On the Season
Straight Up: 20-4
Against the Spread: 9-13

Posted spreads are from sportsbook.com at time of publishing.

Washington St. @ Colorado (Sat., Fox College Sports, 12:30 p.m.)
Hmm, perhaps there’s an anti-champion playoff in progress and no one told us. UCLA advanced over Oregon State last week to play the winner of this game. Or do I have that backwards? Oregon State actually advanced to play this week’s loser. Yeah, that sounds right. Arizona must have a bye to the final round.

Straight Up: Washington State
ATS: Washington State +3

Arizona @ USC (Sat., FSN, 12:30 p.m.)
In eight straight losses to FBS teams, Arizona has been beaten by at least 19 in six of them. Granted, those six games are all against Oregon, Stanford and Oklahoma State, but there’s not even a little bit of fight in there? Something is seriously wrong in Tuscon. So naturally, I’m picking Arizona.

Straight Up: Arizona
ATS: Arizona +12

Washington @ Utah (Sat., FSN, 4:00 p.m.)
When this is the best the Pac-12 schedule has to offer on a weekend featuring 5 games, it’s a down year. It just is. I can’t even argue the merits of the conference this year. There’s nothing to hang the hat on. Go Utes.

Straight Up: Utah
ATS: Washington +9.5

 Oregon State  @ Arizona State (Sat., Fox College Sports, 7:30 p.m.)
I’m recommending some new fall Saturday activities for Beaver fans.

• Just tailgate, bro. To hell with what happens after that. If you have to black out and wake up in a field in Sweet Home, so be it.
• Invite your friends over to watch games, but instead of viewing live action, cue up a game from a year Oregon State beat the current opponent. Celebrate like hell deep into the night, but don’t ask why no one questioned Ken Simonton’s eligibility in 2011.
• Intensely study the habits of bears. Learn their ways until you are confident in your ability to hibernate until August 2012.
• Become a Duck fan (that one’s for the sister-in-law, she’s ripe for the picking).

Straight Up: Arizona State
ATS: Arizona State -18.5

UCLA @ Stanford (Sat., FSN, 7:30 p.m.)
I’d take Stanford at -40 in this game.

Straight Up: Stanford
ATS: Stanford -21.5

On the Season
Straight Up: 16-3
Against the Spread: 6-11

Posted spreads are from sportsbook.com at time of publishing.

UCLA @ Oregon State (Sat., Prime Ticket, 12:30 p.m.)
An early candidate for Pac-12 game of the year, no doubt. Of  course, this is the one where the Beavers win and then immediately rip off a long winning streak and put themselves in the title hunt before losing to Oregon. Or maybe they just lose to UCLA. I don’t know.

Straight Up: Oregon State
ATS: Oregon State -5

California @ Washington (Sat., FSN, 12:30 p.m.)
Normally, the official policy of the blog is to not believe in anything Washington does. However, another strict policy is also at play here, one where if you see Cal playing a road game, you just tighten up into the fetal position and wait for impact. Soooo, the Husk-, Hus- oh God I’m gonna throw up.

Straight Up: Washington
ATS: Washington Pick ‘em

Colorado @ Ohio State (Sat., ABC/ESPN2, 12:30 p.m.)
I still don’t know anything about Colorado, but they do seem to generally play football poorly. Of course, Ohio State is countering with an equally ugly brand of their own.I guess Ohio State wins, but it would not be a surprise to see the upset.

Straight Up: Ohio State
ATS: Colorado +16.5

#10 Oregon  @ Arizona (Sat., ESPN2, 7:15 p.m.)
Who hates playing at Arizona? This guy. And so do you. Well, none of us actually play there. But we do watch and drink as well as anyone and I just know the stomach churns a little harder during games in Tuscon. I think the goals when playing at Wildcat Stadium are these in order:

1. Avoid leg injuries to quarterbacks
2. Avoid head injuries from flying bottles
3. Avoid drunken fans on the field before the game is actually over
4. Win

Straight Up: Oregon
ATS: Oregon -15.5 (not a chance I’d lay money on this)

#23 USC @ Arizona State (Sat., ESPN, 7:15 p.m.)
I’ve believed in ASU since the end of last season and I’m not gonna give up just because of one incompetently played game at Illinois. I should, but I won’t.

Straight Up: Arizona State
ATS: Arizona State -2.5

On the Season
Straight Up: 9-0
Against the Spread: 3-6

Posted spreads are from sportsbook.com at time of publishing.

