Hey all,
Here's the column you love to read on Tuesdays, Notes on a Pac 12 Scorecard. We still miss you, Alan Malamud.
Summaries
USC 42- Colorado 17: The Trojans found themselves coming off two emotionally draining games and physically banged up as they took the field at Colorado. The hapless Buffaloes were just what USC needed to get back on track. USC QB Matt Barkley hit on 25 of 39 passes for 318 yards and 6 TDs to lead the offense. His 6 TD passes are a new Trojan single-game record. As for USC's rushing game, RBs Amir Carlisle and DJ Morgan combined to rush for 177 yards. As for the Buffaloes, QB Tyler Hansen threw for 20 yards and a pair of TDs in a losing effort. USC's defense did a good job stopping the CU offense despite starting four freshmen.
Telling Stat: Big Hands; USC blocked two more kicks in this game. That gives them 6 blocked kicks for the season.
California 30- Washington State 7: It was an ugly game on a drizzly day at AT&T Park. The Golden Bears used a strong rushing game and a stingy defense to corral the Cougars. Cal RB Isi Sofele ran for 138 yards an 23 carries and a touchdown to lead Cal offense. Bear QB Zach Maynard didn't throw any interceptions and did throw for 118 yards and a touchdown before being knocked out of the game in the third quarter. By that time though, Cal had built up a 30-0 lead and just cruised the rest of the way. As for the Cougars, they couldn't muster much offense, only gaining 224 total yards and converting on just 4 of 16 third downs.
Telling Stat: 1st half misery; AS the Cal offense built up a 23-0 lead, the Cal defense made life miserable for WSU in the first half. They allowed only 55 yards of offense, forced six punts and held for downs once in the Cougs seven first half drives.
Utah 34- Arizona 17: The Utes got another 100 yard game from RB John White IV to help pick up their second Pac 12 win. White ambled for 109 yards on 27 carries with 2 TDs. However, the big story was Ute QB Jon Hays, who seems to have finally gotten it together. He completed 12 of 21 passes for 199 yards, 2 TDs, and no interceptions. He looked better than he has all year running the Ute offense. Meanwhile, UofA QB Nick Foles threw for 326 yards, 2 TDs, and 2 interceptions in the losing effort.
Telling Stat: They bent but didn't break; Utah's defense gave up 201 yards on 23 plays in the fourth quarter, but allowed only a lone TD while forcing two turnovers to get out of Tucson with a win.
Stanford 38- Oregon State 13: The Cardinal looked a little sluggish in the first 30+ minutes of this game, but shutout the Beavers 21-0 in the last 27 minutes to remain undefeated. However, for a sluggish looking team, the Cardinal offense still put up 507 yards of offense and racked up 31 first downs. SU QB Andrew Luck was his efficient self, completing 20 of 30 passes for 206 yards and 3 TDs. The Stanford defense returned to its' stingy ways, holding the Beavers to just 33 yards rushing on 17 carries. OSU QB Sean Mannion threw for 252 yards and a TD in the loss.
Telling Stat: They played keep away; Stanford used a committee of running backs to rack up 300 yards rushing on 48 carries and control the ball for 40:20 T.O.P.
Oregon 34- Washington 17: It was the last game at Husky Stadium before the place gets renovated and the Ducks spoiled the party. As usual the Webfoots played their up-tempo style and held a 17-10 halftime lead over UW despite just having the ball for a little over seven minutes in the half. Then, the Duck defense shutout the Dawgs the rest of the way and victory was theirs. Duck RB LaMichael James ran for 156 yards and a score, while QB Darron Thomas threw for 169 yards and a TD of his own. As for Washington, QB Keith Price threw for 143 yards and 2 TDs, but also threw two interceptions.
Telling Stat: Quick strikes; Oregon had the ball for 13 drives, only four of those went longer than 5 plays.
UCLA 29- Arizona State 28: UCLA QB Kevin Prince had another good day running the bRuins offense to lead his team to a big upset of the Sun Devils. Prince completed 11 of 17 passes for 196 yards and a TD, while backfield mate, RB Derrick Coleman carried the ball 17 times for 119 yards and 2 TDs. The bRuins ran up 416 yards of offense on ASU's vaunted defense. UCLA had the ASU defense back on its' heels all-night. That's what made this upset happen. As for the Sun Devils offense, QB Brock Osweiler completed 22 of 38 passes for 264 yards and 2 TDs. RB Cameron Marshall ran for 168 yards and a TD to help the ASU cause.
Telling Stat: 0 for 3; ASU PK Alex Garoutte missed three field goal attempts, the last coming on the final play of the game.
Observations
...And there are still two; Florida Atlantic and New Mexico are still the only winless teams in the FBS. This is a recording.
...No remtaches; Sorry, Alabama. You had your shot, you're out. Time for another undefeated to take a crack at #2.
...A rare feat; Now that they've joined the Big 10 this will happen a lot more often, but Northwestern gets to claim that they are the first Big Ten team to win at Nebraska since 1981. The Wildcats looked impressive in their 28-25 upset of the Cornhuskers.
...Back from the dead? We'll see if UCLA can keep their momentum going up at Utah this week.
...Lose to Kentucky, lose your job; Well, losing to Kentucky was the last straw for the administration at Ole Miss. HC Houston Nutt will resign, (be fired), at the end of the season. The loss was the Rebels' 12th straight in SEC play.
...Timing; Does anyone else but me find it a bit strange that the findings of the Penn State case broke just after Joe Paterno got win 409 to pass Eddie Robinson?
...Not for kicks; How could Alabama not have a good placekicker?
...Bronco hopes; Boise's last big hurdle to stay undefeated lies in front of them this week as they host TCU. This is a what could have been moment for the Mountain West Conference.
...Not a word; Nebraska(7-2) plays at Penn State (8-1) this week and I haven't heard word one about this game. Just sad.
...Giving snow quarter; TCU took a 31-20 lead over Wyoming early in the fourth quarter as a snowstorm hit the field in Laramie. The storm won the fourth quarter. Both teams went scoreless with two turnovers in the final 14:46.
...Could happen; Stanford could hold the ball for over 40 minutes, dominate the line of scrimmage and lose to Oregon, 45-42. It's amazing what speed can do.
...Bowl Eligibility; 44 teams are bowl eligible as of this week. There are 70 bowl slots this year and the WAC is the only conference without a bowl eligible team.
...Just a rumor; There is no truth to the rumor that the Pac 12 asked the Big 12 last week if they want to take Colorado back.
...Quietly making noise; It's funny how a guy can rush for almost 1,200 yards without many people knowing about it. SDSU RB Ronnie Hillman has rushed for 1198 yards so far and looks on pace to surpass his 2010 rushing total of 1,532 yards. He's a talented kid, and he's just a sophomore.
...A short word about Penn State; The situation at PSU is so beyond the pale that I, like others, am having trouble just understanding how something so bad could have happened. I just hope that the victims are not swept aside in this matter. Because they are the real story here. Their pain and how they were hurt is what matters, not what will happen to Joe Paterno.
Until next week folks, remember that special teams are important. Just ask Alabama.
-The Commissioner
