See what I did there? Wow, what a salute to mediocrity. Teams you expected to win easily struggled. Teams you didn’t think had chances won, and then there is Cal.
I’m just really thankful all the Top 4 teams play each other this season so we can sort out things at the top a little bit more clearly.
And now that we are in the final third of the season, we can look at bowl potential for these teams. Will put (B) next to teams I project to be in a Bowl game, (NB) next to ones who are out, and (maybe) if at least 50% chance to make Bowl game.
1. Oregon (B)
Wow, on a day the floats could have made an impression on the playoff committee, they barely escape at home against a now 1-4 in conference Coog team that has played no good team OOC. Was Duck D a mirage?
2. Utah (B)
At this point, Utes look like the best team from the eye test perspective. Could they finish 11-1 and get a playoff nod over Oregon even if Ducks win championship game and Utes aren’t in it?
3. Washington (B)
I’m not really sure about how a team that lost to Cal and Stanford can be this high, but they did beat USC head-to-head and USC isn’t dominant even in wins.
4. USC (B)
It’s nice to see Helton keep winning just enough to stay employed, but USC is a big fly in the ointment for PAC-12 playoff hopes. If they can beat Oregon this week which seems far from doubtful, they will have given the Ducks a second loss and already beat Utah with real likelihood of winning the South.
I believe at #6 last week it was anyone’s guess how to rank these teams. Thanks to UCLA, Cal, and Stanford’s inconsistency and QB injuries, it’s now impossible to know who even #5 is, but let’s give it a shot...
5. ASU (B)
Looking at box score, it’s hard to see how UCLA beat them, and if it was played again, they probably don’t, but how can anyone really be higher? I mean really?
6. Washington State (B)
It’s a testament to how terrible the conference is that these guys are so high, with a 1-4 conference record. I’m in part putting them here because of some close losses, but the OOC slate was a joke too.
7. Stanford (maybe)
Could maybe argue Colorado or now UCLA, but neither team has beat anyone really good, while Stanford has. Stanford is no better than Cal with its 3rd QB, and that’s who UCLA beat. With a healthy QB they are decent.
8. Colorado (NB)
They might be #7, but again, no real impressive wins and lost at home to Arizona. Have. Terrible defense that has given up 30+ in every game, but they can put up points.
9. UCLA (NB)
Arguably are lucky to have 3 wins. Never should have beat WSU, and are only team to get Stanford with its 3rd QB. That said, DTR went down with leg injury in 4th against ASU, putting the two-game win streak in jeopardy.
10. Oregon State (NB)
I have no doubt these guys would have lost to UCLA and Cal had those teams had their starting QBs playing, but they did win both games on the road regardless.
11. Arizona (NB)
Really thought these guys would have stepped up this year. It’s probably fair to have them #12, given they haven’t had the QB and injury disaster other teams have had, but...
12. Cal (maybe)
Oh man do the Bears stink now. All these teams have injury challenges, but Cal seems to have fallen down an elevator shaft like no other. What is it, now 4 losses in a row? Even if the streak hits 6 as I suspect, a bowl game will still be possible with wins at Stanford and UCLA. So expect Cal to hold down the #12 spot for three more weeks, but there is room to move out of cellar and go bowling by end of season.
I’m just really thankful all the Top 4 teams play each other this season so we can sort out things at the top a little bit more clearly.
And now that we are in the final third of the season, we can look at bowl potential for these teams. Will put (B) next to teams I project to be in a Bowl game, (NB) next to ones who are out, and (maybe) if at least 50% chance to make Bowl game.
1. Oregon (B)
Wow, on a day the floats could have made an impression on the playoff committee, they barely escape at home against a now 1-4 in conference Coog team that has played no good team OOC. Was Duck D a mirage?
2. Utah (B)
At this point, Utes look like the best team from the eye test perspective. Could they finish 11-1 and get a playoff nod over Oregon even if Ducks win championship game and Utes aren’t in it?
3. Washington (B)
I’m not really sure about how a team that lost to Cal and Stanford can be this high, but they did beat USC head-to-head and USC isn’t dominant even in wins.
4. USC (B)
It’s nice to see Helton keep winning just enough to stay employed, but USC is a big fly in the ointment for PAC-12 playoff hopes. If they can beat Oregon this week which seems far from doubtful, they will have given the Ducks a second loss and already beat Utah with real likelihood of winning the South.
I believe at #6 last week it was anyone’s guess how to rank these teams. Thanks to UCLA, Cal, and Stanford’s inconsistency and QB injuries, it’s now impossible to know who even #5 is, but let’s give it a shot...
5. ASU (B)
Looking at box score, it’s hard to see how UCLA beat them, and if it was played again, they probably don’t, but how can anyone really be higher? I mean really?
6. Washington State (B)
It’s a testament to how terrible the conference is that these guys are so high, with a 1-4 conference record. I’m in part putting them here because of some close losses, but the OOC slate was a joke too.
7. Stanford (maybe)
Could maybe argue Colorado or now UCLA, but neither team has beat anyone really good, while Stanford has. Stanford is no better than Cal with its 3rd QB, and that’s who UCLA beat. With a healthy QB they are decent.
8. Colorado (NB)
They might be #7, but again, no real impressive wins and lost at home to Arizona. Have. Terrible defense that has given up 30+ in every game, but they can put up points.
9. UCLA (NB)
Arguably are lucky to have 3 wins. Never should have beat WSU, and are only team to get Stanford with its 3rd QB. That said, DTR went down with leg injury in 4th against ASU, putting the two-game win streak in jeopardy.
10. Oregon State (NB)
I have no doubt these guys would have lost to UCLA and Cal had those teams had their starting QBs playing, but they did win both games on the road regardless.
11. Arizona (NB)
Really thought these guys would have stepped up this year. It’s probably fair to have them #12, given they haven’t had the QB and injury disaster other teams have had, but...
12. Cal (maybe)
Oh man do the Bears stink now. All these teams have injury challenges, but Cal seems to have fallen down an elevator shaft like no other. What is it, now 4 losses in a row? Even if the streak hits 6 as I suspect, a bowl game will still be possible with wins at Stanford and UCLA. So expect Cal to hold down the #12 spot for three more weeks, but there is room to move out of cellar and go bowling by end of season.
