
The Ducks have won their last two games by a combined score of 94-9. I think they’re over the Boise State thing.
Who do we root for?
UCLA. This is Oregon’s first road game since their opening week loss. Let’s hope they get sloppy before their bye week.
ASU (2-2 / 0-1) at WSU (1-4 / 0-3) – 2 PM
The battle for 9th place begins here!
Who do we root for?
WSU. This may be the Cougars’ best chance at a conference win since the Devils’ offense isn’t exactly on-fire. They’re downright flame-retardant.
Stanford (4-1 / 3-0) at OSU (3-2 / 1-1) – 4 PM, FSN
The Trees are a third of the way to the Rose Bowl. They can’t keep this up, can they?
Who do we root for?
OSU. It’s time for Stanford to come back to earth a bit. As an added bonus it would make them an iffy road team as they prepare to head to Tucson next week.
ARIZONA (3-1 / 1-0) at Washington (2-3 / 1-1) – 7 PM, FSNNW / FSNAZ
The Huskies try to bounce back from that controversial loss to Notre Dame against a Wildcat team looking to keep its quarterback undefeated.
Who do we root for?
Your Arizona Wildcats. The season certainly doesn’t end with a loss but the dreams would get scaled back a bit.
Let’s go ahead and keep dreaming.
Oh no! The Cats don’t play this week! Never fear, you can still support the Red and Blue by rooting for the results that best help Arizona.
This Week In The Pac-10 (or TWIT-Pac if you’re acronymly inclined) is highlighted by an epic battle between an L.A. school and a Bay Area squad with first place on the line. It’s just not the game we expected.
UCLA (3-0 / 0-0) at Stanford (3-1 / 2-0) – 12:30 PM (all times Arizona/Pacific), ABC
The Cardinal are the only 2-0 team in conference play and the Bruins are the last unbeaten team in the league. One of these bowl-less teams from a year ago takes a big step forward with their 4th win of 2009.
Who do we root for?
UCLA. Both teams come to Arizona Stadium this year but a 1-0 UCLA is less threatening than a 3-0 Stanford team.
Washington (2-2 / 1-1) at Notre Dame (3-1) – 12:30 PM, NBC
The Irish play their first of four Pac-10 teams this year. Will they win more Pac games than Washington State?
Who do we root for?
ND. Most people will play the “conference pride” card here. I’m playing the “I hope the Huskies face the Cats riding a two-game losing streak with their confidence in the toilet” card.
OSU (2-2 / 0-1) at ASU (2-1 / 0-0) – 4 PM, Versus
If you want your team to go to a bowl game you need other teams to be left out. The loser of this game is a front-runner to become one of those teams.
Who do we root for?
Not ASU. You’re going to quickly learn that’s not a question you have to ask.
USC (3-1 / 1-1) at Cal (3-1 / 0-1) – 5 PM, ABC
The Artist Formerly Known As The Game Of The Year.
Who do we root for?
Cal. I’m in the camp that’s more than ready for someone other than USC to win this league. The Trojans at 1-2 would make me do the dance of joy.
WSU (1-3 / 0-2) at Oregon (3-1 / 1-0) – 6:15 PM, Oregon Sports Network
The Ducks try to avoid a reeeeeeeally big letdown.
Who do we root for?
WSU. It’s worth a try.
The best part about being on a bye is your team can’t lose. Enjoy the stress-free games this weekend!
