Pac-10 Links: Oregon State getting no respect from Pitt, Stanford flying under hoops radar, more.

Update 12/31/2008: Stanford Stays Unbeaten With 69-55 Win Over Hartford.

I love smack talk! I mean true smack talk, and not those personal jabs we see so much online today. Pitt defensive tackle Rashaad Duncan is certainly lending to the smack talk realm. In Monday’s Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Duncan doesn’t sound impressed with Oregon State’s offensive line saying, “But the thing I see when I watched them is that I don’t think they have faced a defensive line like us. I mean, the last defensive line they played like us was Penn State and the results speak for themselves.”

Speaking of Oregon State and Pitt. While Sun Bowl officials are warning fans not to travel across the border in to Mexico, I’m thinking it would be better to warn fans about the Village People being the half-time entertainment.

By the way, Oregon State head coach, Mike Riley, received a well deserved contract extension through 2015.

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This just in! It turns out USC coach Pete Carroll knows what he’s doing. One writer (whom I enjoy reading) over at Bleacher Report criticized Pete Carroll for not handing over the offense to John Morton once Washington hired Steve Sarkisian (to be fair, several others in the media thought the same thing). But as Paul Peszko writes, Sarkisian hasn’t lost focus on the task at hand at all.

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The unranked Stanford men’s basketball team could head into Pac-10 play 10-0 with a win this evening against against Hartford. If so, Stanford can really make a case for themselves when they do open their Pac-10 play ad face No. 17 Arizona St. this Friday.

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Stanford volleyball loses to Penn St., is nation champion runner-up.

The Stanford women’s volleyball team lost to Penn St. last night in the D1 women’s volleyball championship game.

They played a Penn St. team who lost only 2 sets all season (and those came last Thursday during the tournament), so the Cardinal should hold their heads high regardless.

The only program with more NCAA national championships than Penn State is Stanford, which the Nittany Lions defeated for the national title for the second straight year. Despite another terrific season, the six-time national champion Cardinal became the first team in Division I history to finish as the national runner-up in three consecutive NCAA Championships. Stanford, which fell to Penn State in a five-set thriller in 2007, finished the 2008 season with a 31-4 record.

Stanford did have a terrific year and I look forward to following their success, as well as several of the Pac-10 teams, next year as well.

Stanford was led by Klineman, who finished with 15 kills. Barboza ended her career with a double-double, as she tallied 11 kills and 15 digs. The Cardinal hit just .142 in the match, but finished with 11 blocks.

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Pac-10 Links: Beavers get help at RB, Stanford women in volleyball championship, more

Former Sacramento and New Mexico State head coach Reggie Theus recently told the Arizona Republic that he would be interested in being the head coach at Arizona.

That’s not to say there is actually going to be a vacancy at Arizona. Current interim coach Russ Pennell has the Wildcats sitting at 7-3—including a win over then #4 Gonzaga last Sunday.

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Yesterday the Oregon State Beavers received some good news from head coach Mike Riley; running back Jeremy Francis will, in fact, join the team for the Sun Bowl. This adds a little more depth to the Beavers depleted running back corp. If you recall, Francis had taken an indefinite leave of absence from the team in order to tend to his ailing mother.

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The Cal Bears are facing the Miami Hurricanes in the Emerald Bowl, but they will not be facing Miami’s starting quarter back. Starting QB Robert Marve will not be playing because of a violation of team academic rules. It seems as though Marve missed more than four classes.

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Stanford women’s volleyball team held off Texas and will face Penn St. this evening in the championship game! Penn St. remains unbeaten while Stanford is 31-3.

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Catching Up Around the Pac-10

I had to have emergency surgery to remove my gall bladder, so there’s a lot of catching up to do. Let’s get to it.

As you all know by now, the Oregon Ducks have defeated the Oregon State Beavers in the 112th edition of the Civil War. This game I watched from my hospital bed. 

There was plenty of offense on both sides of the ball, and the Beavers defense thoroughly looked confused by Oregon spread attack.

The loss all but ends the Rose Bowl dreams for the Beavers.

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So do Pete Carroll and his coaches care about the BCS or not?

 

It seems some of them are a bit touchy about which conference is and isn’t hyped enough.

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The Washington Husky football program has the opportunity to make history today-the first team in Pac-10 history to go 0-12.

 

If they don’t beat Cal today, they will also be the first Pac-10 team to go winless since the 1980 Oregon State Beavers.

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The NCAA D1 women’s volleyball tournament started yesterday!

 

The Pac-10 has six teams playing (Cal, Oregon, Stanford, UCLA, USC, Washington), all of whom won their opening game yesterday.

