WSU QB Lobbestael suspended for MIP arrest

Washington State Cougars quarterback Marshall Lobbestael has been suspended from the football team following an arrest for minor in possession. The suspension is customary of the football team following an arrest.

Pullman police say they found Lobbestael passed out in a pickup truck parked at the police station. Apparently, the police had an encounter about an hour earlier with Lobbestael and an intoxicated female companion. At that time she was taken into custody for minor in possession. Lobbestael then enlisted a friend to drive to police station to wait for the female.

There are reports that Lobbestael was not actually passed out, but that he was simply sleeping in the truck while waiting for his female friend.

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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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 Rotten Apples Produce Exciting Finish in Apple Cup

The Pac-10’s two worst teams played to an exciting 16-13 double overtime finish in what many expected to be an ugly affair.

Washington coach Tyrone Willingham seemed to have positioned his team, and himself, for its first victory of a very disappointing, and thus far winless, season. With just over one minute remaining in the game, the Huskies punted the ball away—the game was now in the hands of their defense.

During Washington State’s final drive, QB Kevin Lopina marched his team down field 69 yards in seven plays leaving just enough time for the Cougars to send the game in to overtime on Nico Grasu’s 28-yard field goal.

Each team exchanged field goals sending the game to a second overtime. After Huskies kicker Ryan Perkins missed a 37 yard attempt, the game was once again in the hands—or on the foot, rather—of Grasu as he booted the game winning 37 yarder.

This is Washington State’s fourth Apple Cup victory in the last five years.

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 Pac-10 Football Weekly

Keeping you up to date with just about everything going on in Pac-10 Football, from the week that was to this week’s upcoming games.

2008 Pac-10 Conference Standings (as of November 12, 2008)

* – If season ended today
** – per CBS Sportsline

Players of the Week:

• Offense: Jacquizz Rodgers, TB, Oregon St. (3^rd time)
  31 carries for 144 yards, 2 TD’s in 34-6 win @ UCLA

• Defense: Taylor Mays, FS, USC
  5 tackles, 4 pass break ups in 17-3 win v. Cal

• Special Teams: Thomas Weber, PK/P, ASU
  3-3 FG’s, 4-4 PAT’s, 41.2 punt avg. in 39-19 win @ Washington

Notable Statistical Leaders (bold stats indicate conference leader):

RUSHING

Jacquizz Rodgers, Oregon St.
1,089 yards on 228 carries (4.8 avg), 121.0/game (10^th in nation), 10TD’s

How long can the young freshman continue to carry this load? Is there a wall in his future? His 228 carries are just nine fewer than Oregon’s Jeremiah Johnson and LeGarrette Blount, who have combined for 237 carries.

Nic Grigsby, Arizona
885 yards on 149 carries (5.9 avg), 98.3/game, 11 TD’s

Appeared to have lost his job when his backup, Keola Antolin, busted off 149 yards in 42-27 win v. Cal back in October. Had huge game, 189 yards on 27 carries in last week’s 59-28 win v. Washington State.

LeGarrette Blount, Oregon
741 yards on 104 carries (7.1 avg), 74.1/game, 14 TD’s

Leads the conference in scoring despite being Jeremiah Johnson’s backup and having fewer than 10 carries in each of the last 5 games. His 7.1 yards per carry is second only to USC’s Joe McKnight.

Oregon Offense
2,743 yards on 464 carries (5.9 avg), 274.3/game (5^th in Nation), 35 TD’s

The combination of Johnson, Blount and QB Jeremiah Masoli often seems only able to be stopped by themselves (or rain).

USC Defense
700 yards on 298 carries (2.3 avg), 77.8/game (3^rd in Nation), 5 TD’s

Still scratching my head trying to figure out how OSU’s Rodgers put up 186 big ones on this defense.

PASSING

Mark Sanchez, USC
2,122 yards on 162-250 (235.8/gm), with 24 TD’s, 7 INT for 162.2 rating (12^th in Nation)

Quietly putting together a solid season. Leading Pac-10 QB’s in just about every meaningful statistic. Could be conference Offensive Player of the Year and also a 2009 Heisman favorite.

Mike Thomas, Arizona
664 yards on 52 receptions, 73.8/game, 4 TD’s

The Senior WR leads the conference in most receiving stats, including a season’s best 175 yards @ Stanford back in October.