Colorado St. @ Colorado (Sat., FSN, 10:30 a.m.)
I’ll just go with some Pac-12 pride here and pick Colorado across the board. Buffs, we need to learn more about each other. It’s like I hardly know you.

Straight Up: Colorado
ATS: Colorado -7.5

Texas @ UCLA (Sat., ABC, 12:30 p.m.)
Just looking at this game makes me chuckle. No really, it did. I read the header, Texas @ UCLA, and slightly guffawed. This should be must-see TV and instead, it’s…yikes. Next game, please.

Straight Up: UCLA
ATS: UCLA +3.5

Washington @ Nebraska (Sat., ABC, 12:30 p.m.)
Washington, if you think Nebraska as a 17 point favorite after you beat them in the Holiday Bowl is unjust, I suggest you read up on the Nevada Wolfpack. 2011 ain’t 2010. Good luck.

Straight Up: Nebraska
ATS: Nebraska -17

Missouri State @ #12 Oregon (Sat., OSN, 12:30 p.m.)
Uh, see ya next week, Ducks. I’ll pass on this one.

Straight Up: Oregon
ATS: Oregon (if there was a spread, I’d bet Oregon up to about -70. Of course, I’m the guy that took the Ducks at -50 or so last year against PSU. It was a winning ticket, thank you very much. Ok, yeah, degenerate, I am him).

Presbyterian @ California (Sat., 2:30 p.m.)
Ya know, if Cal was playing this on the road, I’d probably just pick the Blue Hose and I’m not sure I’d be wrong.

Straight Up: California
ATS: California (see Ducks above)

Washington State @ San Diego State (Sat., MTN, 3:30 p.m.)
Ah, what the hell, I’ll jump on your stupid bandwagon, Cougs, and I will most certainly regret it.

Straight Up: Washington State
ATS: Washington State +5.5

Arizona State @ Illinois (Sat., Big Ten Network, 4:00 p.m.)
This is a weird point spread. Even considering it’s Arizona State and a road game, the Sun Devils can’t really be underdogs, can they?

Straight Up: Arizona State
ATS: Arizona State +2

Syracuse @ USC (Sat., FX, 5:00 p.m.)
Vegas always gets a ton of money coming in on USC and other LA-based teams what with the close proximity of the two cities. It’s nice to the know that the Pac-12 is now guaranteeing the Trojans to cover. Duly noted.

Straight Up: USC
ATS: USC -16.5

Utah @ BYU (Sat., ESPN2, 6:15 p.m.)
With Utah getting accepted to the Pac-12 and BYU being left behind, I’m guess the Holy War might end up more like an apocalypse. An apocalypse brought on by angry rivals all hopped up on Root Beer and licorice.

Straight Up: Utah
ATS: Utah +4

#6 Stanford @ Arizona (Sat., ESPN, 7:45 p.m.)
10:45 pm start on the east coast? Check
Potential for 100 points and 1,000 yards passing? Check
Broadcast on low definition Fox Sports Net with Steve Physioc on the play-by-play? Dang, we were so close to a perfect throwback, late 1990s Pac-10 game.

Straight Up: Stanford
ATS: Arizona +9

On the Season
Straight Up: 9-3 (“Wait, Nick, if you didn’t know the season started, how are you 9-3?” I don’t know, one of life’s mysteries, I suppose.)
Against the Spread: N/A for now

Posted spreads are from sportsbook.com at time of publishing.

Arizona @ #9 Oklahoma State (Thu., ESPN, 5:30 p.m.)
I swear, I didn’t see the game and I don’t know the outcome, but I do know this: Arizona’s defense is AWESOME and the Wildcats are totally not going to start the season 1-4 after playing this game followed by Stanford, Oregon and USC.

Pressed for a score, I’d say Arizona won 37-14. Yeah, nailed it.

Straight Up: Arizona
ATS: Arizona

#21 Missouri @ Arizona State (Fri., ESPN, 7:30 p.m.)
Hmm, highly biased, uninformed preseason polls based largely on what happened last year say Missouri is the better team. On the other hand, oddsmakers say the Sun Devils are 8.5 point favorites. Who to trust, who to trust?

Straight Up: Arizona State
ATS: Arizona State -8.5

Nevada @ #13 Oregon (Sat., FX, 12:30 p.m.)
Oddly enough, in the last week, Oregon went from national title contending badass team to weak, overpowered, also-rans. It’s a fickle crowd, these national pundits.

