Pac-10 Tip Sheet
By Brad Young
Pac-10 play this week kicked off Thursday night with the Southern Cal-Oregon State tilt, while both Arizona and Arizona State are enjoying a bye week. There are a pair of conference clashes slated for Saturday (Stanford at Washington and Oregon at Washington State), while two schools (UCLA and California) collide in non conference contests.
Let’s take a closer look at the four games this weekend involving Pac-10 teams.
**Stanford at Washington**
-Caesars Palace installed Washington as a 3½-point home ‘chalk’ over Stanford, with the total set at 52½. Fox Sports Net will provide coverage of this contest beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET.
-Stanford (2-2 straight up and against the spread) was mired in a two-game losing skid before upending San Jose State as a seven-point home favorite, 23-10. There was no total on that contest.
-The Cardinal entered halftime trailing the Spartans, 10-7, but won the game outright and covered by posting 10 points in the fourth quarter. Stanford finished the contest with advantages in rushing yards (204-54), while trailing in time of possession (33:02-26:58).
-Quarterback Tavita Pritchard struggled by completing 13-of-28 passes for 159 yards with an interception. The junior signal caller also ran nine times for 40 yards and a touchdown, but Toby Gerhart was the real rushing star with 22 carries for 148 yards and a score.
-Washington (0-3 SU, 1-2 ATS) is coming off its bye week after facing a tough early season test against Oregon, Brigham Young and Oklahoma. The Huskies were blown out at home versus the Sooners September 13 as a 21-point home underdog, 55-14. The combined 69 points eclipsed the 62-point closing total, helping the ‘over’ improve to 2-1.
-Washington was dominated across the board, trailing in rushing yards (274-87), passing yards (317-249) and turnovers forced (3-0). Quarterback Jake Locker was 16-of-24 passing for 154 yards, while rushing 12 times for 44 yards and a score. Wideout D’Andre Goodwin stepped up with nine receptions for 82 yards in the loss.
-The Huskies toppled the Cardinal last year as a three-point road favorite, 27-9, while the combined 36 points never seriously threatened the 57½-point closing total.
-Stanford offensive lineman Gustav Rydstedt (concussion) is ‘questionable’ versus the Huskies, while defensive back Austin Yancy (hamstring) and wide receiver Marcus Rance (hamstring) is ‘out.’
-Washington tight end Michael Gottlieb (hamstring), safety Victor Aiyewa (groin) and cornerback Quinton Richardson (knee) are ‘probable’ against the Cardinal, while strong safety Jason Wells (knee), strong safety Darin Harris (concussion), offensive lineman Mark Armelin (foot) and cornerback Byron Davenport (ankle) are ‘doubtful.’
-The Cardinal follow this contest with a road game against Notre Dame before returning home to tackle Arizona. The Huskies travel to Arizona next weekend before home games against Oregon State and Notre Dame.
-Saturday’s forecast for Seattle, Washington calls for partly cloudy skies with a 20 percent chance of rain. The high is projected to be 66 degrees, with a low of 49.
**Colorado State at California**
-Caesars Palace opened California as a decided 26-point home favorite over Colorado State. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. ET.
-Colorado State (2-1 SU, 1-1 ATS) slipped past Houston last weekend as a six-point road underdog, 28-25. There was no total on that contest.
-Quarterback Billy Farris was 24-of-33 passing for 276 yards with two touchdowns, while Gartrell Johnson had 19 carries for 69 yards and a score. The Rams enjoyed advantages in rushing yards (146-93), turnovers forced (4-0) and time of possession (37:21-22:39).
-California (2-1 SU and ATS) is coming off its bye week after traveling east two weeks ago and losing to Maryland as a 14-point road favorite, 35-27. There was no total on that matchup, but the ‘over’ did cash the first two games for the Golden Bears.
-The game wasn’t as close as the final score indicated since Cal posted 21 fourth quarter points. Quarterback Kevin Riley completed 33-of-58 passes for 423 yards with three touchdowns and an interception, while wide receiver LaReylle Cunningham caught seven passes for 138 yards.
-Cal upended the Rams last season as a 14-point road favorite, 34-28, while the combined 62 points slithered ‘over’ the 61-point closing total.
-Colorado State offensive lineman Mark Starr (ankle), defensive back Brandon Owens (ankle) and center Tim Walter (ankle) are ‘probable’ against the Golden Bears.
-California linebacker BJ Beatty (leg) is ‘doubtful’ versus the Rams.
-The Rams follow this contest with a two-game homestand against UNLV and Texas Christian. The Golden Bears host Arizona State next weekend before having another bye week.
