Shootout in the desert....

Oh wait, nevermind. Defense took centerstage as USC held off Arizona 17-10, though the Wildcats never really threatened to score after they tied the game at 10. UoA came in averaging over 40 points per game, ranked top 10 in the nation, while the Trojans were coming off hanging 69 on Washington State, but neither team was able to crack 20 points. It seems like Arizona coach Mike Stoops has figured out USC, but hasn't flipped the right switch to push the Wildcats over the top. In 2006, the Wildcats held close until a late touchdown pushed the Trojans to a 20-3 win. Last year, in Mark Sanchez's first start, USC rallied past Arizona 20-13 in the Coliseum. This year, the Trojans dominated the second half, especially on the defensive end, but the offense was not able to sustain any drives and make the fourth quarter less stressful.

Problems? After committing only 2 penalties against the Cougars, the Trojans were flagged 10 times for 68 yards, including two holding calls on big plays that really changed the momentum of the play. Ugh, so much for that problem being solved. Special teams continues to plague USC. Stafon Johnson had a couple of good punt returns, including a 54 yarder to set up the Trojan's first points, but some were nullified by blocking in the back penalties, as well as Johnson catching a punt in the endzone, a huge no-no. Greg Woidneck had a 15 yard punt. I think I can punt the ball 15 yards. Is it too much to ask to recruit a kicker? We've been lucky in the past with finding gems with Ryan Killeen, Mario Danelo, and David Buehler, but now Buehler has been really shaky in close games (Washington in 2007 and Arizona this year), and Woidneck is just ugh. Does Tom Malone have any eligibility left? Please? And that last punt return could have been a disaster... The offensive play calling was spotty down the stretch too, with passes being called while we were clinging to that seven point lead and trying to bleed some clock. Nice to see Johnson get 19 carries, but he should have had waaay more, especially in the fourth quarter. Oh well. Sanchez does need to improve on his decision making, scramble for the first when no receivers are open, or hit the underneath receiver instead of forcing the bigger gain.

The offense can thank the defense though. Huge stop on the QB sneak on 4th and 1 at midfield on the fourth quarter, but the defense can also thank Willie Tuitama for being so off the mark, as he completed only two passes in the second half, and Taylor Mays for knocking Keola Antolin out of the game, as the defense were having flashes of Oregon State RB Jacquizz Rodgers. At this point of the season, with the lack of upsets ahead of USC, the best I can hope for is another trip to the Rose Bowl, but the Trojans will need some help getting there. Assuming USC wins out in Pac-10 play, they need the Beavers to lose once, with the best chance of that happening being against Cal, Arizona, or Oregon to close the season. Then again, the Trojans needed much more help last year to make the Rose Bowl after losing to Oregon late last season, but the pieces fell into place (notably, Oregon QB Dennis Dixon's knee exploding) and USC made their third consecutive trip to Pasadena. On to the Pac-10 rankings:

1. USC (6-1 overall, 4-1 Pac-10) - Didn't avoid penalties and turnovers, which lead to a slow start against Arizona, but the defense saved the day this week. Washington limps into the Coliseum for Homecoming next week, but honestly haven't seen any spark from the Huskies since they lost to BYU. The Trojans do not leave California for the rest of the season, and guess what next Saturday is.... November 1st!!!! 24 straight in November, and I don't see that streak ending next week.
2. Oregon (6-2, 4-1) - Solid performance against Arizona State this week in Tempe, but that Sun Devil team is falling apart at the seams. Big game next week at Cal, which should help clear up the top of the Pac-10 standings, with four teams having one loss in conference play.
3. Oregon State (4-3, 3-1) - Licking their chops as a hobbled and downtrodden Arizona State team arrives in Corvalis. The Beavers are the only team in the Pac-10 that controls their Rose Bowl destiny, but they close the season with a brutal stretch of Cal, at Arizona, and Oregon. No room for error, as the Trojans look to have bounced back from their loss to the Beavers, and Cal and Oregon also standing at one loss in conference play. But first things first, take care of Arizona State.
4. Arizona (5-3, 3-2) - Valiant effort by the Wildcats, but their offense really let them down in this game. The defense kept giving the offense chances to tie the game, but no go. Arizona heads into a bye, where coach Stoops should keep his team focused for their visit to Pullman in two weeks (seriously), as it would make them bowl eligible for the first time this decade (I think).
5. California (5-2, 3-1) - Sloppy game against UCLA until the Bruins failed on their fake punt, which really turned the game around for the Bears. After losing to Arizona the week before where they were outscored in the third quarter 28-3, Cal outscored UCLA 24-7 in the fourth to put UCLA away. Strange concept though, a team making the Bruins pay for Kevin Craft's turnovers. Tennessee and Stanford couldn't do it. Maybe, just maybe, teams from here on out will convert on those turnovers by Craft so UCLA won't be in striking distance in the fourth quarter, when they are oh so dangerous. Cal hosts Oregon next week, hoping to get some momentum before travelling to the Coliseum to play the Trojans.
6. Stanford (4-4, 3-2) - Spent their bye week trying to find their sixth win in their remaining scheudle. The Cardinal should take care of business against Wazzu, but a trip to Oregon looks daunting, the Trojans will be looking for revenge after last year's game, and the Big Game against Cal is no gimme. But it will be all for naught if Stanford doesn't beat Wazzu.
7. UCLA (3-5, 2-3) - MAKE THEM PAY FOR KEVIN CRAFT'S BONEHEADED THROWS!!!! Seriously. Good job Cal, turning Craf't's four interceptions into 17 points. If you don't make him pay, Craft keeps his confidence, especially if the game is close. He is capable of scoring drives at the end of halves (seemes like UCLA always tacks on a field goal at the end of the first half). Oh well. After a bye, Oregon State should smack the Bruins around in the Rose Bowl. By the way, I will always question Slick Rick's special teams gambles (haha) at terrible times until one of them pays off (or he gets fired. Get it? nevermind...). Anyway, he was about a yard short on his gamble, which still failed, and on the next play, Cal scored on a flea flicker and a 17-13 game turned into a rout.
8. Arizona State (2-5, 1-3) - A team that's lost 5 straight and has no hope of winning until the Washington schools show up on the schedule should be ranked last in the conference. Unless of course you're in the same conference as
9. Washington (0-7, 0-4) - and
10. Washington State (1-7, 0-5). Ugh indeed.

