138-0

Stat of the day: USC is on a 138-0 scoring run since falling behind 10-3 vs. Oregon three weeks ago. Geez. I have a feeling the scoreless streak will end when the Trojans travel to Tuscon next week to take on the Arizona Wildcats, but it is fun while it lasts. The outcome of the game at Pullman was never in question when Wazzu ran the ball three straight times on their opening posession. Mark Sanchez was almost perfect, throwing for 5 touchdowns in the first half, while the run game produced three 100+ yard rushers in Stafon Johnson, C.J. Gable (with 3 TDs), and Broderick Green (2 TDs) as Joe McKnight and Marc Tyler sat out with injuries. The defense posted its second straight shutout, blanking the Cougars for the first time in 280 games, which was the second longest active streak behind Michigan. If anything, it was nice to see the Trojans get off to a fast start, allowing Coach Pete Carroll to rest most of the regulars while getting some guys lower on the depth chart some valuable experience, including walkon Daniel Harper, who had an interception in the fourth quarter. On to this week's Pac-10 rankings:

1. USC (5-1 overall, 3-1 Pac-10) - ... and the Trojans are back atop the conference standings after Cal lost to Arizona (again). Four teams are tied for the lead (USC, Arizona, Oregon, Oregon State), and USC travels to Arizona next week. Nice win by the Wildcats today, but if the Trojans avoid turnovers and costly penalties, that game can also get out of hand quickly. This game has upset potential for USC, and after last year's 20-13 game at the Coliseum, Arizona and Coach Mike Stoops has a lot to build upon.
2. Oregon (5-2, 3-1) - Hopefully used their bye week to get their QBs healthy and ready to go. They must travel to Tempe, where the Sun Devils will have a hard time ending their 4 game losing streak. Tough stretch after next week's game for the Ducks, as they have to travel to Berkeley, host Stanford and Arizona before the Civil War game. No more gimmies for Oregon til the end of the season.
3. Oregon State (4-3, 3-1) - The Beavers should be pretty satisfied going into the bye week having won 4 of 5 games. But like the Ducks, Oregon State still has to face the better teams in the conference. Solid win against Washington today, and will look to hand Arizona State their sixth straight loss (probably) in two weeks.
4. Arizona (5-2, 3-1) - Again, the Wildcats could very well be 7-0, save for unbelieveable losses to New Mexico and Stanford. Arizona looks well on their way to a bowl game (Wazzu still looms on the schedule) after upsetting Cal today, thought it was more the Bears imploding than UoA doing anything special. The 'Cats will look to become bowl eligible next week against the Trojans, though USC looks to be so suffocating on defense (allowing 7.8 points per game) that Arizona may have to force some turnovers out of the Trojans' offense.
5. California (4-2, 2-1) - Ready for that late season collapse again? Cal was in control of Arizona before that third quarter, when the Bears were outscored 28-3. Things do not get easier from here on out for Cal, as after hosting UCLA next weekend, they play Oregon and travel to USC and Oregon State before the Big Game. If the QBs have trouble as they did today, watch out. And again, if you let the Bruins stay close into the fourth quarter, they are very dangerous, as Stanford found out today.
6. UCLA (3-4, 2-2) - Hate to see them be so scrappy. And all of a sudden, the Bruins game next week against Cal doesn't look so daunting. Kevin Craft is the definition of Jekyll/Hyde. Geez. If Cal an make UCLA pay for Craft's miscues and go for the jugglar, Cal should have their time with the Bruins. Coach Rick Neuheisel will win my Coach of the Year vote for the Pac-10 if he gets to a bowl (hopefully the Hawaii Bowl so I can see them in action.... false).
7. Stanford (4-4, 3-2) - The Bruins were unable to move the ball consistently all game, until, of course, the game's final drive, where UCLA travelled 88 yards for the game winning score. It may be hard for the Cardinal to become bowl eligible, as this was the game that would have mostly likely locked up a bowl bid. Instead, they head to their bye week looking to regroup before win #5 (Wazzu), then will have to look for their sixth win against Oregon, USC, or Cal. Good luck with that.
8. Arizona State (2-4, 1-2) - So when does Dennis Erickson's name come up fo the job openings around the NFL and NCAA? The Sun Devils could very well have dropped six straight before they visit Washington. Hard to see Oregon losing to Arizona State next week, but stranger things have happened. Hopefully Rudy Carpenter has recovered from his injuries so he can make the start.
9. Washington (0-4, 0-6) - At least they're more competitive than:
10. Washington State (1-7, 0-5) - I think Hershel Dennis just ran for a 7 yard gain. Seriously. I know USC is good, but you can't let teams score on you on fourth-down, and if you know USC is just going to run the ball down your throat, put 8 or 9 in the box to stop the run. At least they won't give up 60+ points this week, though when they return to play Stanford in two weeks, the Cardinal may have a sour taste in their mouth after the UCLA loss.

And the top 25, without too much shakeups with not too many upsets this week:

1. Texas (7-0)
2. Penn State (8-0)
3. Alabama (7-0)
4. Oklahoma (6-1)
5. USC (5-1)
6. Florida (5-1)
7. Texas Tech (7-0)
8. Georgia (6-1)
9. Oklahoma State (7-0)
10. Ohio State (7-1)
11. Louisiana State (5-1)
12. Utah (8-0)
13. Boise State (6-0)
14. South Florida (6-1)
15. Tulsa (7-0)
16. Texas Christian (7-1)
17. Brigham Young (6-1)
18. Ball State (7-0)
19. Missouri (5-2)
20. Pittsburgh (5-1)
21. Kansas (5-2)
22. Minnesota (6-1)
23. Georgia Tech (6-1)
24. Northwestern (6-1)
25. Vanderbilt (5-2)