Straight Up: Oregon
ATS: Oregon -26.5

Oregon St. @ 8 Wisconsin (Sat., ESPN, 9:00 a.m.)
One of the Beaver fans in my office this week has been all too happy to tell me about Oregon’s shortcomings as an elite program. He might say, “Wow, Oregon just isn’t good enough to beat the SEC. They aren’t elite.”

Fortunately, I have this cool translation machine and I only hear the actual meaning of spoken words. What he really said was, “Holy shit, we lost to Sacramento State and now we have to play at Wisconsin and what is that that’s pee dribbling down my leg oh god oh god it burns!”

Straight Up: Wisconsin
ATS: Wisconsin -20

California @ Colorado (Sat., 12:30 p.m.)
This conference game that’s not really a conference game is one of many reasons I am starting to really hate realignment. And while I’m on the subject, will someone give me my Twitter feed back? All I get to read about is the latest rumor and speculation on who’s joining what conference next. Please, I beg you, stop. Stop it, stop it, stop it.

Straight Up: California
ATS: California -6.5

#6 Stanford @ Duke (Sat., ESPNU, 12:30 p.m.)
On a side note, I also got Stanford at -1.5 in the halftime Science Bowl. So there’s the predictable “haha, lookie lookie, two smart schools are playing a football game” joke.

Straight Up: Stanford
ATS: Stanford -20.5

Hawaii @ Washington (Sat., 12:30 p.m.)
Here’s the scene last Saturday. Me, your beloved, but MIA blogger, sitting in a Chelan, WA bar already knowing the Beavers have lost now noticing the Huskies about to implode in their own FCS-induced nightmare and I’m just smiling without a care — oh that thing on the TV over there? That’s just this thing they’re doing in Dallas, don’t worry about it. I said, DON’T WORRY ABOUT IT!

Straight Up: Washington
ATS: Hawaii +6

UNLV @  Washington State (Sat., 5:00 p.m.)
Nooooo..no, no, no, no, no. I – and I’d like to think the rest of the free world is with me on this – am not ready for Washington State to be a 14 1/2 point favorite with a backup quarterback in any game even if the opponent would go 0-2 in its own spring game.

Straight Up: Washington State
ATS: UNLV +14.5

Utah @ USC (Sat., Versus, 4:30 p.m.)
Ok, so this is a conference game, right? Because that Colorado-Cal thing above, you know, that’s a non-conference game between conference opponents and this has two conference opponents but one of the  teams used to be in a different conference so I just want to make sure that nobody’s confused here before we play this game because God-forbid we count the wins and losses toward the conference race if it’s really just an exhibition. Know what I mean?

Straight Up: USC
ATS: Utah +8.5

San Jose St. @ UCLA (Sat., 7:00 p.m.)
ME AND RICK NEUHEISEL CANNOT BE THE ONLY ONES WHO CARE ABOUT THIS GAME! Hold up, I don’t actually care about this game. Yeah, coach, I guess it is just you. Fortunately, no level of powdered blue apathy can possibly lead to losing to San Jose State. Right?

Straight Up: UCLA
ATS: UCLA -21

In any event, this is the only post I’m going to do. No Click Tales, no SearchBag. It’s just the life of a lazy blogger. I did my best to mail this puppy in just so not to be give the appearance of too much effort.

On the Season
Straight Up: 53-13
Against the Spread: 32-28

Posted spreads are from sportsbook.com at time of publishing.

UCLA @ Arizona State (Fri., FSN, 12:30 p.m.)
Anyone interested? Hello? These guys are going to play a game today whether you like it or not and they will fight to the death to keep alive hopes of a .500 season.

Cox Cable in San Diego may not be showing the game, but at least it’s choosing NHL hockey this time around. Last week, it was Inside Israeli Basketball instead of the Big Game. This has to be Tom Hansen’s fault.

Straight Up: Arizona State
ATS: Arizona State -12.5

Something tells me this one isn’t close, but if it is, Ninkasi’s Total Domination is always waiting in reserve.

Straight Up: Oregon
ATS: Oregon -19.5

Straight Up: California
ATS: California -7

It should involve pretty smiles through gritted teeth while we “root” each other on.

As a peace offering, he gets the pick against the spread here. Like hell I’m giving up the straight up pick, though. I mean, let’s be real. Hi BOTB!

Straight Up: Stanford
ATS: Oregon State +13.5

Straight Up: USC
ATS: USC -4.5

I am aware this is a day later than usual, but when it comes to the health of every team, I take no shortcuts.

