Pac-10 Tip Sheet
By Brad Young
There are just three Pac-10 games this weekend featuring two rivalry matchups and a contest with the conference leader. Oregon State controls its own destiny to reach the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1965, needing to win at Arizona and home against rival Oregon in the annual Civil War to advance to Pasadena on New Year’s Day.
This year’s Apple Cup can be called the Crapple Cup with two teams entering this matchup a combined 1-20. Washington is the only team from a Bowl Championship Series conference still searching for its first victory, while Washington State’s lone win came against Division I-AA Portland State.
There is considerable more to play for in the annual Big Game between Stanford and California. The Cardinal can become bowl eligible with a victory over their rivals, while the Golden Bears can move up the Pac-10 standings and a better bowl with a win.
Now let’s take a closer look at the three games.
**Washington at Washington State**
-The Las Vegas Hilton installed Washington as a seven-point road ‘chalk’ over Washington State, with the total set at 49½. FOX Sports Net will provide coverage of this contest beginning at 3:00 p.m. ET.
-Washington (0-10 straight up, 1-9 against the spread) remains the only winless school playing in a BCS conference after falling to UCLA last weekend as a 6½-point home underdog, 27-7. The combined 34 points went ‘under’ the 45-point closing total.
-The Huskies finished the contest on the short end of first downs (20-10), rushing yards (157-96), passing yards (135-39), turnovers forced (5-3) and time of possession (36:52-23:08). Quarterback Ronnie Fouch completed just 7-of-22 passes for 39 yards with two interceptions, while Brandon Johnson had 20 carries for 75 yards and a score.
-Washington State (1-10 SU, 2-8 ATS) was blanked by Arizona State last weekend as a 36-point road underdog, 31-0. That marked the second game in a row that the Cougars covered.
-Wazzu was just down 10 points at halftime, but finished the game trailing the Sun Devils in first downs (21-10), rushing yards (141-7), passing yards (257-123), turnovers forced (2-0) and time of possession (31:39-28:21). Signal caller Kevin Lopina was 11-of-16 passing for 82 yards, while running back Dwight Tardy accounted for 27 yards on 10 carries.
-The road team has won the last three games SU and ATS in the Apple Cup, while the ‘over’ is 3-1 the past four outings. The Cougars continued that trend last season by beating the Huskies as a six-point road underdog, 42-35. The combined 77 points toppled the 63-point closing total.
-Winless road teams from Game 10 out are just 7-47 SU.
-Washington wide receiver Cody Bruns (hamstring), tight end Michael Gottlieb (leg), offensive lineman Ben Ossai (concussion), wide receiver Jordan Polk (concussion) and running back David Freeman (ankle) are ‘questionable’ against the Cougars, while defensive back Matt Mosley (knee) is ‘out.’
-Washington State quarterback Kevin Lopina (concussion), defensive end Andy Mattingly (ankle), linebacker Myron Beck (hand) and cornerback Tyrone Justin (ankle) are ‘probable’ versus the Huskies, while defensive back Alfonso Jackson (undisclosed) and running back Chris Ivory (hamstring) are ‘questionable.’
-Saturday’s forecast for Pullman, Washington calls for a 40 percent chance of precipitation. The high is projected to be 42 degrees, with a low of 31.
**Stanford at California**
-The Las Vegas Hilton opened California as a nine-point home favorite over Stanford, with the total set at 53. ABC Sports starts its coverage of The Big Game at 3:30 p.m. ET.
-Stanford (5-6 SU, 7-4 ATS) has dropped back-to-back games after falling to Southern Cal last weekend as a 24-point home underdog, 45-23. There was no total on that contest. The Cardinal have covered their last three games.
-Stanford had its sights set on a second consecutive upset of the Trojans before getting outscored in the fourth quarter, 21-6. Quarterback Tavita Pritchard completed 9-of-22 passes for 111 yards with an interception, while running back Toby Gerhart had 21 carries for 101 yards with a touchdown.
-California (6-4 SU, 7-3 ATS) is also currently mired in a two-game SU losing streak after last Saturday’s setback to Oregon State as a 3½-point road underdog, 34-21. The combined 55 points eclipsed the 50-point closing total, helping the ‘over’ improve to 3-1 the past four games with a total attached.
-The Golden Bears trailed the Beavers in first downs (20-11), rushing yards (194-85), turnovers forced (2-1) and time of possession (34:46-25:14). Quarterback Kevin Riley completed 11-of-25 passes for 117 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Running back Jahvid Best stepped up with 15 carries for 116 yards and a score in the setback.
-Stanford toppled Cal last season as a 14-point road underdog, 20-13, while the combined 33 points went ‘under’ the 53-point closing total. The Cardinal have covered the previous two games in this rivalry.
-Stanford linebacker Nick Macaluso (undisclosed), linebacker Pat Maynor (knee) and safety Austin Yancy (hamstring) are ‘questionable’ versus the Golden Bears.
-Cal linebacker Zack Follett (neck) is ‘probable’ against the Cardinal, while offensive guard Noris Malele (ankle), offensive lineman Matt Laird (shoulder) and offensive lineman Mike Tepper (pectoral) are ‘questionable.’ Strong safety Brett Johnson (shoulder) is ‘doubtful.’
-Saturday’s forecast for Berkeley, California calls for sunny skies with a 10 percent chance of precipitation, with the high listed at 66 degrees and a low of 45.
**Oregon State at Arizona**
-The Las Vegas Hilton lists Arizona as a 2½-point home ‘chalk’ over Oregon State, with the total set at 57. Versus will provide coverage of this contest beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET.
-Oregon State (7-3 SU and ATS) has won its last five games SU (4-1 ATS) after running past Cal last weekend as a 3½-point home favorite, 34-21. The combined 55 points eclipsed the 50-point closing total, helping the ‘over’ improve to 3-1 the last four games with a total attached.
-Signal caller Lyle Moevao completed 14-of-28 passes for 145 yards with an interception, hooking up with wideout James Rodgers six times for 50 yards. Running back Jacquizz Rodgers accounted for 27 carries and 144 yards with a touchdown.
-Arizona (6-4 SU and ATS) has alternated SU wins and losses the last six games after falling to Oregon last weekend as a six-point road underdog, 55-45. The combined 100 points soared ‘over’ the 60½-point closing total.
-The Wildcats made the game close by outscoring the Ducks in the fourth quarter, 21-7, but they were unable to overcome a 45-17 halftime deficit. Arizona led Oregon in first downs (30-18), passing yards (328-298) and time of possession (41:46-18:14), but was unable to overcome three turnovers.
-Quarterback Willie Tuitama was 29-of-45 passing for 328 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, while tight end Rob Gronkowski caught 12 passes for 143 yards and a score. Freshman running back Keola Antolin had 20 carries for 87 yards and four touchdowns in the setback.
-Oregon State is 8-1 SU and ATS the past nine games in this series after prevailing last season as a three-point home ‘chalk,’ 31-16. There was no total on that contest.
-Oregon State wide receiver Kyle Brown (Achilles) and offensive lineman Jeremy Perry (knee) are ‘out’ against the Wildcats.
-Arizona linebacker Sterling Lewis (ankle) is ‘probable’ versus the Beavers, while defensive tackle Kaniela Tuipulotu (toe) is ‘questionable.’
-Saturday’s forecast for Tucson, Arizona calls for partly cloudy skies with a high of 80 degrees and a low of 49.
vegasinsider.com.