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Pac-10 Bowl Breakdown

The following is an updated breakdown for the Pac-10 bowl season: the games yet to be played and all of the possible outcomes. We’ll start with each of the potential bowls and then go team-by-team for each scenario…

ROSE BOWL (Pasadena, CA)

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Pac-10 Champion vs. Big 10 Champion, unless either champion is ranked No. 1 or No. 2 in the final BCS rankings. This seems highly unlikely this year, as USC sits at No. 6 with just two to play. Penn State will be the opponent from the Big 10.

HOLIDAY BOWL (San Diego, CA)
Tuesday, December 30, 2008

The No. 2 or No. 3 Pac-10 team against the No. 3 or No. 4 Big 12 team, depending on if either conference has a second BCS Bowl representative. More than likely the Big 12 would. The Pac-10 would need OSU to get to the Rose Bowl and for USC to be chosen as an at-large. The Holiday Bowl, as do the other bowls with Pac-10 affiliation, has the right to select between whichever teams are tied. Either Missouri or Oklahoma St. would fall here as possible opponents, provided Texas, Texas Tech and Oklahoma make the two BCS Bowls and the Cotton Bowl.

SUN BOWL (El Paso, TX)
Wednesday, December 31, 2008

The No. 3 or No. 4 Pac-10 team against a Big 12, Big East or Notre Dame team. Like the Holiday Bowl they would have the right to select between whichever teams are tied for the No. 3 or No. 4 spot. The opponent was South Florida from the Big East last year, so, possibly Nebraska from the Big 12 or Notre Dame, if the Gator Bowl does not select them.

LAS VEGAS BOWL (Las Vegas, NV)
Saturday, December 20, 2008

The No. 4 Pac-10 team (they rotate fourth and fifth with the Emerald Bowl) against the Mountain West Champion. Unless one of them makes a BCS Bowl, the opponent appears to be Utah, BYU or TCU.

EMERALD BOWL (San Francisco, CA)
Saturday, December 27, 2008

The No. 5 Pac-10 team (they rotate fourth and fifth with the Las Vegas Bowl) against the No. 5, 6 or 7 team from the ACC. Take your pick of opponents. The ACC is staring at about a 10-way tie. It could be Georgia Tech, Clemson or Wake Forest. Or perhaps even Miami, Florida State or Boston College.

HAWAII BOWL (Honolulu, HA)
Wednesday, December 24, 2008

The No. 6 Pac-10 team against Hawaii (if eligible) or other WAC team.  If Hawaii beats Idaho and Washington State they’re in.  Otherwise Nevada, San Jose St, maybe Fresno State.

POINSETTIA BOWL (San Diego, CA)
Tuesday, December 23, 2008

The No. 7 Pac-10 team would play here, however, there will not be a seventh team that is bowl eligible for 2008.

Possible Pac-10 Bowl Participants and Scenarios

USC Trojans (7-1, 9-1)
Remaining games against Notre Dame and at UCLA.

• USC BCS BOWL SCENARIOS

1. USC and Oregon State finish in a tie at 8-1. The tie-breaker would go to Oregon State, by virtue of their 27-21 victory over the Trojans back in September. USC would then have to be selected as an at-large BCS school, which seems probable.

• USC ROSE BOWL SCENARIOS

1. USC and Oregon finish in a tie at 7-2. The tie-breaker would go to USC, by virtue of their 44-10 victory over the Ducks back in October.
2. Oregon defeats Oregon State, USC finishes alone in first.

• USC HOLIDAY BOWL SCENARIOS

1. Oregon State to Rose Bowl, USC not selected for other BCS Bowl.

Oregon State Beavers (6-1, 7-3)
Remaining game against Oregon.

• OSU ROSE BOWL SCENARIOS

1. USC and Oregon State finish in a tie, either 8-1 or 7-2 in Pac-10. The tie-breaker would go to Oregon State, by virtue of their 27-21 victory over the Trojans back in September.

• OSU HOLIDAY BOWL SCENARIO

1. OSU loses to Oregon, leaving them tied at 7-2, and is selected over the Ducks.  This seems unlikely.

• OSU SUN BOWL SCENARIO

1. USC to Rose Bowl, Oregon to Holiday Bowl. Oregon State would be alone in 3rd.

Oregon Ducks (6-2, 8-3)
Remaining game at Oregon State.

• UO HOLIDAY BOWL SCENARIOS

1. Oregon State to Rose Bowl, USC to other BCS Bowl, Cal loses to UW. Oregon (6-3) would be alone in second and go.
2. USC to Rose Bowl, OSU beats Arizona, loses to Oregon. Oregon (7-2) would be alone in second and go.
3. Oregon State to Rose Bowl, USC to other BCS Bowl, Cal wins out. The Holiday Bowl would choose between Oregon (6-3) and California (6-3). Cal was there in 2006 and Oregon in 2005, which may give it to the Ducks.

• UO SUN BOWL SCENARIO

1. Oregon State to Rose Bowl, USC to other BCS Bowl, Cal chosen over Oregon for Holiday Bowl. Oregon would be slotted for the Sun Bowl, however, played there in 2007. Arizona could sneak in here.