1. Oregon Ducks.
Symptoms: Tries too hard to be perfect. Freaks out when it gets a B+. Possible burnout victim.

Diagnosis: Bcsiasis

Prescription: Two teaspoons of Juswinamovon. Recommended dosage is one teaspoon on Nov. 26, one more on Dec. 4.

2. Stanford Cardinal.
Symptoms: Shows excessive levels of rage. Often bullies others beyond the point of acceptance. Needs a parental figure to tell them no, but few are willing or able.

Diagnosis: Harbaughcos

Prescription: Best to let this one play out naturally. Time should heal the issue, letting the Harbaughcos find an NFL host to infect.

3. Oregon State Beavers.
Symptoms: Lets the company it keeps affect its behavior. Patient knows better, but refuses wins when it should absolutely take them.

Diagnosis: Rejective Winning Syndrome

Prescription: Apply Badlosses Begone cream directly to record. If the medication doesn’t take, wait one year and try again.

4. USC Trojans.
Symptoms: Suffered third degree burns over the summer. Healing has been slow, showing signs of extreme paranoia.

Diagnosis: Ncaaphobia

Prescription: Unfortunately, they’ll need to stay on their regular medication of Probationetin for another two years.

5. Arizona Wildcats.
Symptoms: Easily influenced by simple setbacks which tends to cause a snowball effect creating larger problems that ultimately result in no Rose Bowl. Coaching is generally good, but perhaps comes with a ceiling.

Diagnosis: Stoopsinson Disease

Prescription: Needs to seriously consider going on experimental drug called Noletupen. To be safe, should be taken prior to every game and especially after losses.

6. Cal Bears.
Symptoms: Not getting enough exercise, prone to cramping. Easily contracts illness outside of Berkeley. When things not going well, shows tendency to shut down.

Diagnosis: Fakeria

Prescription: Hydration levels are satisfactory. To avoid cramping, ignore coaches. To stave off illness, take two pills of Focusin whenever on the road.

7. Arizona State Sun Devils.
Symptoms: Doesn’t perform the simple tasks. Has been seen missing extra points which leads to excessive losing. Showing early signs of coach doubting.

Diagnosis: Kickerthelioma

Prescription: One injection of Extra Pointicide. Also, begin taking precautionary dosage of Bellotioxi for future health.

8. Washington Huskies.
Symptoms: Losing teeth leading to alarming lack of bite. Most Sark-led attacks inflict great damage to victims. It is concerning that most prey are able to fight back and overwhelm their attacker.

Diagnosis: non-Heisman Lockerphoma

Prescription: Need more “we’re back” in the bloodstream, take a capsule of Triagin Nexyear.

9. UCLA Bruins.
Symptoms: Diet severely lacking in daily recommended consumption of passing yardage. Emits an offensive odor which can also be written as “offense stinks.”

Diagnosis: Lackaquarterbackisis, oncoming case of badcoachical

Prescription: Add a daily vitamin called Recruitmobettuh

10. Washington State Cougars.
Symptoms: Normal behavior shows dejection, lack of ability. Lately, overcome with strong sense of confidence.

Diagnosis: Looks like they stopped taking their meds.

Prescription: Behavior is what we want to see. We recommend ceasing dependence on Losermax pills. Should continue to monitor behavior.

Image courtesy of http://www.marktoon.co.uk/people.htm (with an obvious personal alteration).

On the Season
Straight Up: 50-13
Against the Spread: 30-27

Posted spreads are from sportsbook.com at time of publishing.

UCLA @ Washington (Thu., ESPN, 5:00 p.m.)
So this is what the Pac-10 gets to put on display for the nation on Thursday night? Should turn out well. The first go-round with UCLA was a real treat.

Don’t cry for ESPN, though. They are the masters of storyline creation. Here’s what you’ll hear all game:

(1) Rick Neuheisel used to coach at Washington
(2) Jake Locker had an injury
(3) Jake Locker should have gone pro last year
(4) Jake Locker is still a first round talent
(5) Craig James: “Boise can just stuff itself inside a tool shed”
(6) Jesse Palmer: “Do you like my pink tie?”
(7) Reece Davis: “Can I go back to the studio?”

Straight Up: Washington
ATS: Washington -2

*I know, I complain about all the fake injury talk and then just feed right into it. I’m weak and have no moral center.

Straight Up: Stanford
ATS: California +6.5

It doesn’t make any sense to me, but I’m picking Oregon State. Wait, really? I have to think about this. Vegas is really screwing with my head here. There is no way the Beavers should win. None. Aaaahhh! This is why Vegas has nice, tall buildings. I’m not taking the bait.