Top 25 rankings (assuming Tulsa wins tomorrow (STOP PLAYING ON DAYS OTHER THAN SATURDAY!!!):

1. Texas (8-0) - Over/under of their game next week against Texas Tech: 100. Has an over/under even been that high before? Would anyone even flinch at that number when the lines open on Monday? Does the Big 12 play defense anymore?
2. Penn State (9-0) - Gutty win against Ohio State in the Horseshoe. Can't really see them losing the rest of the way. They should be a lock to make the BCS Championship game because:
3. Alabama (8-0) - still has to play LSU, then Georgia/Florida in the SEC championship game. At least they outscored Tennessee in the second half of this game, but the Vols looked terrible. It's one thing to be just bad, but penalties and missed field goals are just marks of a poorly coached team.
4. Oklahoma (7-1) - Seriously. When did they outlaw playing defense in the Big 12. OU and K-State combined for 93 points. 93!!!
5. Florida (6-1) - I'm just saying, but Florida beats Kentucky 63-5, and it's a quality win in the SEC, but USC beats Washington State 69-0, and the Trojans are running up the score? Works for me this week, but HUGE game against Georgia next week.
6. Texas Tech (8-0) - Just setting them up for their epic fail next week against Texas. By the way, are not making a big enough deal of the Longhorns playing four straight teams ranked in the top 11? Has any other team done this before? Does anyone care that the Red Raiders has not played anyone of relevance this season and will fall flat on their faces against Texas? That they too run up the score?
7. Georgia (7-1) - Impressive win over the defending champs this week in Baton Rouge. Can vault themselves back in the title picture with a win over Florida next week at the World's Largest Cocktail Party, but it will be hard to crack Texas and Penn State's resumes. I still think Florida and Georgia are better than Alabama and either team will beat the Tide in the SEC championship.
8. USC (6-1) - Only because Oklahoma State, LSU, and Ohio State all lost, though the Pokes and Buckeyes looked more solid in their losses than the Trojans did in their win. The good news? If they beat the Huskies next week, Georgia/Florida will fall, as will Texas Tech, so they should move up back into the top 6. Bad news? Thanks to a weak schedule, the Trojans will probably be left out of the BCS Championship game. But you'll hear no complaining from me.
9. Oklahoma State (7-1) - Gave Texas a run for their money, so no change from last week's ranking. They did show that they are the real deal though, and should finish the season with a solid mark.
10. Utah (6-0) - We might have two BCS busters this season. Here's the breakdown: the 6 champions from the BCS conferences are locks. The Pac-10, Big Ten, ACC, and Big East are not going to be sending a second team to a BCS bowl, unless both Oregon State and USC win out and the Beavers go to the Rose Bowl while the Trojans earn an at-large berth. Assuming that does not happen, the Big 12 and SEC will also send another rep to a BCS game, whether by the automatic bid (too complicated to explain), or by reputation (ala Oklahoma, Florida, etc). This leaves 2 spots open for Utah and
11. Boise State (7-0) - to earn automatic bids under the non-BCS clause (top 12 ranking). Complicated indeed.
12. Texas Christian (8-1)
13. Ohio State (6-2)
14. Missouri (6-2)
15. Brigham Young (7-1)
16. Tulsa (8-0)
17. Louisiana State (5-2)
18. Ball State (8-0)
19. South Florida (6-2)
20. Minnesota (7-1)
21. Florida State (6-1)
22. Oregon (6-2) - Just plug and chug for the bottom 4 spots...
23. Michigan State (7-2)
24. North Carolina (6-2)
25. Maryland (6-2)