Signs of life in Tempe!
5-3, with Oregon, Cal and USC in the rear-view mirror.
Of the four Big Six conferences structured more around football than basketball (sorry, Big East and ACC), the Pac-10 has consistently run fourth, behind the SEC, Big 12 and Big 10. This is part because late West Coast games don't start until 10 pm in the East, in part because USC has been so dominant, in part because of the second-tier (eg non-USC teams) have played so horribly in the second-tier bowls (come on down, Cal; take a bow, Oregon).
This is not to refute those who would put the SEC (featuring Vanderbilt, Kentucky, and Mississippi State) or Big-12 (Colorado, Iowa State) about the Pac-10. Well, yes it is. Consider: USC beat, and beat quite handily, two teams (Nebraska and Arkansas) that may well play in their conference championship games (Big 12 and SEC respectively). In conference play, USC is 4-1, and none of their four victories were decided until the final few minutes--two on the last play. And now a loss to Oregon State.
So you do the math. USC beats Nebraska and Arkansas. Oregon (heh heh) beats Oklahoma. UCLA, for 59 minutes, outplays Notre Dame. The only high-profile stigma was Cal, who seemingly views non-conference games as extended Spring Training, being spanked by Tennessee. Aside from that game, what do we have in the Pac-10? Eight teams who could play with anyone, perhaps Ohio State and Michigan excepted.
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2 comments:
I don't pretend to understand the vagaries or nuances of the BCS but isn't it, at least remotely, possible that USC could move back into 2nd place considering the increased strength of the PAC 10 also rans. USC has to have one of the better remaininng schedules (in terms of strength). My end game is to have 2 PAC 10 BCS Bowl entries.
All right Tex, it was an AMAZING run in the Pac for the Trojans. One for the ages. But the talent level is not even on the same page for SC right now. And it shows. A very good ASU team mounted a 21-3 lead at halftime at Kush Field last season. Only to have it evaporate in the Arizona sun behind Lienart&Bush. They're gone and the new group seems talented but a few rungs below for sure.
That being said, USC should still be in the top 5 in the BCS. If the Trojans had West Virgina's schedule they would be talking about Pete Carroll the way they used to talk about Spurrier...."is Pete running up the score to much? Will they hit 50?" Auburn got rolled at home to a team that SC embarrassed. And ND? Who are they playing next? The Coast Guard?
So yes, the Pac-10 will always be a conference looking for respect, and a conferece that has THEEEE Worst Bowl affiliations. Third place in the Pac is El Paso??!!
Now will Oregon St. be a team riding to high after the upset? One can only hope..........
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