My Pac-12 Power Poll: Week 12
By Derek Hart
For a full third of these teams, this week is rivalry week, which means intense grudge matches not only among those teams, but also among the students, cheerleaders, bands, alumni, fans, etc.
Plus for those of you who were living under a rock this past weekend and don’t know, there’s a change at the top.
So here are my rankings from 1-12 as of now:
1. OREGON – The new champion as of this moment, due to their walloping and dismantling of Stanford at their farm last Saturday.
These Ducks were simply too fast in cutting down those Cardinal trees; it was like Usain Bolt racing Eric Cartman of South Park. Should be favored over the #3 team on this list as they are at home.
2. STANFORD – They shouldn’t feel too bad, as they still have a great band and are headed for the BCS should they win out.
They’ll get a good chance to take out their frustrations of being the Ducks’ dinner in their Big Game vs. California in Palo Alto this Saturday.
3. USC – Trojans made easy work of Huskies last Saturday, but sorry ‘SC – you’re going to get beat at Autzen against the Ducks.
If this game against Oregon were at the Coliseum, I’d give you a good shot, but the crowd up in Eugene, along with their speed, will be too much for you.
4. UTAH – These Utes are starting to peak at the right time, and not just because they smacked UCLA around, either. Big test coming up this week in Pullman against Washington State.
5. WASHINGTON – Ran into a buzzsaw in L.A. against S.C., but should bounce back nicely in Corvallis against getting-weaker-by-the-week Oregon State.
6. ARIZONA STATE – It’s panic time in Tempe after Sun Devils suffered second straight loss against Wazzu. Territorial Cup grudge match against cross-state enemy Arizona this week a good opportunity to get back on track.
7. CALIFORNIA – Good win by Bears last week, but now they have to go to the Farm and play an angry rival in Stanford in their Big Game – I feel sorry for them.
8. UCLA – Nasty setback in the snow and cold of Salt Lake City last week, now they have to beat Colorado. I really hope that the Bruins don’t take the Buffs lightly.
9. WASHINGTON STATE – Rallied behind a freshman quarterback in beating ASU, have now won more games – four – than they have in the past several years.
Now they have a HUGE test as red-hot Utah comes to the Palouse; can the Cougs keep up their momentum?
10. ARIZONA – These Wildcats lost to Colorado, are 10-point underdogs to ASU in their rivalry game this Saturday, and will be in Tempe in front of a ticked-off Sun Devil crowd to boot – QB Nick Foles must have a good game if U of A is to have any chance.
11. COLORADO – Buffaloes are going into their game against UCLA at the Rose Bowl on a bit of a roll after winning their first conference game last week. If the Bruins look past CU toward their date with USC, they just might be in trouble.
12. OREGON STATE – Beavers are the new bottom feeders, and will probably stay that way as they face Washington, who’s looking to wash the USC loss out of their mouths, next.
This has been a year where anyone can beat anyone else in this conference, particularly in the Southern Division.
That’s the best kind of season for fans, and I wouldn’t be surprised if that continued the rest of the way.
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