Saturday, September 19

California 35 - Minnesota 21 (pick: California - 45-14)
Sixty minutes of Jahvid Best -an impressive 26 carries and five touchdowns for the Heisman candidate. Quarterback Kevin Riley enjoyed a fine day as well, completing 16 of 25 for 252 yards. The game was tied at 21 at the end of three quarters but a pair of two yard touchdowns by Best in the fourth salted the game away for the Bears.

Washington 16 - USC 13 (pick: USC 38-10)

Good for the Huskies and good for the Pac-10. For the past seven years the USC march to the conference crown has been too much of a given. While the Huskies weren't a leading candidate to upend the Trojans, the fact they did may offer some evidence the emperor has no clothes, that several other teams in the conference could well carry the crown by season's end.

Oregon 31 - Utah 24  (pick: Oregon 37-28)

Once again it was Oregon's defense that set the stage for the Ducks. LaMichael James and Jeremiah Masoli were able to rush the football effectively from start to finish, a credit to the improved play on the offensive line. Still waiting to seen is an effective passing offense, Masoli and his receivers are clearly struggling to this point. That said, if Oregon doesn't lose two turnovers to open the second half the score - and the game plan - would have been looked at in a much different light.

Iowa 27 - Arizona 17 (pick: Iowa 27-13)

The Wildcats were held to eight first downs and 253 total yards by the Hawkeyes. To add insult to injury to the Wildcat offense, seven of those points came from the defense and the field goal followed a first and goal from the Iowa one.

Washington State 30 - Southern Methodist 27 (OT) (pick: SMU 38-10)

SMU was up 24-7 in the third quarter and absolutely collapsed, allowing the Cougars to tie the game with 28 seconds remaining. In the overtime, Washington State intercepted their fourth SMU pass in the end zone, then kicked a 39-yard field goal to complete their improbable comeback. The Cougs won't be able to count on that happening again soon.

Cincinnati 28 - Oregon State 18 (pick: Cincinnati 33-17)

Keeping the Rodgers brothers in check and applying constant pressure to quarterback Sean Canfield, Cincinnati's defense was the reason the Bearcats left Benny's Stadium with the ten point win. Cincy quarterback Tony Pike was impressive, throwing for 332 yards and a pair of TD's and the Bearcats provided the script on how to beat the Beavers this season. Until another offensive element emerges as a viable threat, defenses are going to box in the Rodgers brothers with numbers and crash the quarterback on every passing down.  

Stanford 42 - San Jose State 17 (pick: Stanford 32-10)

Just a few short seasons ago this was a competitive neighborhood rivalry however unlikely that should be. Not any more and so the news neither team anticipates renewing the series anytime soon. Stanford is surely better served by losing to mediocre Notre Dame teams than they are by thumbing their noses at their more pedestrian neighbors.

Arizona State 38 - Louisiana-Monroe 14 (pick: Arizona State 45-10)

Move along folks, nothing of interest here. keep your eyes on the road ahead and we'll see how the Sun Devils do next weekend in Athens.

UCLA 23 - Kansas State 9 (pick: UCLA 17-9)

The Bruins are 3-0 and that's a mouthful in what has quickly shaped up to be a wide open Pac-10. While Kansas State isn't going to shake up the Big 12, UCLA was methodical and reasonably effective with their game management. With Kevin Craft back at quarterback it was an exercise in "not beating ourselves" and that's just what the Bruins did and that approach could win more than a couple of games in the Pac-10 this year.

WEEK 4
Saturday, September 26

Washington State at USC

Go ahead. pick the upset. The Cougs riding high after their come back, overtime win over SMU. the Trojans downcast and uncertain after the loss to Washington. takes a lot of courage to get out on that limb. And I won't . USC 25-17

Arizona State at Georgia

A win by the Sun Devils would be big for their season, a loss at home to the Bulldogs last year set the tailspin in motion for ASU. If UCLA can beat Tennessee in Neyland, can the Sun Devils spring a surprise between the hedges? Uh huh. Bulldogs 28 - ASU 19

Arizona at Oregon State

The season ending injury to Rob Gronkowski is likely a torpedo below the waterline of the Wildcat's hopes for 2009. A quarterback change is expected which will add to the drama in Corvallis. Benny's bounce back. 28-13.

California at Oregon

If the non-conference schedule has shown anything it is that Oregon's defense will give the offense an opportunity to win on Saturday. If the Ducks are able to eliminate turnovers and run the ball for first downs, the passing game might not be called upon to carry much of the load. The only place that Jahvid Best can't break loose for a score is on the sidelines. Keep him there and you've got a shot. Oregon 23-21.

Washington at Stanford

Are the Huskies really top-25 material?? A win at Stanford would offer some evidence of that line of reasoning. Let's say they are. YouDub 24-17.