2011 Pac 12 Predictions

After long break from the Blog I am back. This is my sixth season predicting the Pac 10/12 and I have correctly predicted the champ every year. Here's my predictions:

North

1. Oregon- The machine will keep rolling in 2011. There's no stopping the Ducks.

2. Stanford- Stanford suffered the biggest offseason loss in the conference when Jim Harbaugh took the 49er's job, but with Andrew Luck behind center they'll win a bunch of games.

3. Cal- The Bears will put together a decent year this year, nothing impressive, but it will be decent.

4. Washington- The Huskies will go 6-6 for the second straight year.

5. OSU- An inconsistent QB, a gazillion injuries and no Jaquizz Rogers means no bowl for OS for the second straight year.

6. WSU- WSU has won one conference game in past two season. They won't win many more this year.

South

1. USC-They'll win the south on talent and not coaching. Unfortunately the Trojans are ineligible for the title game.

2. Utah- The Utes aren't a great team, but because of the lack of anyone better and USC being ineligible they'll get to be the sacrificial lamb for Oregon in the title game.

3. ASU- This will be Dennis Erikson's last year.

4. UCLA- Kirk Herbstreit has the Bruins in the Pac 12 title game. I think that's a stretch, but they'll be a little better this year.

5. Arizona- I read an ESPN story that said Stoops likes to shop, read women's magazines and drink fine wine. I am revoking his man card.

6. Colorado- The WSU of the South.

Pac 12 Title Game

Oregon over Utah

Memories From Mac Court

McArthur Court has been the home of Oregon Duck Basketball since 1926. Currently it is the second oldest on campus arena still in use in the entire country. On January 1st the Ducks will play their final game at the old arena before moving into the brand new Matthew Knight Arena. I have attended close to 100 games at "The Pit" as it is affectionately called. Saturday I will attend one final game. While I'm excited about the beautiful new arena opening up, Saturday while be sad a day because of the many memories I have of the place.

I have been going games at Mac Court as long as I can remember. My dad and I would always sit in the front row of the third balcony which to this day I think is the best seat in the house. In those days the Ducks weren't very good (they still aren't), but I still loved going to games.

As I got into middle school and High School I didn't many games. My dad no longer enjoyed going to games because the arena was old, uncomfortable and had many bad seats.

My most memorable moments at Mac Court came during my college years. As a student I always sat in the front row of the student section. Many games I would often sit outside hours before the start of the game in order to get my front row seat. For the huge games we would barbecue and drink beverages that we weren't supposed to in public. During midterms I would often bring my books and attempt to study while waiting outside.

My first Senior year the Ducks finally returned to post season play, making it to the NIT. After disposing of Georgia Tech in the first round I was faced with a dilemna. They were scheduled to host Wyoming in the second round on a Monday night. The problem was that I had a Spanish final at the same time. In the end I did what any committed fan would do and made up a story about an out of town relative that I hadn't seen in years visiting. The instructor bought it and allowed me to take the final the next afternoon. Prior to the game my photo was taken by the local paper. I remember being worried all night that my Spanish instructor would open up his newspaper the next morning and see a large photo of me at the game when I was supposedly spending time with an out of town relative. Fortunately for me the picture didn't make the paper and I passed my Spanish final the next day.

My second senior year marked the return to the big dance. There were many great moments that year. First beating USC, erasing a bad memory from the year before when they beat us on a last second half court shot that shouldn't have counted. At one point a whiny USC player got a another free throw after complaining that the students were causing the basket to shake. My greatest memory from that year though was the "Mac Court Miracle" in which the Ducks scored six point in the final four seconds to beat Arizona State. As Darius Wright's last second three point shot went in I hugged Nike CEO Phil Knight who was sitting right in front of me at a media table. I then stormed the court jumping onto the pile of players celebrating the miraculous victory.

