Pac-10 Week Four: Upset in the Desert? Can WSU Finally Win?

After what proved to be a horrific week for Pac-10 football, four of the 10 teams will stay home to watch their conference do battle in Week Four.

The ever-so-sneaky Mountain West Conference wiped the Pac-10 clean, beating up on the big boys in Week Three and improving to 5-0 for the season. 

UNLV blocked Arizona State's bid for a victory and won 23-20, New Mexico held strong at home to beat Arizona 36-28, TCU beat Stanford 31-14, and BYU blanked UCLA 59-0.

USC, Oregon State, Washington, and California will rest and get ready for Week Five.

With such inconsistent play, the Pac-10 proved why they don't get the respect they feel they deserve.

Take what you will from it, but here's my insight into Week Four.

Arizona @ UCLA: 3:00 pm ET on FSN

Arizona was again labeled a Pac-10 sleeper in the preseason. Will they ever learn? After winning by a combined 111-16 against lesser competition, Arizona flopped against Rocky Long's squad in New Mexico.

The potent passing attack from Willie Tuitama has not produced the numbers expected, and Arizona will look for an offensive explosion in the Rose Bowl.

UCLA beats Tennessee, then gets manhandled by BYU.  What?  Returning home will provide the Bruins comfort and confidence.

Kevin Craft is a young quarterback entering his first season of Pac-10 play. The Pac-10 has feasted on new inexperienced quarterbacks as of late. He is the key to the game. His one TD to five interception ratio must be turned around if UCLA wants to remain competitive in conference.

Prediction

UCLA finds solace at home behind their Rose Bowl crowd and plays stellar defense. Kevin Craft will struggle again and turn the ball over. Arizona will look hard at the BYU game and exploit UCLA through the air.

Arizona gets back on track.

Arizona 30, UCLA 24

Boise State @ No. 17 Oregon: 3:30 pm ET on OSN

Coming off a grind it out win over Purdue in overtime, Oregon returns home to the green and yellow of Autzen Stadium.  Oregon's running game has been their strong point and should remain strong for at least one more week.  With Justin Roper out and the passing game in question, expect heavy doses of Jeremiah Johnson and LeGarrette Blount.

Boise State travels to the Northwest and brings highly touted RB Ian Johnson.  What they also bring is an inexperienced freshman quarterback in Kellen Moore.  The Broncos will need great play from their offensive line and poise from the young signal caller, in what will be a tough road atmosphere, if they want to stay in the game.

Prediction

Oregon pounds the ball all game and racks up over 250 yards rushing.  The threat of the run opens up play action, and the Ducks take full advantage of timely passes down the field.

Oregon runs away with it.

Oregon 45, Boise St. 24

Portland State @ Washington State: 7:00 pm ET (Radio Only)

Portland State travels into Cougar country fully believing they can pull the upset that will make their season.  The Vikings are a pass-happy team and have five receivers over 100 yards on the season.

The run game, however, is nowhere to be found.  Portland State has gained only 98 yards on the ground. That's not including sacks, which would pull the number down to 61.

Washington State needs a win and needs it badly.  The Cougars have failed to show up for three straight weeks, being outscored 150-33.  What more is there to say?  The home town crowd needs to rally behind their limping Cougar squad, and Washington State must win at home in Week Four.

Prediction

Tough one here.  Washington State has shown me nothing to believe they win this game easily.  Portland State has no running game, so one would think the pass rush would be fierce from the Cougars.  The Pac-10 and WSU need this win, and Washington State pulls it out in a close one.

FINALLY! Shout the Cougar faithful.

Washington State 27, Portland State 23

San Jose State @ Stanford: 9:00 pm ET (Radio Only)

Stanford struck out against the Mountain West, so they'll try their luck in the WAC.  After an opportunistic win over Oregon State in Week One, Stanford has played as most thought they would entering the season.  The Cardinal have scored only three more points in the last two weeks than they did in Week One.

Stanford needs to run the ball and out-physical the smaller San Jose State team.

San Jose State enters their final non-conference game at 2-1 with wins over UC Davis and San Diego State. Senior WR David Richmond is a great target at 6'4"—he has 21 receptions for 228 yards thus far and will be Kyle Reed's main target.

Not only do the Spartans throw the ball well, they have a RB tandem in Yonus Davis and Kevin Jurovich.  The two have already combined for 411 rushing yards.

Prediction

Not only did the Cardinal beat my Beavers, they didn't pull through as my upset pick versus TCU last week.  I think being at home and needing a win before entering Pac-10 play will entice Stanford to pull out all stops in their way to a victory.

Stanford is too much for San Jose and wins to move to 2-2.

Stanford 28, San Jose 20

No. 3 Georgia @ Arizona State: 8:00 pm ET on ABC

Game of the week in the Pac-10.

Georgia snuck by South Carolina with a not so impressive 14-7 win.  The trip to the West will be Georgia's longest regular season road trip since 1960.  The Bulldogs garner great respect being from the SEC and returning both their quarterback and running back.

While the powerful SEC loves their home matchups, they are a different story on the road.  Georgia had better be ready.  Come the second half, it will be past bedtime for the Bulldogs.

Arizona State fell victim to the upset last week, having a game-tying field goal blocked in overtime by UNLV.  The Sun Devils were picked to be at the top of the conference and could strengthen that prediction with an upset at home in the desert.  Rudy Carpenter needs time to get rid of the ball, and the Sun Devil running game needs to be productive.

Prediction

Unsure where to go with this one.  Arizona State usually plays so well at home, so was last week a fluke?  Georgia feels the weight of the trip and starts off slow.  Arizona State gets on top early but loses it down the stretch with their inability to stop Knowshon Moreno.

Georgia 35, Arizona State 27

After going 6-4 in Week Three, the Pac-10 stumbles to 10-10 out of conference but boosts my predictions to 17-7. 

Rounding out Week Four, I foresee the Pac-10 getting back on track, going 3-1.  The close loss to Georgia will put the bad vibes from last week out of mind.

If all goes well in Week Four, the Pac-10 should improve to 13-11 in non-conference play.