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Sunday Afternoon Quarterback – Pac-12 Power Rankings
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Pac-12 Power Rankings
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Note … These are my subjective Power Rankings, which will be updated every Sunday. (Please feel free to post your own rankings in the comments section) …
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12. Colorado (5-3, 2-3) … Ranking last weekend: 7
This weekend … Lost to Oregon State, 41-34, OT
Last week, I moved Washington State up to No. 1 in the rankings as the Cougars knocked off my previous No. 1, Oregon. The logic holds true this week at the bottom of the rankings.
At least for a week, Oregon State leaves the basement of the Pac-12 Power Rankings. The Buffs have five wins on the season, and Oregon State can only aspire to a five-win season. Still it’s up to the Buffs to climb out of the basement. A sixth win, and the Buffs can start looking for the post-season. Failure to get to six wins … and it’s time to find a new coach.
Up next … at Arizona … Friday, 8:30 p.m., MT, FS1
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11. Oregon State (2-6, 1-4) … Ranking last weekend: 12
This weekend … Defeated Colorado, 41-34, OT
The Beavers were able to remove too large albatrosses from their program with the win over the Buffs. Oregon State hadn’t won a game on the road since 2014 (against Colorado), and hadn’t beaten an FBS opponent since knocking off Oregon in the 2016 regular season finale.
With the success Jake Luton had in the second half against Colorado, you have to wonder whether the Beavers would have had more success had Luton not been lost to a high ankle sprain early in the season. Oregon State will get a chance to prove its win over CU was not a fluke when they take on USC (with QB issues of their own) this Saturday.
Up next … USC … 8:00 p.m., MT, FS1
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10. UCLA (2-6, 2-3) … Ranking last weekend: 9
This weekend … Lost to Utah, 41-10
After picking up two straight wins, taking out Cal and Arizona, the Bruins came back down to earth with a thumping at home by Utah. It was still something of a game, at 17-7, at halftime, but two quick third quarter scores by the Utes made it a 31-7 rout. The Bruins were out-gained, 470 yards to 291, and were really never competitive.
While it’s still very early in the Chip Kelly era, it has to be a bit disconcerting for the UCLA administration that only 41,848 were in the Rose Bowl (91,136 capacity) for a team on a two-game winning streak.
Up next … at Oregon … 5::30 p.m., MT, Fox
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9. USC (4-4, 3-3) … Ranking last weekend: 6
This weekend … Lost to Arizona State, 38-35
A week after being pushed out of first place in the Pac-12 South by Utah, the Trojans fell at home to Arizona State. USC was down to its third-string quarterback, Jack Sears, who threw for 235 yards and two touchdowns, but it was not enough to keep the Trojans from losing for the first time at home under Clay Helton.
Hard to believe, but a coach who is 18-1 at home is on a much hotter seat than is CU’s Mike MacIntyre. The House of Troy is not happy with Helton, and fans are voting with their feet. CU had 48,050 on hand for the Oregon State game, and it was more than were in attendance at the Rose Bowl (above) or at the 78,467-seat Coliseum (47,406).
Up next … at Oregon State … 8:00 p.m., MT, FS1
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8. Arizona State (4-4, 2-3) … Ranking last weekend: 10
This weekend … Defeated USC, 38-35
After losing four out of five games, the Sun Devils bounced back with a surprising win over USC. True enough, ASU was facing the Trojans’ third-string quarterback, but a win is a win, especially in the Pac-12 South, where no one outside of Salt Lake City can put together a string of successful outings.
Manny Wilkins threw a touchdown pass and rushed for another, helping Arizona State win their fourth conference road game over the past four seasons. Eno Benjamin ran for 185 yards and two touchdowns, but it was 92-yard punt return for a touchdown which sparked the Sun Devils.
We’ll see if the Sun Devils are for real this weekend, when they host the Utes.
Up next … No. 10 Utah … 2:00 p.m., MT, Pac-12 Networks
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7. Arizona (4-5, 3-3) … Ranking last weekend: 11
This weekend … Defeated Oregon, 44-15.
The other half of the Arizona surprise was the Wildcats dominating Oregon, 44-15. The Ducks, who were averaging 460.7 yards per game, were limited to 270 total yards by an Arizona defense which came into the game giving up an average of 440.6 yards per game.
Early in the second quarter, it was 16-0, Arizona. By the end of the third quarter, it was 37-8. This from a team which had lost three of four games coming into the Saturday night massacre of the Ducks, with the only win coming on a 24-17 home win over Cal, which required two defensive touchdowns. J.J. Taylor ran for 212 yards, with Kahlil Tate throwing for three touchdowns.
