Roundup: UW, UCLA look to join Pac-12 elite
How ‘bout some Friday night lights to kick off your weekend? Should be a good one in the Rose Bowl tonight as UCLA welcomes Washington for a 6 p.m. PT start on ESPN2, and Chris Foster of the Los Angeles Times writes that UCLA and Washington are looking to be among the Pac-12 elite. Also, here is how the Bruins and Huskies match up, courtesy of the same journalist.
It’s always good to get the Gregg Bell perspective in times like these, and he writes that the Huskies arrived at the Rose Bowl seeking that next step.
It’s always interesting when USC and Stanford get together for 60 minutes, like they will at 5 p.m. tomorrow night on ABC, and George Uko and the USC defensive line are ready for the Stanford challenge. This one shall be won in the trenches. In other news, Silas Redd has been ruled out for the Stanford game with a knee injury.
Last week’s win against Oregon was nice and all, but Stanford is on upset alert this week against USC, even without Silas Redd in the Trojan lineup. Sounds like the Farm Boys have the right mindset, though, because Stanford is focused on USC; not the BCS.
Our nightcap takes us to Tempe, where the Sun Devils will entertain the Beavs (6:30 p.m. PT/7:30 p.m. MT, Pac-12 Networks). Especially after last week’s comeback victory over Utah, ASU has showed some grit as it eyes the South crown. Ya know that ESPN’s win probability model gave the Forks a 7 percent chance of winning last weekend, when they were down 19-7 in the fourth? Statistics shmatistics.
Pretty cool feature for the boys on the other side of the ball, as Lindsay Schnell details how Jabral Johnson and Ty Zimmerman are making the Beavers and Lawton, Okla., proud. Both played for Lawton High School in Oklahoma, and both have at least 65 tackles for the Beavs in their junior campaigns.
Nothing like a quality road win in nonconference play in hoops, and that’s what the 'Cats got last night when Nick Johnson and Aaron Gordon fueled a big Arizona road win at San Diego State, beating the Aztecs 69-60. But alas, there is a football game in Tucson this weekend (11 a.m. PT/noon MT, Pac-12 Networks), and here is the Arizona injury report for the Washington State game.
Lining up against the Wildcats will be Washington State safety Deone Bucannon, who is at the core of the WSU defense. He had 16 tackles against Arizona as a freshman, the most ever by a Cougar frosh. Cougs need to go 2-1 in their final 3 to get Bucannon to his first bowl game.
A couple of winless teams in conference have a chance to get their first Pac-12 victory when Cal heads to Boulder to take on Colorado (2:30 p.m. PT/3:30 p.m. MT, Pac-12 Networks). As Kyle Bonagura puts it for ESPN, the Buffs and Bears are looking for that elusive Pac-12 win. Here’s a preview of the Colorado defense for Cal fans, thanks to California Golden Blogs.
Colorado’s kicker has missed four field goals the last two weeks after a stellar start to the season, and now Will Oliver wants to get back on track.
The Quacks will look to rebound tomorrow afternoon against Utah (1 p.m. PT, Fox Sports 1), and Oregon’s receivers see the model of precision they seek to emulate in coach Matt Lubick, especially with Super Mariota not at 100 percent. Not sure I could eat nine egg whites and oatmeal for breakfast every day like the Ducks’ receivers coach, but more power to him. Also, let’s take a look at photos of Oregon vs. Utah throughout the years.
Well, both of these teams lost last time out, so you can surely understand why the Utes and Ducks are both ticked off going into Saturday’s game, can’t you? In other Ute news, the Utah women’s soccer team is ready to take on Texas A&M in the first round of the NCAA tournament. First time back in the NCAA postseason since 2006 for the Fighting Rich Mannings.