Recapping the Week 10 motion in Pac-12 soccer …
Theme of the week: blowouts
Whereas the Friday night time affair in Seattle was taut, as anticipated, the 5 Saturday video games had been lopsided in some style or one other. Contemplate these halftime scores: USC led Cal 20-7, Oregon led Colorado 28-7, UCLA led ASU 28-10, Utah led Arizona 28-10 and WSU led Stanford 42-7. Just one recreation ended with a single-digit victory margin (USC), however the Trojans had been by no means significantly threatened.
Theme of the season I: dominance
Oregon, UCLA, USC and Utah are 22-3 mixed in league play and 19-0 towards the opposite eight groups. All 4 have dwelling video games this week, with three anticipated to be heavy favorites. This could possibly be the primary season since 2016 through which 4 groups end 7-2 or higher in convention play.
Theme of the season II: L.A. story
We've repeatedly addressed the rise of the Los Angeles colleges, their contributions to the Pac-12’s on-field success and their high-powered offenses. However their less-than-illustrious opponents this weekend, Cal and ASU, mixed for 71 factors and 937 yards. The Trojans and Bruins had large leads, then appeared to lose focus defensively. However this wasn’t the primary time they've floundered (see: UCLA at Oregon and USC at Utah). Our questions for the Nov. 19 showdown within the Rose Bowl: Which workforce will get to 60 first, and the way a lot will it lose by?
Theme of the season III: The playoff image
As we defined intimately Saturday night time, the Week 10 leads to different leagues couldn't have labored out higher for the Pac-12. Tennessee’s loss to Georgia helps Oregon whereas Clemson’s loss to Notre Dame helps all three Pac-12 contenders. In our view, USC would have the most effective case for a CFP invite as a one-loss Pac-12 champion.
Workforce of the week: Washington State
The Cougars ended a three-game dropping streak by pummeling Stanford for his or her sixth consecutive victory within the collection. They compelled 4 turnovers and scored extra factors (52) than that they had within the earlier three video games mixed (41 towards USC, Utah and Oregon State). WSU is now one win away from bowl eligibility and hosts Arizona State on Saturday. Freezing temperatures are anticipated in Pullman all week.
Recreation of the week: Washington 24, Oregon State 21
The circumstances had been troublesome (excessive winds) and an influence outage compelled a delay within the second half. However the groups nonetheless produced one other riveting recreation of their duel for supremacy of the Pac-12’s second tier. Scores from the previous three matchups, with the winner: 27-21 (UW), 27-24 (OSU) and 24-21 (UW). It has quietly turn out to be one of the crucial aggressive collection within the convention.
Drive of the week: Washington
The sport was tied when UW gained possession at its 3-yard line with 4:28 remaining. Three third-down conversions and a few nifty play-calling later, the Huskies had been in vary for a simple subject objective to win the sport with eight seconds remaining. Complete yardage consumed on the drive: 92 yards.
Questionable teaching of the season: Everybody
We've seen far too many cases of coaches trying to transform on fourth down as a substitute of punting (to play for subject place) or taking high-percentage subject targets. Oregon State was merely the newest (on Friday night time), and the first-half choices ended up costing the Beavers essential factors within the 24-21 loss. Analytics are a software, not a lifestyle.
Offensive participant of the week: Washington QB Michael Penix Jr.
The nation’s main passer (in yardage) didn’t fairly break the 300-yard barrier, however he was ultra-impressive in brutal throwing circumstances (wind) and towards a top-notch secondary (OSU). In all, Penix accomplished 30-of-52 passes and was sensible on the game-winning drive.
Defensive unit of the week: Utah’s secondary
The Utes’ again line basically shut down probably the greatest collections of huge receivers within the convention, limiting Arizona’s Jacob Cowing, Dorian Singer and Tetairoa McMillan to 10 catches for 116 yards — lower than half their season common.
All-around participant of the week: Oregon QB Bo Nix
Nix accomplished 20-of-24 passes for 2 touchdowns. He additionally rushed for 2 touchdowns and caught an 18-yard scoring move from tailback Bucky Irving. Nix is the primary main school participant to attain in all three aspects (throwing, dashing, receiving) this season, in accordance with The Oregonian.
Alternative participant of the week: UCLA TB Kazmeir Allen
Allen took over for star tailback Zach Charbonnet and rushed for 137 yards on 11 carries to assist the Bruins outlast ASU. His night included a 75-yard landing run within the third quarter. (Charbonnet was in uniform however didn't play for undisclosed causes.)
Stat of the day: Stanford
On Nov. 5, 2021, the Cardinal misplaced 52-7 at dwelling to Utah. On Nov. 5, 2022, Stanford misplaced 52-14 at dwelling to Washington State. So that might be progress, I suppose.
Stat of the season I: Interim coaches
Arizona State’s Shaun Aguano and Colorado’s Mike Sanford have a mixed document of 3-7 since taking on for Herm Edwards and Karl Dorrell, respectively. Neither has achieved sufficient to earn the everlasting job, a minimum of not but. However the personnel wanted to energy a dramatic turnover is absent from each rosters.
Stat of the season II: Oregon
The Geese are averaging 48.1 factors per recreation towards groups not named Georgia.
Stat of the season III: Arizona
The Wildcats have allowed the next level totals of their 5 convention losses: 49, 49, 49, 45 and 45. No less than they're constant.
Stat of the last decade: Cal
The Bears haven’t gained a recreation exterior the Bay Space because the remaining week of the 2019 season.
Recreation of subsequent week: Washington at Oregon
Probably the greatest rivalries within the convention renews in Eugene, the place the Geese proceed their pursuit of an ideal convention season. There might be loads of eyeballs on Nix as he chases the Heisman Trophy: Kickoff has been set for 4 p.m. (PT) on the Fox broadcast community.
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