If Colorado has to play the team which easily handled Oregon, it could be a long night Friday …
Up next … Colorado … Friday, 8:30 p.m., MT, FS1
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6. Stanford (5-3, 3-2) … Ranking last weekend: 5
This weekend … Lost to Washington State, 41-38.
After a 4-0 start, the Cardinal rose to No. 7 in the national rankings. Since then, it’s been a downhill spiral, with Stanford losing three of four. What’s keeping the Cardinal in the top half of my rankings this week is the effort put forth against the Cougars. Stanford held a 28-14 second quarter lead, and tied the game with a touchdown with 1:25 remaining … only to see Washington State escape with the win on a field goal with 19 seconds remaining.
Stanford finishes with three out of four games on the road, including a road trip to Washington and an away game against Cal. The top ten is a distant memory. What’s at stake now is a winning season and momentum for the 2019 campaign.
Up next … at Washington … TBA
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5. Oregon (5-3, 2-3) … Ranking last weekend: 3
This weekend … Lost to Arizona, 44-15.
Many Buff fans would be surprised to learn that Colorado and Oregon have the exact same record, with a 5-3 overall record, 2-3 in Pac-12 play.
Then why is Oregon ranked 5th, and Colorado 12th?
While both teams opened 3-0 against questionable non-conference opponents, Oregon has played better in Pac-12 games, the Arizona disaster notwithstanding. The Ducks defeated Cal when the Bears were ranked, should have beaten Stanford, took out No. 7 Washington, and stayed with Washington State on the road.
A loss to UCLA would drop Oregon considerably. Assuming a home win over the Bruins, the next test for Oregon will be next week on the road against Utah.
Up next … UCLA … 5:30 p.m., MT, Fox
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4. California (5-3, 2-3) … Ranking last weekend: 8
This weekend … Defeated No. 15 Washington, 12-10.
Another team with the exact same record as Colorado. Another team ranked much higher than the Buffs.
Another team with a better resume, and a better future outlook.
Two weeks ago, the Bears absorbed a 37-7 home loss to UCLA, and were left for dead. A 49-7 road rout of Oregon State, and a home 12-10 upset of No. 15 Washington later, however, and the Bears find themselves with some serious momentum heading into November.
Cal, like Colorado, is one win away from bowl eligibility. Cal, like Colorado, will be an underdog over its next three games (at Washington State; at USC; Stanford). If both teams lose their next three games, the Buffs will be facing, for the second year in a row, a road battle between two 5-6 teams looking for bowl eligibility.
Up next … at No. 10 Washington State … TBA
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3. Washington (6-3, 4-2) … Ranking last weekend: 2
This weekend … Lost to Cal, 12-10.
The Huskies remain ranked above the Cal Bears despite Saturday’s result. Washington continues to have a solid resume (at least in terms of Pac-12 teams. The Huskies are two field goals away from being undefeated in conference play, and still have a clear path to the Pac-12 North title. Washington only has three games left to play, and, with a win over Stanford this weekend, would be a win over Oregon State away from a showdown against Washington State for the North division title.
If Washington falls to Stanford, going 0-2 against the Bay area schools in as many weeks, the season will be a failure. Until that happens, though, you have to assume Washington is one of the top three teams in the conference.
Up next … Stanford … TBA
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2. Utah (6-2, 4-2)… Ranking last weekend: 4
This weekend … Defeated UCLA, 41-10.
After an 0-2 start in Pac-12 play, the Utes have been on a roll. The Utes have won four straight, and have done it with an offense which has scored over 40 points in all four games. Utah took out Stanford on the road, 40-21, and have since dominated Arizona, USC, and UCLA.
With the rest of the Pac-12 South struggling, the first division title for the Utes is in the cards. There are two road games which are manageable – Arizona State and Colorado – with a home game against Oregon.
With USC imploding, it looks like the only team which can stop Utah is … Utah.
Up next … at Arizona State … 2:00 p.m., MT, Pac-12 Networks
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1. Washington State (7-1, 2-1) … Ranking last weekend: 1
This weekend … Defeated Stanford, 41-38.
Washington State moved into the top ten in the national rankings with a 41-38 win over Stanford. The Cardinal fell behind, 28-14, on the road against the Cardinal, but rallied on the road to maintain the best record in the Pac-12.
Now, the Cougars get the other surprise Bay area winner from Saturday night. Cal upset Washington, 12-10, with a strong defensive effort. Can the Bears put off back-to-back upsets against the Washington schools? If not, Washington State will roll into Boulder with a top ten ranking … and a five game winning streak.
Up next … Cal … TBA.
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Stuart
Continue reading...