USC Defense
1,158 yards on 141-267, 128.7/gm (1^st in Nation)

You can’t run on them. You can’t pass on them. Special Teams? (#1 in Kickoff Coverage, too)

OTHER STATS

• Scoring Defense: USC leads the Nation with 6.7 pts/gm, Arizona is #24 with 19.1/gm
• Scoring Offense: Tulsa leads the Nation with 52 pts/gm, Arizona is #10 with 32.11/gm and Oregon is #12 with 38.3/gm
• Total Defense: USC leads the Nation with 206.44 yds/gm, Arizona is #13 with 285.44/gm
• Total Offense: Tulsa leads the Nation with 593 yds/gm, USC is #12 with 454.67/gm and Oregon is #13 with 454/gm
• Sacks: Oregon DE Nick Reed is attempting to lead the conference in sacks for the 2^nd year in a row. He led in 2007 with 12.0 and currently leads with 9.0 in 2008. The 2007 1^st Team Pac-10 Honoree could be the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year, having already been named to the 2008 Academic All-District Team

This Week’s Games:

California @ #23 Oregon State (12:30 ABC)

Mike Riley’s Beavers have been able to sneak up on a few unsuspecting foes over the years. Now we get to see how they do as favorites, at home, as a ranked team against a bowl-bound opponent.

Line: Oregon State -3

Harmon Forecast (CBS Sportsline): Oregon State 28 California 24

Paul’s Pick: Oregon State 34 California 27

Cal’s defense stood up pretty well in the rain against Oregon, and at times played well against the Trojans, but with the letdown after that USC loss and how awful they looked attempting to tackle Arizona’s pint-sized Antolin, I can’t see them stopping Rodgers and the Beavers.

Washington State @ Arizona State

Another chance for Dennis Erickson to coach against one of his former teams. This looks to be your crummy game of the week.

Line: Arizona State -36 ½ (yes, you read that right)

Harmon Forecast (CBS Sportsline): Arizona State 45 Washington State 12

Paul’s Pick: Arizona State 58 Washington State 17

The Cougs have given up 58 or more in 6 of their 7 Pac-10 games. No reason this should be any different. The Sun Devils are technically still playing for something – they’ll be bowl eligible with wins over WSU, UCLA and Arizona.

Arizona @ Oregon (3:30 FSNAZ/CSNNW)

A chance for the Ducks to redeem themselves and possible shake off some bad memories from the past three seasons: 2005, Kellen Clemens goes down for the season in Tuscon; 2006, Dennis Dixon is booed off the field at Autzen; 2007, Dixon’s Heisman, and the Ducks’ National Title hopes dashed when Dixon’s knee buckles on the Wildcats’ turf

Line: Oregon -3 ½

Harmon Forecast (CBS Sportsline): Oregon 38 Arizona 36

Paul’s Pick: Oregon 27 Arizona 24

In another Autzen thriller the Ducks, and their potent ground game, squeak out a win against the Wildcats. Arizona’s strength is their pass defense, however, they’re #6 in the Pac-10 against the run and will have their hands full against a vengeful minded Oregon team. The Ducks will need to put some serious pressure on QB Willie Tuitama and make some big plays in the secondary.

#6 USC @ Stanford (4:00 Versus)

Could it happen again? It’s highly unlikely but Jim Harbaugh has his Stanford Cardinal playing inspired football.

Line: USC -23

Harmon Forecast (CBS Sportsline): USC 32 Stanford 15

Paul’s Pick: USC 24 Stanford 6

As much as I would like to pick an upset here, the way USC’s defense has been dominating teams it’s just not going to happen.

UCLA @ Washington (7:15 FSN)

Not exactly sure why this one is even on TV. I know Seattle and LA are large markets (I guess that’s the reason) and Neuheisel is coming back to go against his old team, but honestly, will Husky fans even care if they snag the upset?

Line: UCLA -7 1/2

Harmon Forecast (CBS Sportsline): UCLA 26 Washington 20

Paul’s Pick: Washington 28 UCLA 27 (UPSET SPECIAL)

Call me crazy. There’s absolutely no reason to think the Huskies can do this. Other than the fact that UCLA is just not quite there yet and Husky QB Ronnie Fouch now has a few games under his belt. Stranger things have happened.

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 Around the ‘Net: Pac-10 News and Notes (Oct. 14)

42 points—That is the current spread for the USC-Washington State game. Seems a little low to me as I can only picture the Trojans using this game to gain more confidence and to “impress” pollsters with a high scoring affair. What—you think it doesn’t happen?

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This week (Oct. 19) we get to witness No. 5 Cal at No. 4 Stanford—in women’s volleyball. I’ve mentioned before how the Pac-10 is dominating much of the Top 25. This match not only pits the two top ranked Pac-10 teams, but both teams put their 11-match win streak on the line.

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It seems as though Oregon has finally be able to solve one of their QB issues—Chris Harper: They simply moved him to WR. Looks like he’ll remain at that position for the remainder of the season.

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Having the 114th ranked rushing offense won’t win you many game. Just ask UCLA.

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