Mal's picks in the pac

All nine teams from the Pac-10 are in action this week, as are all eleven teams from the Big-10. The more interesting match-ups feature UCLA at Oklahoma State, USC at Colorado, and WSU at Ohio State. Washington's players and coaches take a week off to attend a class in counting.   

-- Washington--Bye Week

Rick Neuheisel won't get a salary extension next week. The Huskies need to lose big-time to insure their head coach's solvency. Neuheisel is taking a class in counting this week, as should I, according to my editor. So, how about a class in counting for all the coaches, AD's and presidents from the eleven universities in the Big Ten?

-- UCLA at Oklahoma State (TV, Fox Sports Net, 4PM) 

Oklahoma State has lost to Louisiana Tech and has beaten Northern Iowa, while UCLA has beaten then-20th ranked Colorado State.

UCLA is a 6 1/2 point favorite and leads the Pac-10 in rushing offense--but is last in rushing defense.

UCLA's Tab Perry was in hot water last week when he told a reporter that he didn't think the Bruins would have any problems with Oklahoma State. Bob Toledo told him to keep his mouth shut, to tone down the bulletin board material. 

Pick: UCLA 31-28

-- Southern Cal (1-0) at Colorado (1-1) (ABC TV, 12:30 PM)

Betting line: CU by 2 1/2

This game matches the kids from the "thin air," or should that be "hot air," versus the kids who hope to give Colorado Coach Gary Barnett, the two-finger victory salute, or should that be the one-finger salute. 

Barnett is infuriated with the NCAA. 

"It came down to them wanting to grill Rick (Neuheisel), and they grilled Rick. Rick probably pushed the envelope, and did it more creatively than anyone else, but what he did is no more illegal than what every college coach in the country does. To just pick out a school and to slap us for what they're going to slap us with, for what everybody else is doing, they've got to have their head in the sand."

Pick: USC 24-17

-- Oregon State (2-0) versus UNLV (1-1) (TBS, 4PM)

Betting line: OSU by 16

The swagger is back at OSU. The Beavers lead the Pac-10 in penalty yards per game, 147.5. 

The good news: They lead the conference in Total Offense, Turnover Margin, Pass Efficiency Defense, First Downs, and Kickoff Coverage. 

The bad: They've beaten Eastern Kentucky and Temple.

Pick: OSU 42-19

-- WSU (2-0) at Ohio State (2-0) TV ABC Regional at 12:30 PM

Betting line: OSU by 8 points.

Pick: OSU 42-35

-- Oregon (2-0) versus Idaho (0-2)

The Ducks play their third consecutive game at home, taking on powerful Idaho, after pummeling hapless Fresno State into submission last week, 28-24. 

Betting Line: Oregon by 32

Pick: Oregon 42-19

-- San Jose State (1-1) at Stanford (0-1)

SJS will jump from the gate quickly, getting off to a 10-0 lead in the first half, but then Coach Buddy Teeven will get even Steven (1-1), his Cardinal, whoops Tree, piling it on in the second half. Meanwhile, Stanford's coaches, AD and president are trying to figure what their mascot should be--a Tree or a Cardinal? And they say Neuheisel can't count to 11.

Betting line: Stanford by 19 1/2

Pick: Stanford 34-10

-- Cal (2-0) versus Michigan State (2-0) TV ESPN2 9 AM

Betting line: Michigan State by 14

Michigan State will give Cal's new head coach Jeff Tedford his first loss of the season.

Pick: Michigan State 49-21

-- ASU (2-1) at San Diego State (0-2)

Betting Line: ASU by 6

Pick: ASU 28-24


-- Utah (2-0) at Arizona (1-0) Fox Sports Net 7:20 PM

Betting Line: Utah by 2

Pick: Arizona 34 Utah 31