Sunday Afternoon Quarterback – Pac-12 Power Rankings
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Pac-12 Power Rankings
—
Note … These are my subjective Power Rankings, which will be updated every Sunday. (Please feel free to post your own rankings in the comments section) …
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12. Colorado (5-3, 2-3) … Ranking last weekend: 7
This weekend … Lost to Oregon State, 41-34, OT
Last week, I moved Washington State up to No. 1 in the rankings as the Cougars knocked off my previous No. 1, Oregon. The logic holds true this week at the bottom of the rankings.
At least for a week, Oregon State leaves the basement of the Pac-12 Power Rankings. The Buffs have five wins on the season, and Oregon State can only aspire to a five-win season. Still it’s up to the Buffs to climb out of the basement. A sixth win, and the Buffs can start looking for the post-season. Failure to get to six wins … and it’s time to find a new coach.
Up next … at Arizona … Friday, 8:30 p.m., MT, FS1
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11. Oregon State (2-6, 1-4) … Ranking last weekend: 12
This weekend … Defeated Colorado, 41-34, OT
The Beavers were able to remove too large albatrosses from their program with the win over the Buffs. Oregon State hadn’t won a game on the road since 2014 (against Colorado), and hadn’t beaten an FBS opponent since knocking off Oregon in the 2016 regular season finale.
With the success Jake Luton had in the second half against Colorado, you have to wonder whether the Beavers would have had more success had Luton not been lost to a high ankle sprain early in the season. Oregon State will get a chance to prove its win over CU was not a fluke when they take on USC (with QB issues of their own) this Saturday.
Up next … USC … 8:00 p.m., MT, FS1
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10. UCLA (2-6, 2-3) … Ranking last weekend: 9
This weekend … Lost to Utah, 41-10
After picking up two straight wins, taking out Cal and Arizona, the Bruins came back down to earth with a thumping at home by Utah. It was still something of a game, at 17-7, at halftime, but two quick third quarter scores by the Utes made it a 31-7 rout. The Bruins were out-gained, 470 yards to 291, and were really never competitive.
While it’s still very early in the Chip Kelly era, it has to be a bit disconcerting for the UCLA administration that only 41,848 were in the Rose Bowl (91,136 capacity) for a team on a two-game winning streak.
Up next … at Oregon … 5::30 p.m., MT, Fox
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9. USC (4-4, 3-3) … Ranking last weekend: 6
This weekend … Lost to Arizona State, 38-35
A week after being pushed out of first place in the Pac-12 South by Utah, the Trojans fell at home to Arizona State. USC was down to its third-string quarterback, Jack Sears, who threw for 235 yards and two touchdowns, but it was not enough to keep the Trojans from losing for the first time at home under Clay Helton.
Hard to believe, but a coach who is 18-1 at home is on a much hotter seat than is CU’s Mike MacIntyre. The House of Troy is not happy with Helton, and fans are voting with their feet. CU had 48,050 on hand for the Oregon State game, and it was more than were in attendance at the Rose Bowl (above) or at the 78,467-seat Coliseum (47,406).
Up next … at Oregon State … 8:00 p.m., MT, FS1
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8. Arizona State (4-4, 2-3) … Ranking last weekend: 10
This weekend … Defeated USC, 38-35
After losing four out of five games, the Sun Devils bounced back with a surprising win over USC. True enough, ASU was facing the Trojans’ third-string quarterback, but a win is a win, especially in the Pac-12 South, where no one outside of Salt Lake City can put together a string of successful outings.
Manny Wilkins threw a touchdown pass and rushed for another, helping Arizona State win their fourth conference road game over the past four seasons. Eno Benjamin ran for 185 yards and two touchdowns, but it was 92-yard punt return for a touchdown which sparked the Sun Devils.
We’ll see if the Sun Devils are for real this weekend, when they host the Utes.
Up next … No. 10 Utah … 2:00 p.m., MT, Pac-12 Networks
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7. Arizona (4-5, 3-3) … Ranking last weekend: 11
This weekend … Defeated Oregon, 44-15.
The other half of the Arizona surprise was the Wildcats dominating Oregon, 44-15. The Ducks, who were averaging 460.7 yards per game, were limited to 270 total yards by an Arizona defense which came into the game giving up an average of 440.6 yards per game.
Early in the second quarter, it was 16-0, Arizona. By the end of the third quarter, it was 37-8. This from a team which had lost three of four games coming into the Saturday night massacre of the Ducks, with the only win coming on a 24-17 home win over Cal, which required two defensive touchdowns. J.J. Taylor ran for 212 yards, with Kahlil Tate throwing for three touchdowns.
