The Untouchable...Pac-10?

If you would have told me last week that the Pac-10 would win the bowl challenge for best winning percentage (in 2008-09 bowl games), I would have laughed in your face. Heck, anyone would have.

But the fact is that the unanimously weakest conference in the FBS has gone undefeated in bowl games this season. The truth is, I was under the impression that my son's eighth grade team could beat seven or eight of the teams in this conference. And I watched quite a few Pac-10 games this year.

To say this conference was weak would have seemed like a compliment rather than a putdown. They just looked bad, with the exception of the perennial powerhouse USC Trojans, which is the main reason why the men of Troy were playing for the roses instead of the coveted crystal ball in the BCS championship game (instead of No. 2 Florida).

The insanity started on Dec. 20 in the Las Vegas Bowl. The Arizona Wildcats upset the 16th-ranked BYU Cougars, 31-21. Despite compiling fewer yards and first downs and committing three turnovers, the Wildcats pulled the upset over the highly touted Cougars of Brigham Young.

Then, on the 27th, the Cal Bears beat a young and talented Miami team in the Emerald Bowl. The Bears outgained the Hurricanes by just 25 yards and had only 11 first downs on their way to a 24-17 victory. The less-than-stellar Pac-10 was 2-for-2.

The Holiday Bowl on Dec. 30 between the 17th-ranked Oregon Ducks and high scoring offense of 13th-ranked Oklahoma State started as most people thought, with OSU jumping out to an early 10-point lead. But an injury to potential first-round NFL draft pick Dez Bryant led directly (in my opinion) to the eventual demise of the Big 12's Cowboys from Stillwater. 

Constant and relentless pressure and numerous punishing hits on quarterback Zack Robinson took its toll and despite records set by Bryant for receptions (13) and receiving yards (168), the Quacks pulled the mild upset, 42-31.

On New Year's Eve in El Paso, Texas at the Sun Bowl, the Oregon State Beavers took the field against the 20th-ranked Pitt Panthers. Surely this match up would put an end to the unlikely undefeated bowl run of what seemed to be an overachieving conference, right?

Well, it wasn't pretty and damn near painful to watch (especially if you're a fan of offense) but, sure enough, the Beavers pulled yet another Pac-10 upset, defeating Pitt by a 3-0 score. That made the Pac-10 4-for-4.

Finally, we came to the "Granddaddy of Them All." The Rose Bowl. This year's contest pitted the No. 5 USC Trojans against the impressive No. 8 Nittany Lions of Penn State and their seemingly ageless coach, Joe Paterno. 

Another home-field drubbing by USC. The final score was 38-24, but it was not as close as the score might indicate. The pummeling of yet another Big Ten victim in the fight for the roses leaves USC fans wondering "What if?"

So, as the great Austin Powers once said, "What does it all mean, Bazil?"

Basically, that's why they play the games and why college bowl season is so intriguing. That is why we will all keep watching and hoping and praying that our team (whoever they are) can pull that unlikely upset, as well.

God bless you all, and Happy New Year!