-Saturday’s forecast for Berkeley, California calls for sunny skies, with a high of 79 degrees and a low of 57.
**Fresno State at UCLA**
-Caesars Palace lists Fresno State as a seven-point road ‘chalk’ over UCLA, with the total set at 46 1/2. ABC Sports will provide coverage of this contest starting at 3:30 p.m. ET.
-Fresno State (2-1 SU, 1-2 ATS) survived a double-overtime scare with Toledo last weekend as a 5 ½-point road favorite, 55-54. There was no total on that contest, but the ‘under’ prevailed the first two outings for the Bulldogs.
-Signal caller Tom Brandstater was 22-of-28 passing for 231 yards with four touchdowns, while running back Ryan Mathews had 18 carries for 87 yards.
-UCLA (1-2 SU and ATS) continues its downward spiral after falling to Arizona last weekend as a 3 ½-point home underdog, 31-10. The combined 41 points went ‘under’ the 52-point closing total, ending back-to-back ‘over’ outings.
-The Bruins kept the game close until surrendering a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns. UCLA could manage only 196 yards of total offense, 81 yards passing along with 115 yards rushing. Quarterback Kevin Craft was 15-of-31 passing for 81 yards, while Chane Moline paced the ground game with 72 yards on 11 carries.
-Fresno State and UCLA have not played each other the past few years.
-Fresno State offensive lineman Richard Pacheco (hamstring), wide receiver Jason Crawley (hamstring) and wide receiver Devon Wylie (foot) are ‘questionable’ against the Bruins.
-UCLA running back Kahlil Bell (ankle) and wide receiver Nelson Rosario (knee) are ‘probable’ versus the Bulldogs, while tight end Cory Harkey (ankle), linebacker John Hale (ankle), offensive lineman Micah Kia (back), center Micah Reed (knee), defensive tackle Jerzy Siewierski (neck) and running back Aundre Dean (ankle) are ‘questionable.’
-Fresno State embarks on a two-game homestand following this contest against Hawaii and Idaho. UCLA returns to Pac-10 play next weekend against Washington State before traveling to Oregon.
-Saturday’s forecast for Pasadena, California calls for sunny skies, with a high of 89 degrees and a low of 64.
**Oregon at Washington State**
-Caesars Palace opened Oregon as a 21-point road favorite over Washington State. This contest is slated to start at 6:15 p.m. ET.
-Oregon (3-1 SU, 2-2 ATS) was upset by Boise State last weekend as a 10 ½-point home ‘chalk,’ 37-32. The combined 69 points toppled the 52-point closing total, ending a string of two straight ‘under’ outings for the Ducks.
-Oregon made things interesting by outscoring the Broncos in the fourth quarter, 19-0. The Ducks dominated Boise State in rushing (227-38), but trailed in passing (386-237), turnovers forced (4-2) and time of possession (32:22-27:38).
-Quarterbacking injuries caught up with Oregon, led by freshman signal caller Darron Thomas who was 13-of-25 passing for 210 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. His favorite target was tight end Ed Dickson who caught seven passes for 103 yards with two scores. Running back LeGarrette Blount stepped up with 99 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries in a losing effort.
-Washington State (1-3 SU, 0-3 ATS) notched its first victory of the season by routing Portland State in a ‘non-board’ affair, 48-9.
-The Cougars put the game away with 24 points in the third quarter, ending the contest with 638 yards of total offense. Quarterback Marshall Lobbestael was 9-of-12 passing for 149 yards with two touchdowns, while tight end Devin Frischknecht caught five passes for 110 yards and a score.
-Oregon is 3-1 SU and 2-2 ATS the past four meetings with Washington State after routing the Cougars last season as a 20-point home favorite, 53-7. The combined 60 points went ‘under’ the 69-point closing total, ending a string of three straight ‘over’ outings in this series.
-Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli (head) and defensive back Walter Thurmond III (groin) are ‘questionable’ versus the Cougars, while quarterback Justin Roper (knee) is ‘out.’
-Washington State quarterback Kevin Lopina (shoulder), defensive lineman Fevaea’I Ahmu (shoulder), linebacker Cory Evans (undisclosed) and linebacker Kendrick Dunn (ankle) are ‘questionable’ against the Ducks.
-Oregon travels to Southern Cal next weekend to take on the Trojans before returning home to tackle UCLA. Washington State heads on a two-game road trip following this contest against UCLA and Oregon State.
-Saturday’s forecast for Pullman, Washington calls for partly cloudy skies with a 20 percent chance of rain. The high is listed at 70 degrees, with a low of 44.
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