Results of October 14 clashes have narrowed Pac10 title contenders to a trio of teams:

USC (4-0), Cal (4-0) and Oregon (3-1). We don’t expect any of these  squads to lose this week, with Oregon @ Washington St. (Pete missed this one.  It was a 34 to 23 loss for the Ducks), Cal hosting Washington and 
USC having the week off.  Most  surprising outcome last week was OSU’s upset of a Washington team that had been the season’s surprise success. The Bevos not only upset the Huskies, but sidelined UW star QB Isaiha Stanback for the season. OSU’s league record should move to 2-2 with a trip to floundering Arizona  (It did, with an OSU 17-10 victory)..

Oregon has an opportunity on Nov. 11 to knock SC off the catbird’s seat, which the Trojans have barely held to date with close wins over WSU, UW and ASU (The legions of Troy have ‘gimmes’ with OSU and Stanford before hosting the Ducks). The Trojans follow the Duck match with another home outing vs. Cal, which very well could extend SC’s losing streak to a pair...while Oregon finishes against Portland State, Washington, Arizona and Oregon State in addition to the trip to Trojanville.

The Washington win took much wind out of the "fire Mike Riley" Beaver 
fans, but we believe SC, ASU and UCLA will all notch wins in upcoming 
matches with OSU and re-energize the OSU coach’s critics. 

Roses & Raspberries...the Ducks deserve a bouquet for their return to rushing glory vs. UCLA... Yours truly merits a raspberry for picking the Huskies to upend OSU...the Beavers must have taken donor Al Reser’s declaration of their play as "unacceptable" to heart...Petal power has been earned by OSU QB Moore for rising above his many detractors with a solid performance in Seattle...nothing but disrespect for Blazer factotum Steve Patterson, who has proven he will do anything to hold his seat, though he hasn’t reached the depths of former TB head Bob Whits

© 2006  Oregon Magazine