After college I returned to the Student Section a couple times using my old student ID, but most of the time I sat in the second and third balconies where I sat as a child. The most memorable moment in my post college came in January 2007 when number 1 ranked UCLA came to town. At that game I was selected to participate in Outback Steakhouse Three Point Shootout. The goal was to make five three point shots in 30 seconds and I would win a $50 gift card at outback. The arena was full that day and preceded to shoot a bunch of bricks and air balls while being taunted by the student section. After the game I was walking back to my car when a truck passed me and someone yelled out the window "nice shooting!". The next day at church I must have had at least five people comment on my dreadful shooting performance. As for the game itself the Ducks won that day 68-66 shocking the number one team in the country. I desperately wanted to storm the court like in my college days, but I was stuck in the third balcony.
Saturday will mark the last time I go to the old arena. I'm sure as I walk out of the place for the final time that I will tear up thinking about all the great memories from that place. I just hope my final memory of Mac Court will be a Duck Victory.

Week 13 Pac 10 Rankings

After a one week break my rankings are Back.

1. Oregon- Oregon can clinch the Pac 10 with a victory over Arizona on Friday.

2. Stanford- The best one loss team in the country. It will be a shame if they get left out of a BCS game.

3. Arizona- The Wildcats have lost two in a row. Friday will be three in a row.

4. Cal, USC, OSU, ASU, Washington- None of these teams are very good.

9. UCLA- Three years in and I think it's safe to that Rick Neuheisal has been a failure.

10. WSU- The Cougs are better, but I still have them at the bottom.

Week 11 Pac 10 Rankings

1. Oregon- The last time the Ducks won at Cal was 2001. The losing streak at Cal will end today.

2. Stanford- The Cardinal are the best one loss team in the country. Unfortunately for them they might get jobbed by the BCS.

3. USC- I put USC at three, but they're not even close to Stanford or Oregon.

4. Arizona- Pathetic effort against Stanford, but I can't justify putting anyone else here.

5. Oregon State- The Beavers need to win two of their last four to get to a bowl game. With USC, Stanford and Oregon Still on the schedule I don't think they get there.

6. Cal- Did they really need to come from behind to beat the Coogs?

7. ASU- The Sun Devils have lost 3 games by 3 or less points.

8. UCLA- Nice win against the Beavers, but the Bruins are still lousy.

9. Washington- They held Oregon scoreless for the first quarter after that they gave up 53 points.

10. WSU- The Coogs are getting closer, but I don't think today is the day.

Week 10 Pac 10 Rankings

1. Oregon- The Ducks have beat the Huskies by 20 or more six consecutive times. In the history of the Pac 10 dating back to 1915 no other team has beat a team by at least 20 points six consecutive times.

2. Stanford- The cardinal will beat Arizona tomorrow and I think they'll go 11-1 and not get a BCS invite.

3. Arizona.- The Wildcats have conference title aspirations. They won't after tomorrow.

4. Oregon State- Could the Beavers be starting their annual surge to the top? Probably not.

5. USC- So much for their "bowl game" against Oregon.

6. Cal- Another disappointing for the Bears.

7. ASU- Dennis Erickson should begin cleaning out his office.

8. Washington- So much for the Huskies being back.

9. UCLA- Could the Bruins upset the Beavers on Saturday? Probably not.

10. WSU- The Coogs just flat out suck.

Week 9 Pac10 Rankings

1. Oregon

2. Stanford.

3. Arizona

4. USC

5. Oregon State

6. Cal

7. Washington

8. ASU

9. UCLA

10 WSU

Week 8 Pac 10 Rankings

Since I was on vacation last week the Pac 10 rankings took a vacation as well. Here are this week's rankings.

1. Oregon- The #1 team in the country has lost each of the last two weeks. I don't expect that trend to continue this week.

2. Stanford- I don't expect the Tree to be challenged much by WSU.

3. Arizona- without Nick Foles the cats could take a dive.

4. USC- Still not sure what to make of the Trojans. I think we'll find out more next week.

5. Washington- The Huskies are 3-3 after beating Oregon State. Could they go bowling this year? We'll have to wait and see about that.

6. Oregon State- I don't blame Riley for going for it. I just think you need to put the ball in Jaquizz Rodgers' hands at the end of the game.

7. Cal- Jeff Tedford's seat is starting to get really hot.

8. UCLA- Night game at Autzen Stadium? Not a chance.

9. ASU- If the Sun Devils want any hope of going to a bowl they must beat Cal. Otherwise it could be the end of the Dennis Erickson era.

10. WSU- The Coogs are coming off of two straight moral victories. I doubt the get a third against stanford.