Straight Up: Oregon State
ATS: Oregon State +3.5

1. Oregon Ducks: “Home Bears! No! Nononono! Stop Home Bears! Stop Home Bears! Make it stop!”

OTP Dream Analyzer: It’s okay, the blog’s right here. It’s all over now. It’s aaaallll over.

2.

Normally, we could give a damn about a player’s dreams, but did you see what Anthony did at the end of the game Saturday? Did something really bad just happen here?”

OTP Dream Analyzer: Uh. Oh. I saw him sit down instead of running into the end zone so he could run out the clock. You guys were up four so it preserved the win, but I see what you’re saying here. 4+6=MORE THAN 4.5. Listen, I’d love to help, but I’m afraid to go there. Stanford probably has some good lawyers. I’ll be happy to refer you out to someone else.

It was all a dream
We used to be the number one team
Will Ferrell, Snoop D oh Double G, up in the limousine
Hangin’ pictures in the Hall
Every Saturday, Pass Attack, Mr. Bush, Pete Carroll (CARE-ALL)
We let our game rock til our program popped
Smokin’ teams and dreams, steppin’ on your private jock
We blew up then lost all the fame
Call the Pac, same name, faded game
It’s all lame

Uh, and if you don’t know, now you know, sucka’, uh

OTP Dream Analyzer: You’re dream starts with the words “It was all a dream?” Hmm, heavy stuff. I think the reference here is the 2005 season. I checked, though, and none of what you are describing happened. I couldn’t find a picture of Reggie Bush hanging in Heritage Hall. Pete Carroll doesn’t even exist there. You say you were the number one team? These NCAA records say you didn’t even play a game that year. That’s a wacky dream.

OTP Dream Analyzer: So this is like a pre-dream with your eyes shut, but not quite asleep? I think it represents a specific bowl game that is always within your immediate consciousness, but not exactly meant to be understood or attained. Kinda’ one of those look but don’t touch things.

OTP Dream Analyzer: Quiet, everyone! Cal’s still sleeping and they are absolutely, positively about to beat Oreg—ah, Chip! Why’d you go and wake them? You’re such a jerk!

Since you’re up Cal, do you still want the blog’s dream analysis? Go “WHAT?” myself? How dare you!

OTP Dream Analyzer: Ah, yes. Very common theme here and an easy case to crack. If you want it to go away, win a close game. The easiest solution would be to make an extra point.

7. UCLA Bruins: “Please, help. We keep taking a test over and over again. It’s the same type of examination, but the subject varies from week to week and we just seem to have a lot of trouble finishing it. Sometimes, we can’t find the room to take the test. Other times, we forget a #2 pencil or we have one and it breaks halfway through. A lot of the time, though, we just feel really unprepared. Mind you, there are those times where the dream goes perfectly, but they just feel too few and far between.”

OTP Dream Analyzer: Really, you don’t see what’s going on here? Let me lay it out for you. Not being able to find the room is your fan apathy. The #2 pencil is the quarterback. Feeling unprepared is the coaching. You need to fix all of that or else the dream will never end.

8.

OTP Dream Analyzer: I’m sorry to cut you off, I really am, but you need to snap the hell out of it. That’s not a dream. That really happens every damn Saturday! It’s gross and, frankly, I’m a little shocked you’ve let it go on this long.

OTP Dream Analyzer: You won a Pac-10 game!

10. Oregon State Beavers:

OTP Dream Analyzer: I’m not surprised, OSU. We often have this dream when we are feeling overwhelmed in life and ready to give up. The problem here – and I think we’re past being gentle so I’m just going to be blunt - the problem here is that you didn’t deal with a major problem in real life and everything’s out of control. Do a hard analysis and fix it. I’d suggest starting with the defense. And check that offensive line, too. Perhaps spend a minute on a few coaching decisions. I have a lot of confidence in this analysis so this one’s pro bono. Good luck.

On the Season
Straight Up: 48-11
Against the Spread: 30-23

Posted spreads are from sportsbook.com at time of publishing.

Washington State @ Oregon State (Sat., FSN, 1:00 p.m.)
There are three levels to a season for a northwest team.

(1) Conference champion
(2) Rick Neuheisel Fictional Northwest Champion
(3) State champion

Conference champion doesn’t seem incredibly likely for either team, but northwest pride is on the line. So there’s your reason to watch.

Straight Up: Oregon State
ATS: Oregon State -23.5

The first one left Arizona State with a 20-19 loss at Wisconsin. The second one came last weekend where a blocked extra point was returned for a two-point score in a game USC would win 34-33.