If Colorado has to play the team which easily handled Oregon, it could be a long night Friday …
Up next … Colorado … Friday, 8:30 p.m., MT, FS1
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6. Stanford (5-3, 3-2) … Ranking last weekend: 5
This weekend … Lost to Washington State, 41-38.
After a 4-0 start, the Cardinal rose to No. 7 in the national rankings. Since then, it’s been a downhill spiral, with Stanford losing three of four. What’s keeping the Cardinal in the top half of my rankings this week is the effort put forth against the Cougars. Stanford held a 28-14 second quarter lead, and tied the game with a touchdown with 1:25 remaining … only to see Washington State escape with the win on a field goal with 19 seconds remaining.
Stanford finishes with three out of four games on the road, including a road trip to Washington and an away game against Cal. The top ten is a distant memory. What’s at stake now is a winning season and momentum for the 2019 campaign.
Up next … at Washington … TBA
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5. Oregon (5-3, 2-3) … Ranking last weekend: 3
This weekend … Lost to Arizona, 44-15.
Many Buff fans would be surprised to learn that Colorado and Oregon have the exact same record, with a 5-3 overall record, 2-3 in Pac-12 play.
Then why is Oregon ranked 5th, and Colorado 12th?
While both teams opened 3-0 against questionable non-conference opponents, Oregon has played better in Pac-12 games, the Arizona disaster notwithstanding. The Ducks defeated Cal when the Bears were ranked, should have beaten Stanford, took out No. 7 Washington, and stayed with Washington State on the road.
A loss to UCLA would drop Oregon considerably. Assuming a home win over the Bruins, the next test for Oregon will be next week on the road against Utah.
Up next … UCLA … 5:30 p.m., MT, Fox
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4. California (5-3, 2-3) … Ranking last weekend: 8
This weekend … Defeated No. 15 Washington, 12-10.
Another team with the exact same record as Colorado. Another team ranked much higher than the Buffs.
Another team with a better resume, and a better future outlook.
Two weeks ago, the Bears absorbed a 37-7 home loss to UCLA, and were left for dead. A 49-7 road rout of Oregon State, and a home 12-10 upset of No. 15 Washington later, however, and the Bears find themselves with some serious momentum heading into November.
Cal, like Colorado, is one win away from bowl eligibility. Cal, like Colorado, will be an underdog over its next three games (at Washington State; at USC; Stanford). If both teams lose their next three games, the Buffs will be facing, for the second year in a row, a road battle between two 5-6 teams looking for bowl eligibility.
Up next … at No. 10 Washington State … TBA
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3. Washington (6-3, 4-2) … Ranking last weekend: 2
This weekend … Lost to Cal, 12-10.
The Huskies remain ranked above the Cal Bears despite Saturday’s result. Washington continues to have a solid resume (at least in terms of Pac-12 teams. The Huskies are two field goals away from being undefeated in conference play, and still have a clear path to the Pac-12 North title. Washington only has three games left to play, and, with a win over Stanford this weekend, would be a win over Oregon State away from a showdown against Washington State for the North division title.
If Washington falls to Stanford, going 0-2 against the Bay area schools in as many weeks, the season will be a failure. Until that happens, though, you have to assume Washington is one of the top three teams in the conference.
Up next … Stanford … TBA
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2. Utah (6-2, 4-2)… Ranking last weekend: 4
This weekend … Defeated UCLA, 41-10.
After an 0-2 start in Pac-12 play, the Utes have been on a roll. The Utes have won four straight, and have done it with an offense which has scored over 40 points in all four games. Utah took out Stanford on the road, 40-21, and have since dominated Arizona, USC, and UCLA.
With the rest of the Pac-12 South struggling, the first division title for the Utes is in the cards. There are two road games which are manageable – Arizona State and Colorado – with a home game against Oregon.
With USC imploding, it looks like the only team which can stop Utah is … Utah.
Up next … at Arizona State … 2:00 p.m., MT, Pac-12 Networks
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1. Washington State (7-1, 2-1) … Ranking last weekend: 1
This weekend … Defeated Stanford, 41-38.
Washington State moved into the top ten in the national rankings with a 41-38 win over Stanford. The Cardinal fell behind, 28-14, on the road against the Cardinal, but rallied on the road to maintain the best record in the Pac-12.
Now, the Cougars get the other surprise Bay area winner from Saturday night. Cal upset Washington, 12-10, with a strong defensive effort. Can the Bears put off back-to-back upsets against the Washington schools? If not, Washington State will roll into Boulder with a top ten ranking … and a five game winning streak.
Up next … Cal … TBA.
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Stuart
Continue reading...