Pac 10 Fearless Predictions, Week 2, Part 2

Preview and predictions for the week two Pac 10 games ... Part 2

Pac 10  
Arizona | Arizona St |  California | Oregon | Oregon St
Stanford | UCLA | USC | Washington | Washington St

Pac 10 Week Two Fearless Predictions

Minnesota (1-0) at California (0-1)  7 pm EST TBS Saturday, September 9th
Why to watch: Maybe, just maybe, Tennessee is back to being Tennessee again. Cal might have gotten its doors blown off in Knoxville last week, but it's not like it got blasted by New Mexico State. This is still a very, very good Bears team with everything to play for, but it has to regroup in a huge hurry to get past a Minnesota team looking for respect. This should be a bit of a rebuilding year for the Gophers with no star power in the backfield and a defense that's, well, like a typical Minnesota defense. With Temple coming up next week, an upset in Berkeley would mean a 3-0 start going into the start of the Big Ten season at Purdue. Cal gets a light scrimmage against Portland State after this, so the Tennessee loss can fade a little bit with a win.
Why Minnesota might win: Like always, the Minnesota rushing offense is near the top of the charts currently ranking fourth in the nation after ripping off 322 yards against Kent State. Tennessee was able to run for 216 on the Bears, so getting to the 200-yard mark shouldn't be a huge problem for Glen Mason's crew. While Minnesota doesn't have a Robert Meachem, or any other Volunteer-like receivers, it has a decent group that can do some damage if the beleaguered Cal secondary plays like it did last week.
Why California might win: The Bears have way too much speed for the Gophers. Yeah, Tennessee was able to run well, but that was because the Cal back seven was having so many problems with the Vol passing game. If the Bear linebackers are able to pay their full attention to the Gopher ground game, it should be able to keep it from going nuts. Minnesota doesn't have the defense to generate the same pressure Tennessee was able to.
Who to watch: And the new star Minnesota running is ... a linebacker? Former linebacker Alex Daniels ran 24 times for 155 yards and three touchdowns against Kent State after true freshman E.J. Jones was knocked out with a sprained ankle. Amir Pinnix ran for 114 yards in a backup role, but all the buzz was about the 265-pound former Daniels, who adds a more bruising style than the offense has had in years. Expect a rotation of backs to keep giving Cal a few different looks.
What will happen: Minnesota will look like its going in slow motion compared to Tennessee, but the running game will make this a battle deep into the second half. Cal will hit on too many big plays for the Gophers to pull off the upset.
CFN Prediction: California 31 ... Minnesota 23... Line: California -9
Must See Rating: (5 skip the birth of your first born - 1 Fashion House) ... 3.5 

Nevada (0-1) at Arizona State (1-0) 10:00 PM EST Saturday September 9^th
Why to Watch:  The Wolf Pack suffered a difficult 28-19 defeat on the road last week at Fresno State, and now has to follow that up with a visit to the Valley of the Sun to face an Arizona State team looking to rebound after a less-than-impressive  25-14 win over Northern Arizona.  The QB controversy/Dirk Koetter ‘flip flop’ didn’t get a reprieve after last week’s game. In fact it magnified even more with a so-so overall performance from Rudy Carpenter, so he’ll be looking to quickly show that the coaching staff made the right decision. The pressure is on ASU to put more than just a W on the board this week, but that’ll be easier said than done against a team with the firepower to make this a ballgame.
Why Nevada Might Win:  The graduation of 2005 WAC offensive player of the year RB B.J Mitchell, on paper, was a huge loss, but Robert Hubbard may be even better.  He ran for 103 yards on 17 carries, a 6.1 yard per carry average, against Fresno State, which was his third 100 yard game in a row dating back to last year’s Fresno State victory. As long as he can keep the ground game going on the untested ASU run D, the Pack has a shot.
Why Arizona State Might Win:  The move to receiver was a stroke of genius for former RB Rudy Burgess.  He caught seven balls for 112 yards against Northern Arizona showing off the quickness and speed to get open anywhere on the field.  Will linebacker Derron Ware was credited with eight tackles, four tackles for a loss and three sacks against NAU, and the pressure he can create with his speed off the edge will create problems for Nevada QB Jeff Rowe. The Pistol offense is all about timing. If Ware throws that off on a consistent basis, the Sun Devils will win and win big.
Who to Watch:  ASU TE Zach Miller has all-world ability, and now he has to show it off and be Carpenter’s main man. How the Wolf Pack game plan to stop the run and slow down Burgess could leave Miller open downfield against linebackers throughout the night creating a colossal mismatch. Nevada S Nick Hawthrone finally got back on the field after being injured last year and provided a physical presence in the middle of the field.  His play is vital to keeping the ASU receivers outside the hashes.
What Will Happen:  Carpenter didn’t play poorly last week against NAU, but not well enough to quiet the storm that raged around his head coach’s surprising change of heart at that QB position.  However, having the opportunity to rely on Burgess out on the perimeter, he’ll settle in quickly against the Nevada secondary.  The Sun Devils running game won’t attack Nevada in the same manner as Fresno State’s did, but it might not matter if the Pack’s tackling, poor at times last Friday night, isn’t improved.  The Sun Devils ran for 154 yards with a myriad of backs but should expand that role against the smallish Wolf Pack defensive front.
CFN Prediction: Arizona State 35 ... Nevada 17 ... Line: Arizona State -14
Must See Rating: (5 skip the birth of your first born - 1 Fashion House) ... 3