• UO LAS VEGAS BOWL SCENARIOS

1. Oregon State to Rose Bowl, USC to other BCS Bowl, Cal to Holiday Bowl, Arizona to Sun Bowl. Oregon would fall here.
2. USC to Rose Bowl, Oregon State to Holiday Bowl, Cal to Sun Bowl. Either Oregon or Arizona.

• UO EMERALD BOWL SCENARIO

1. The Emerald Bowl simply gets whatever Pac-10 bowl eligible team is left.  From the looks of it, that will more than likely be Arizona or California.  It could be Oregon if they’re not selected to return to the Sun Bowl.  And it could potentially be ASU if they win out.

California Golden Bears (4-3, 6-4)
Remaining game against Washington.

• CAL HOLIDAY BOWL SCENARIOS

1. Oregon State to Rose Bowl, USC to other BCS Bowl, Cal beats UW. The Holiday Bowl would choose between Oregon (6-3) and California (6-3). Cal was there in 2006 and Oregon in 2005, which may give it to the Ducks.

• CAL SUN BOWL SCENARIOS

1. Oregon State to Rose Bowl, USC to other BCS Bowl, Oregon chosen over Cal for Holiday Bowl. Cal would get Sun Bowl.
2. USC to Rose Bowl, Oregon State to Holiday Bowl. Sun could have to choose between Oregon and Cal.

• CAL LAS VEGAS BOWL SCENARIO

1. USC to Rose Bowl, Oregon to Holiday Bowl, Oregon State to Sun Bowl.

• CAL EMERALD BOWL SCENARIO

1. The Emerald Bowl simply gets whatever Pac-10 bowl eligible team is left. From the looks of it, that will more than likely be Arizona or California. It could be Oregon if they’re not selected to return to the Sun Bowl. And it could potentially be ASU if they win out.

Arizona Wildcats (4-3, 6-4)
Remaining game against Arizona State.

• UA SUN BOWL SCENARIOS

1. Oregon State to Rose Bowl, USC to other BCS Bowl, Cal chosen over Oregon for Holiday Bowl.  Oregon would be slotted for the Sun Bowl, however, played there in 2007.  Arizona could sneak in here.
2. USC to Rose Bowl, Oregon State to Holiday Bowl. Sun could have to choose between Oregon, Cal and Arizona.

• UA LAS VEGAS BOWL SCENARIOS

1. Oregon State to Rose Bowl, USC to other BCS Bowl, Oregon to Holiday Bowl, Cal to Sun Bowl. More than likely Arizona would slide here.
2. USC to Rose Bowl, Oregon State to Holiday Bowl, Cal to Sun Bowl. Either Oregon or Arizona.
3. USC to Rose Bowl, Oregon to Holiday Bowl, Oregon State to Sun Bowl. Either California or potentially Arizona/Arizona State winner.

• UA EMERALD BOWL SCENARIO

1. The Emerald Bowl simply gets whatever Pac-10 bowl eligible team is left. From the looks of it, that will more than likely be Arizona or California. It could be Oregon if they’re not selected to return to the Sun Bowl.

• UA HAWAII BOWL SCENARIO

1. The Hawaii Bowl would get the sixth eligible team from the Pac-10, which could be Arizona if they lose out, or ASU or UCLA, if they win out. 

Arizona State Sun Devils (3-4, 4-6)
Remaining games against UCLA and at Arizona.

• ASU LAS VEGAS BOWL SCENARIO

1. USC to Rose Bowl, Oregon to Holiday Bowl, Oregon State to Sun Bowl. Either California or potentially Arizona/Arizona State winner.

• ASU EMERALD BOWL SCENARIO

1. The Emerald Bowl simply gets whatever Pac-10 bowl eligible team is left. From the looks of it, that will more than likely be Arizona or California. It could be Oregon if they’re not selected to return to the Sun Bowl. And it could potentially be ASU if they win out.

• ASU HAWAII BOWL SCENARIO

1. The Hawaii Bowl would get the sixth eligible team from the Pac-10, which could be Arizona if they lose out, or ASU or UCLA, if they win out. 

UCLA Bruins (3-4, 4-6)
Remaining games at Arizona State and against USC.

• UCLA HAWAII BOWL SCENARIO

1. The Hawaii Bowl would get the sixth eligible team from the Pac-10, which could be Arizona if they lose out, or ASU or UCLA, if they win out.

PDaddy’s Picks, as of November 23, 2008:

Bowl	Pac-10 Team	Opponent
Rose	USC	Penn State
Holiday	Oregon	Missouri
Sun	Oregon State	Nebraska
Las Vegas	Arizona	BYU
Emerald	California	Wake Forest
Hawaii	Non Pac-10	Hawaii

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