Pac 10 Fearless Predictions, Week 5, Part 2

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

Pac 10  
Arizona | Arizona St |  California | Oregon | Oregon St
Stanford | UCLA | USC | Washington | Washington St
Past Predictions: Week One | Week Two | Week Three
Week Four

How are the picks so far? SU 27-4 ... ATS 10-15-2

Week Five Pac 10 Predictions | Get Tickets for These Games

Washington (3-1) at Arizona (2-2) 10:00 PM EST  Saturday September 30th
Why to watch: Four weeks into the season, Washington and Arizona are confounding the experts, one for the better and the other for all the wrong reasons.  The Huskies are enjoying the embryonic stages of a rebirth under Tyrone Willingham, exceeding last year’s win total with upsets over Fresno State and UCLA.  Those games were played at home, however, so a road win in league play would really catapult Washington to a new level of progress and notoriety.  This was supposed to be the year, Mike Stoops’ third in Tucson, when Arizona blossomed into a dangerous player in the Pac-10.  However, feeble play the last three weeks, particularly on offense, has forced everyone to revise their forecasts.  With a brutal last leg of the season still to come, the Cats cannot afford consecutive home losses.
Why Washington might win: The bend-but-don’t-break Husky defense has made tremendous strides the last two weeks against above average offenses.  It’ll continue that trend against a mealy Arizona attack that’s scored just one touchdown against three I-A opponents, and will get most of its offense from the leg of K Nick Folk.
Why Arizona might win: Arizona can’t win a high-scoring shootout, but it can stop the Husky offense in a game that’ll be waged in the teens.  Washington’s running game has disappeared recently, putting more pressure on QB Isaiah Stanback to move the chains on a fast and physical Wildcat secondary.  Arizona forced USC’s John David Booty into his worst game of the year Saturday night and allowed only 33 points combined to high-powered USC and BYU.
Who to watch:  If the Huskies continue to labor in the running game, the onus will fall on WR Sonny Shackelford to break free from all-league CB Antoine Cason to find seams in the Arizona secondary.  Shackelford was one of the heroes of last weekend’s comeback win, catching nine balls and a pair of key touchdowns.
What will happen: In an evenly-matched game, go with the team playing with confidence and momentum.  Washington has a good thing going on, and in Arizona, an opponent that’s not yet ready to make the necessary plays to pull out a close game.
CFN Prediction: Washington 20 ... Arizona 16 ... Line: Arizona -4
Must See Rating: (5 skip the birth of your first born - 1 Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip) ... 3   

Stanford (0-4) at UCLA (2-1) 10:15 PM EST  Saturday September 30th
Why to watch: UCLA was supposed to ease into its league schedule with the cushiest start to Pac-10 play of any member program.  Washington, however, blew up that theory in Seattle last weekend, making this week’s visit from Pac-10 welcome mat Stanford an absolute must-win to stay alive in the Pac 10 race.  The Bruins are already getting dogged locally for again being one of the nation’s most predictably unpredictable schools.  Besides christening a new stadium, nothing has gone right for Stanford in 2006.  Not one thing.  The Cardinal has steadily digressed in recent weeks, meaning it’ll take an upset over the next eight games to avoid the program’s first winless season since 1960.
Why Stanford might win: UCLA has been far from consistent the last two weeks, barely beating Rice at home before the unexpected loss to Washington.  Saturday’s defeat was fueled by the passing of Husky Isaiah Stanback, fueling hope Stanford’s best player, QB Trent Edwards, can carry the Cardinal to a win in similar fashion.
Why UCLA might win: For four consecutive games, Stanford has been physically manhandled on the inside, a major reason why it’s last in the country against the run and near the cellar in both sacks and sacks allowed.  UCLA won’t break a sweat controlling the lines, giving RB Chris Markey the daylight necessary for a third straight 100-yard day.  Stanford’s Edwards, who’s faced constant pressure all month, is going to feel as if he’s dating Bruin DE Justin Hickman by late Saturday night.
Who to watch: UCLA is getting ripped for its conservative gameplan last weekend, convincing Karl Dorrell to begin opening up the offense this Saturday.  The beneficiaries will be Ben Olson and his underutilized receivers.  The Bruins will still be seeking balance, but are going to call more pass plays on first down, while allowing Olson to take more shots downfield.
What will happen: UCLA can be sporadic, but will have to be downright ghastly to a fumble a game to this Stanford team.  The Bruins will coast behind their best offensive output since the opener.
CFN Prediction: UCLA 38 ... Stanford 16 ... Line: UCLA -23
Must See Rating: (5 skip the birth of your first born - 1 Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip) ... 2.5   

Week Five Pac 10 Predictions | Get Tickets for These Games