Rice (0-1) at UCLA (1-0)   10 pm EST  Saturday, September 9th 
Why to watch: That UCLA beat Utah last Saturday wasn’t a big shocker.  That the Bruins did it with such ease was one of the weekend’s genuine surprises.  QB Ben Olson’s performance stole headlines, but it was a total effort for UCLA, which had three turnovers and held the usually potent Utes to a single touchdown.  Playing his first meaningful game in five years, Olson clicked on 25-of-33 passes for 318 yards and three touchdowns getting the ball to 10 different receivers.  Rice nearly authored a stunner of its own, losing late to heavily-favored Houston, 31-30, after jumping out to a big lead in the third quarter.  For a team with a new coaching staff and new schemes on both sides of the ball, it was an unexpectedly good start for the Owls, but one with a disastrous, disappointing ending. A good showing against the Bruins would go a long way for the program’s confidence.            
Why Rice might win: It’s still a work-in-progress, but the installation of the spread offense has made the Owls more diverse than ever before.  Against Houston, Quinton Smith ran for 108 yards and two touchdowns and QB Chase Clement chipped in with a pair of touchdown passes of his own.  UCLA was stout on defense in the opener, but this is essentially the same group that was ransacked for most of 2005.  If Rice can find any of it’s old rushing magic, it should be able to put up some decent yards.          
Why UCLA might win: No one had the blueprint for what Todd Graham would be doing in his first year at Rice, and to some extent, that explains why Houston looked lost for most of the first three quarters.  With film to watch, Olson will have his way with an Owl pass defense that allowed three touchdown passes and failed to pick off one of Kevin Kolb’s throws. If UCLA could stop Utah’s spread, it should have no problem with the Rice version.
Who to watch: UCLA CB Alterraun Verner has been relegated to nickel and dime packages for now, but he’s clearly the future for the Bruin secondary.  In an auspicious debut, the 17-year old true freshman returned an interception for a touchdown and recovered his own forced fumble.
What will happen: Rice caught Houston off guard a week ago, but that won’t happen to a UCLA squad that’s confident and a little more talented than many expected.  Olson’s sterling opener will give way this week to big days for backs Kahlil Bell and Chris Markey. 
CFN Prediction: UCLA 45 ... Rice 17 ... Line: UCLA -27
Must See Rating: (5 skip the birth of your first born - 1 Fashion House) ... 2

Oregon (1-0) at Fresno State (1-0) 10:00 PM EST ESPN2 Saturday September 9^th
Why to Watch:  When these two teams tangled last season it was an offensive showcase won by the Kellen Clemens-led Ducks 37 – 34.  But that was in the friendly confines of Autzen Stadium in Eugene and not in the Valley. Coming off a win over Nevada, Fresno State is sky-high and looking to make a national splash to get the buzz generated again about the BCS possibilities. The Ducks possess an explosive offense that should counterbalance the power running of FSU RB Dwayne Wright, but it’s going to be a stiff test before dealing with Oklahoma next week.
Why ­­­­Oregon Might Win:  Give the ball to Jonathan Stewart, give it to him again, and then give it to him again. After a freshman year in which Stewart spent most of the season behind former RB Terrence Whitehead, Stewart made up for lost time by torching Stanford with 168 yards on 22 carries, but he suffered a sprained ankle and might be less than 100% effective. The Ducks have had some good backs, but never one like this.  To stop Wright and the FSU running game, Oregon needs safety Patrick Chung, who’s always around the ball, to be in the right position at all times. If he is, Wright won’t break off any long runs.  
Why Fresno State Might Win:  Give the ball to Dwayne Wright, give it to him again.  There are men running with a purpose, and then there’s Wright, who’s running with so much passion and power that it takes more than one man to bring him down almost every time he touches the ball. If he gets in a groove, Oregon will have to start selling out against the run opening itself up to the deep passes, which should be an issue for the average Duck secondary as the year goes on. On the other side of the ball, the FSU coaching staff believes that LB Dwayne Andrews is the best linebacker in the WAC and could be good enough to neutralize Stewart all by himself.
Who to Watch:  Oregon QB Dennis Dixon, who didn’t have to rotate with Brady Leaf, looked to be more relaxed behind center against Stanford. His continued improvement (70% completion rate against the Cardinal) will allow offensive coordinator Gary Crowton to continue to expand his playbook.  FSU C Kyle Young is the key cog for the Bulldog running game and when they struggle to move the ball, they run behind him with some lead and power isolation runs where he can use his size and strength to get movement.
What Will Happen:  Both teams look to establish the running games to set up the pass, so expect a quicker than usual game.  Don’t be surprised to see the Ducks attack FSU CB Marcus McCauley, who is extremely aggressive, with an out and up or a slant and go to get a quick six up on the board.  The Duck defensive line will have to stem and move up front to disrupt Fresno State’s run blocking assignments, but they can also roll up a safety (Chung more than likely) to help against Wright.  If and when they do that, the pressure is on FSU QB Tom Brandstater to go deep over the top. That’s a plus for the Ducks.
CFN Prediction: Oregon 30 ... Fresno State 20 ... Line: Oregon -4.5
Must See Rating: (5 skip the birth of your first born - 1 Fashion House) ... 3.5

Pac 10 Week Two Fearless Predictions