Well here go hell come. It is actually possible that USC could fall all the way to the 6th bowl in the PAC-12. I believe that, given their cache, it probably won’t happen. Can you really see someone like the Las Vegas bowl passing up having a good portion of LA roll up I-15 for a football game the weekend before Christmas?
But right now there are 5 teams with better conference records than USC (by BCS ranking: #5 Oregon, #8 Stanford, #15 Oregon State, #17 UCLA, #25 Washington) and a 6th with a higher ranking (#24 Arizona). So even if the PAC-12 lands a second BCS bowl game, Navy is going to either face a team that was ranked at the end of Week 12 or USC. There really is no bad matchup for exposure’s sake.
The other big news for the watch list is that Arizona eliminated Utah from bowl contention thanks to a 34-24 win last weekend. The Utes were up 24-17 going into the 4th quarter, but gave up 17 unanswered points. So bon voyage to that opponent. Frankly, it was the least attractive matchup. We’ve played them before, they’re not a traditional PAC team, and I don’t need another stinking referee blowing a touchback call again.
Click on through for our update of Washington, Arizona, and Arizona State.
Washington (7-4, 5-3)
Sagarin #24 (up from #34)
Last Week: Won 38-3 at Colorado
Nov 23: @ Washington State
Washington held Colorado to 141 total yards. Huskies QB Keith Price completed 22 of 29 passes for 248 yards and 5 touchdowns. And they did all of that despite converting just 3 of 12 third downs. They play Washington State for the Apple Cup today at 3:30pm on Fox. Tune in to see if they can get to 8 wins.
Arizona (7-4, 4-4)
Sagarin #21 (up from #28)
Last Week: Won 34-24 at Utah
Nov 23: vs. Arizona State
Like I said above, Arizona exploded for 17 4th-quarter points to get the win. They made the rally happen by tightening up on defense, forcing a punt, and two turnovers on downs. The season-ending rivalry game against Arizona State is also today – the nightcap at 10pm on ESPN.
Arizona State (6-5, 4-4)
Sagarin #28 (down from #21)
Last Week: Won 46-7 vs. Washington State
Nov 23: @ Arizona
ASU became bowl eligible and put Washington State one game away from going winless in the PAC-12 this season when they trounced the Cougars last weekend. The Sun Devils are a three-point home dog tonight against the Wildcats.
In case you missed the comments section last week, I flip-flopped my way into Washington being the pick for our bowl game. I’m going to stick with them this week, setting up a rematch of the 1924 Rose Bowl that ended in a 14-14 tie.
The Birddog 
This would be my dream matchup, as U-Dub is the “other” team we cheer for, being from Washington. Actually the one time that we would be pulling for the Huskies to lose! Keith Price has an impressive corps of Pac-12 quality receivers, plus #88 tight-end Austin Sefferian-Jenkins that is so gifted an athlete that he plays both ways, and #25 running back Bishop Sankey #25 from Gonzaga Prep (in Spokane, WA) that we would have loved seeing recruited to Annapolis. However the Washington defense is every bit as porous as Navy’s has shown to be so this game could be a score-fest and a lot of fun to watch! I could see the Husky defense being worn down and not having Navy’s 4th Quarter stamina being the deciding factor if NAVY vs. Washington happens. Players #’s included above, in case anybody tunes in to the Apple Cup on FOX today, to check out the possible Bowl opponent.
“I don’t need another stinking referee blowing a touchback call again.”
Witness!
Washington excreted upon the mattress!
Navy’s defense isn’t porous. Navy fans are amazing sometimes.
Washington really blew it against Wash State.
Hope we get Arizona!
ASU Sun Devils!