24Nov/0811:07 AM

Pac-10 Roundup: The Apple Cup doesn’t disappoint. How could it?

By Vince Marotta

Oregon State stayed on track for their first January trip to Pasadena since the 60’s, Cal got back in the win column, and Tyrone Willingham looks like he’ll be leaving Seattle from rock-bottom. It was an abbreviated but entertaining week in the Pac-10.

Here’s a closer look at the Pacific-10 after week 13…

1. USC (9-1, 7-1)- Last week - #1 - Had the week off. The Trojans will try to stay in the hunt for a BCS title berth on Saturday as they host the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, a team they’ve beaten 6 straight times by a combined score of 246-92.

2. Oregon State (8-3, 7-1) - Last week - #2 - Lyle Moevao didn’t play and Jacquizz Rodgers touched the ball 5 times. Normally that would spell doom for the Beavers, but they found a way to get through it. They also got through a botched extra point by Justin Kahut that would have tied the game with under 4 minutes to go. James Rodgers picked up the slack for his injured brother by picking up 102 yards rushing on only ten carries. Believe it or not Corvallis, but your Beavers are one win away from smelling the roses. The Beavers host this year’s Civil War in Corvallis.

3. Oregon (8-3, 6-2) - Last week - #3 - The Ducks had the week off and are beginning preparations for the Civil War against Oregon State on Saturday. Rumors swirling in Eugene say that the masterminds at Nike have actually designed capes for the Ducks to wear in accordance with their super hero-ish uniforms. We’ll have further details when they become available.

4. California (7-4, 5-3) - Last week - #5 - The Golden Bears got their slumbering offense cranked back up in an impressive 37-16 win over arch rival Stanford. Jahvid Best ran wild, gaining 201 yards and 2 touchodwns. He also had a touchdown pass. Kevin Riley, who has been terrible lately, was the very definition of efficient, going 7 for 11 for 101 yards and 3 touchdowns. The defense stepped up too, forcing 4 Stanford turnovers. The Golden Bears get a week off before ~~beating~~ hosting Washington on December 6th.

5. Arizona (6-5, 4-4) - Last week - #4 - A once promising season has the potential to end up in a .500 campaign for the Arizona Wildcats. Mike Stoops’ team caught a break Saturday when Oregon State’s Jacquizz Rodgers joined injured quarterback Lyle Moevao on the sidelines. They caught an even bigger break when OSU’s Justin Kahut missed an extra point with under four minutes to go, leaving Arizona up by one point. But they couldn’t melt the clock, and then allowed the Beavers to march 73 yards in 5 plays with under 90 seconds to go in the game. A bowl appearance could be in jeopardy for the Wildcats if they don’t finish their season with a win over Arizona State in two weeks.

6. Stanford (5-7, 4-5) - Last week - #6 - With all of the improvement made by Stanford this season, they’ll still finish out of the postseason with a 5-7 record after getting blitzed by Cal on Saturday. I don’t think you’d find anyone who wouldn’t agree that the Cardinal are a much better team than they were a year ago, yet their record is only one game better. I guess it’s all about baby steps in Palo Alto for Jim Harbaugh.

7. Arizona State (4-6, 3-4) - Last week - #7 - Arizona State had the week off, and will avoid the Black Friday shopping masses by hosting UCLA at Sun Devil Stadium on Friday. Actually, with the economy so bad, will anyone actually go shopping on Friday?

8. UCLA (4-6, 3-4) - Last week - #8 - Rick Neuheisel’s Bruins hit the road to Tempe to battle Arizona State. UCLA is still, believe it or not, clinging to an outside shot at a bowl appearance despite having one of their worst teams in recent memory, but they’ll need to beat ASU and USC to get there. Probably not gonna happen.

9. Washington State (2-10, 0-8) - Last week - #10 - THE COUGARS ARE OUT OF THE CELLAR FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS SEASON! It wasn’t pretty, but Wazoo knocked off Washington in the Apple Cup in what turned out to be a very entertaining game. Nico Grasu could probably win a mayorial election in Pullman after kicking a 28-yard field goal with no time left in regulation to tie it, and two overtime field goals, including a 37-yarder to win it. Don’t be fooled, Washington State is a bad football team. But you have to believe that Paul Wulff has the team in the right direction for the future. As a reward, the Cougars get a trip to Hawaii to take on the Warriors.

10. Washington (0-11, 0-8) - Last week - #9- Yuck. A horrible situation just got worse in Seattle, after Washington lost to Washington State in the Apple Cup. At least Ty Willingham’s successor will know he’s starting at rock bottom next season.