Florida will easily win its next game against Florida Atlantic (FCS) and will get a win over Florida State (8-2). It was not inconceivable to consider the conference’s two most high-profile programs would play crucial games of their respective usual seasons within a matter of three weeks. Kessler is among the most accurate quarterbacks in the country by completing 70 percent of his passes in five games.
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One player in particular caught Adams’ eyes when he went to those games: Reggie Bush.
“As coaches, most of us thought we’d cannibalize ourselves and maybe cost ourselves a playoff spot”, said Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez, who believes that is exactly what has happened.
“I think we’re the best team in the conference”, Adams says.
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Oregon’s last 5 games when playing Southern Cal. Stanford has taken 39 out of 41 sets against Utah since its addition to the Pac-12 Conference in 2011. Despite the Ducks’ slow start to the season, they lead the Pac-12 in total offense, with 532.6 yards per game, and they showcased their big-play ability on Saturday as they tore through Stanford’s defense. Even so, Stanford coach David Shaw thinks it’s more of a blow to the fans and media than it is to the teams themselves. The ACC pretty much has to have a team go undefeated given the lack of respect it gets nationally. “It kinda goes though my head [now], it’s like, ‘Bush, Bush, do something.’ He’s one of my favorite players to this day, so I like watching”. There are a lot of things Stanford did wrong that one could dwell on (settling for field goals, fumbled snaps, the two-point conversion), but perhaps the most shocking thing about the game was how Vernon Adams and the OR offense had so many big plays against the Stanford defense. But the latest College Football Playoff rankings released Tuesday may give the Pac-12 a glimmer of hope.
Stanford is still in control of the North despite its loss to OR last week.
Ken from Berkeley writes: If you look at the types of student-athletes Sonny Dykes’ coaching is attracting to Cal, isn’t Cal on a pathway towards having probably the best graduation rate at Cal in decades, if not ever? OR beat Stanford 38-36 last week. Clay Helton, offensive coordinator/QB coach, took over on an interim basis, and he has the Trojans playing decently, a la Ed Orgeron from a few years ago before the start of the Sarkisian era.
“I hope we’re walking with confidence but also knowing what got us there which is great preparation and playing our tails off”, said Helfrich, whose Ducks host USC this week.
A win for USC would mean only a win over UCLA separates them from a Pac-12 South title.
The Trojans enter play with a 7-3 record and are 5-5 at the betting window this season, while the Ducks are also 7-3 straight up but are 6-4 against the spread. Elite passers such as Cody Kessler of USC and Luke Falk of Wazzu carved up the secondary earlier this year, but Stanford was able to get away with wins, due at least in part to the fact that neither team possessed a particularly strong rushing attack (USC ranks ninth in the Pac-12 in rushing offense, while Washington St. ranks last).
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: The Pac-12 has eight teams bowl eligible and could add another if Arizona State beats Arizona this weekend. Finally, Utah would need to win the Pac-12 championship game.
It had been a while since Goff had this kind of game, but he reminded those watching just how quickly he can have an impact through the air with over 450 yards and six touchdowns thrown in the win. 3 Utah on October 24.
ASU leads the series in games played in Tempe 20-18-1. Nonetheless, UCLA can still finish atop the Pac-12 South by winning out.
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Senior quarterback Jordan Wynn, who was the planned starter for the campaign, was carted off during the second game of the season against Utah State to a career-ending injury. Five different Pac-12 teams have been ranked in the AP Top 10 this season. He did offer another solution, however. The Utes, however, need help.
