ESPN College Football

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

Just a little stocking stuffer ...

J.P. in Eugene, Ore., writes: I don't think any of us would disagree than of the five Pac-10 teams in bowls this season, Arizona would be the least likely to pull out a win. But now that they have, what do you think are the chances of the Pac-10 going 5-0 this bowl season?

Ted Miller: I hear you, J.P. This bowl season should be about the Pac-10 vindicating itself.

I'm a little concerned that Oregon State will play a solid Pitt team in the Sun Bowl without the Rodgers brothers, which means 50 percent of their offense this season is out. And, unlike many folks on the West Coast, I think Penn State is going to challenge USC, which might come out flat, playing its fifth Rose Bowl in six years.

The game that most interests me is the Holiday Bowl, though. I picked Oregon to finish second in the Pac-10 this season and thought they were a potential top-10 team. At times, they've looked like one. Others, not so much.

I watched Oklahoma State against Washington State in the opener and was unimpressed with the Cowboys, though, of course, that game was way back in August.

Unlike ESPN's Desmond Howard, who called this a sure thing for the Cowboys, I look at the two rosters and think Oregon is WAY, WAY better. That OSU offense that is so fancy in the Big 12 induces yawns out here. And the Ducks, whose offense IS fancy, will shock Oklahoma State's defense. They haven't seen anything like what Chip Kelly will bring.

Remember when folks were touting South Florida in last year's Sun Bowl and the Ducks physically manhandled them, 56-21, rushing for 353 yards? After the game, South Florida's players talked about how Oregon was by far the fastest and most physical team they'd played.

The Cowboys may be saying the same.

Cal Fans from Berkeley wrote: If I'm not mistaking Cal has two honorable mentions: Alex Mack and Jahvid Best

Ted Miller: You refer to my post on the Pro Football Weekly All-American team. You're correct. Best's name, in the spirit of his running style, just eluded me.

Raymond from Tucson writes: Do you think the Wildcat victory will place the Cats in the final top 25 and also do think the Cats will be ranked at the start of the 2009 season? If so that would be just ANOTHER step forward. CONGRATS WILDCATS!

Ted Miller: Raymond, big win for Arizona and Mike Stoops.

But "no" to both your questions.

It's nothing against Arizona: I don't think any five-loss teams will be in the final poll.

And, as for 2009, the Wildcats take some key hits that likely will keep them out of the preseason polls, starting with quarterback Willie Tuitama and receiver Mike Thomas. And odds are tackle Eben Britton will bolt a year early for the NFL, which means I'm out my go-to Arizona interview.

Jordan from Phoenix writes: Now, I don't think a person watching a game on television impacts anything. However... My sister started at Oregon State this Fall. The first game she attended was the Beavers' win over #1-ranked USC. The only other time anyone in my family had seen the Beavers play in person was in 1967, when my dad witnessed the the Beavs' win over the #1-ranked Trojans. For the record, I'm a Ducks fan, but that's fairly coincidental, no?

Ted Miller: Dude, why didn't your family help me out with the 1991 World Series when the evil Minnesota Twins cheated the good souls of the Atlanta Braves -- America's Team! -- out of a World Series?

Superstitious? I went out to watch games 1, 2 and 6 with friends. I stayed home for games 3, 4 and 5. Seriously. My brother thought I was cracked, but I know the karmic score.

Then, in Game 7, while working my magic at home, my father broke my focus by coming downstairs and asking me a bunch of silly questions. Immediately Lonnie Smith fell for Chuck Knoblauch's dastardly feigned double play and didn't score the go-ahead run in the eighth.

Then Dan Freaking Gladden @X@&%.

So, yeah, superstitions are stupid. But break them at your own risk.

And your family could probably make some money offering up their services: "Good luck fan for sale."

I'm not kidding.

Jim from Los Angeles writes: Time to cover the Richmond story now? Got to show the Spiders some love???

Brian from Walnut Creek, Calif., writes: WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! National Champs Ted! You gotta give Richmond some love in the Pac-10 blog this week. I'm going to the Emerald Bowl next week. Before the season I was so pumped about Cal football, but turns out our own school was the team to watch.

Ted Miller: I'd give them more love but I worry they're going to lose coach Mike London, who was formerly the D-coordinator at Virginia. The Spiders playoff run was a thing of beauty and that was a very well prepared team vs. Montana.

Chris from Southern California wrote: Mark Whicker has a wonderful column in the OC Register, entitled JACQUIZZ THE SHORT-LEGGED BEAVER. Written to the tune of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Usual Whicker magic.

Ted Miller: You refer to this. You are correct ... it is a gem.

And here it is:

JACQUIZZ THE SHORT-LEGGED BEAVER

(Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer)

You know Barnes and Beban and Pritchard and Vince
Lou Holtz and Don James and not many since
But do you recall
The smallest Trojan-killer of all?

Jacquizz the short-legged Beaver
Couldn't stand up very tall
Whenever he got the handoff
He became a bowling ball

Cushing was getting livid
Whenever Quizzie ran around
He'd run through their legs until
The referee said, 'First down'

There must have been some magic there
In Beaver-land, I guess
Because when Quizzie's work was done
The Trojans groaned, 'BCS'

Yes, now the Beavers love him
And they shout it out with glee
Jacquizz the short-legged Beaver
Barred the Trojans from Mi-am-ee