If these things are linear, then what’s the next logical way for ASU to lose? I think this is the scenario:

:03 on the clock (touchdown) – ASU scores TD to go up by seven points
:03 (extra point) – Stanford blocks and returns for a two-point score, only down by five
:03 (kickoff) – Stanford returns squib kick for a TD on the strength of 15 laterals and wins by one, extra point not necessary.

Straight Up: Stanford
ATS: Stanford -5.5

Truthfully, what you really need to be worried about is that the blog is 0-2 lifetime while attending bay area games.

But nobody loses forever. And this Saturday, in the name of Stephen T. Colbert, we gon’ hunt us some Bears and keep this march to Glendale on a steady, destructive path.

Straight Up: Oregon
ATS: Oregon -20

The Wildcats had Rose Bowl in mind when they started the season. USC figured it could win the Pac-10 and put an asterisk next to whichever team took its spot in Pasadena.

It hasn’t exactly gone that way., but both teams have still been pretty good and can finish in the top three. The Wildcats need to pick up quick after a tough loss at Stanford.

Straight Up: Arizona
ATS: Arizona -4

Same goes for this week’s Pac-10 Power Rankings. Happiness abounds! Losing is giving. Fumbling is sharing. Tackling is hugging.

The blog can put a shine on even the worst of circumstances.

1. Oregon Ducks. A 53-16 win over Washington is TERRIBLE! Worst performance of the year. Another one like it will cost the Ducks a national title shot.

Whoops, it appears when you try to shine up perfection, it only creates a negative. We should have better luck with the remaining teams.

2. Stanford Cardinal. Being No. 6 in the BCS and potentially getting left out isn’t a bad thing. It’s a chance to be tourists in San Antonio. There’s The Alamo, a nice river area and some other stuff, too. You’ll have a great time!

(By “you,” I mean the five Stanford fans that will travel.)

3. Arizona Wildcats. What do you want me to say Arizona? Losing hurts. I can’t sugarcoat that, but it is time to buck up because the Rose Bowl is still possible! Here’s how:

• Oregon loses to Cal and Arizona
• Stanford loses to Cal and Oregon State
• Arizona wins out

Wildcats at 7-2 have the head-to-head tiebreaker over Oregon at 7-2.

4. USC Trojans. Losing the bowl game to Oregon hurt. But the good news, SC, is you can just pick again. The next three games are all in primetime on ABC. They can all be a bowl game! And even if that fails, there’s still UCLA.

5. Oregon State Beavers. What’s with all the hand-wringing and frustration in Corvallis? At 4-4, OSU is right on pace for it’s usual four or five loss season. It’s been that way for the last nine years. 2010 is right on track!

6. Cal Bears. I can see why Cal fans are a little upset. All those blowout losses on the road reduced this season to a mediocre adventure. But the losing is over. The last three games are all at home where the Bears are 4-0 and outscoring opponents 189-30*. Should be fun!

*Oh, but the blog will be in person on Saturday. So far, it’s winning 69-0 this year when attending. Didn’t want to be negative, but something has to give and I thought Cal should know.

7. Arizona State Sun Devils. ASU is 98% 6-3 right now. The problem is that the additional 2% has heavily influenced the actual record and made the team 4-5. You wouldn’t think two extra points can have that impact, but they did.

Still ASU, do you know how many teams would kill for the chance to be 98% 6-3 and bowl eligible? Texas, for one.

8. UCLA Bruins. I think we can all agree anytime Rick Neuheisel doesn’t have to get on the microphone after a game and apologize to the home fans, it’s a positive for everyone.

9. Washington Huskies. I was looking at the Huskies record and the loss to Oregon and thinking ‘how do I put sunshine on this thing?’ Then it hit me. Husky players already did!

“We were on the sideline and they were telling us ‘Good job’ …They were complimenting us on the sidelines.” -linebacker Cort Dennison

“No, they are not that much better. We just need to trade our field goals for touchdowns and just concentrate on our assignments and not try to do too much. Quite frankly, the game should have been closer than it was, but it doesn’t always go in your favor.” -running back Chris Polk

10. Washington State Cougars. You know how some people don’t need stuff to be happy? For instance, this Canadian couple gave away over $11 million in lottery winnings.

The Cougars are like that, always donating their wins to the bowl eligibility cause of its Pac-10 brethren.

And for that, we salute the selfless charity of Washington State.

Image courtesy of http://www.marktoon.co.uk/people.htm (with an obvious personal alteration).