Ted Miller

  (11:59 AM)

Howdy folks... it's T-minus three days until USC-Ohio State and a HUGE Pac-10 weekend. Let's talk about it.

Neal (Philly)

Ted, that was a great pick of Oregon State over Penn State.

Ted Miller

  (12:01 PM)

Easy now... I didn't pick Oregon State to win. Just thought they'd be competitive. Of course, I was very wrong. Just not very, very wrong.

Mark (Tempe, AZ)

I know the OL is a question mark but why does it seem everyone is ignoring ASU? All I hear/read about is Oregon and Cal, given they both look good, but it is hard to imagine there is a more explosive WR core in all of college football than ASU. The defense seem "good enough" and if you give Rudy time to throw you can pick anyone apart. Just wondering why people seem to think they are the 4th best team in the P10 now?

Ted Miller

  (12:02 PM)

Mark... here's a guess no one will ignore the Sun Devils next week with UGA coming to town. The first three games -- Northern Arizona, Stanford and now UNLV -- aren't conducive to a a Wow factor.

Will J (Portland, OR)

Four days til the Clash in the Coliseum. Is this the biggest regular season game in a Pac-10 stadium in the last 10 years? Or More?

Ted Miller

  (12:05 PM)

It's big and, as Pete Carroll would say, I'm pumped. But ... Cal vs. USC in 2004 was pretty big... and USC-ND at the time seemed huge...

Garrett

ohio state is gonna woop USC so bad there mommas will feel it!!!!!!

Ted Miller

  (12:07 PM)

do you really think so? My guess is some folks out West would like you to put your money where your mouth is. I'm one of the few that thinks the Buckeyes have a fair shot, but I'll guarantee you it will be close of OSU wins.

Jason (Atlanta)

Do you see UGA stopping ASU's offense, namely the passing game, in the matchup on the 20th? I think ASU has to block the DL well enough to force UGA to blitz...if they bring heat, I think Rudy can find the receivers and YAC becomes the key stat.

Ted Miller

  (12:09 PM)

Jason... Carpenter is amazing under pressure -- ASU would struggle mightily if he weren't. He'll have his moments, but I think UGA's pressure will be more than the Sun Devils can handle.

Dan (Detroit)

Are all of these predictions for a USC blow out warranted? What's the feeling out west?

Ted Miller

  (12:12 PM)

Warranted? I don't think so. I see an OSU lineup filled with future NFL players. But the pulse out West is that USC will crush the Buckeyes... in the Sun Devils Stadium press box folks were acting like it's practically a done-deal. I don't think so, but that's the vibe. The reason: Folks watched USC vs. Virginia and Ohio State vs. Ohio and came to a conclusion. My experience is that's not a sound way to judge things.

Ted Miller

  (12:13 PM)

my connection is slow... sorry guys

Mark (Tempe, AZ)

Remind me again who Oregon has played?

Ted Miller

  (12:13 PM)

Washington and Utah State, visiting Purdue this weekend... are you suggesting something?

Jason (Chicago)

I am a Big Ten fan but I really see no way Ohio St. wins this game. Give me a reason to believe in Ohio St. on Saturday.

Ted Miller

  (12:15 PM)

Because it's college football, which is often nutty. Because Ohio State has good players. Because USC, despite a glittering array of talent, is not invincible.

kc oakland

Cal at Maryland -- easy W? Best, Vereen, Morrah and Riley looking good. They need to get Boateng involved and the D looks good so far.

Ted Miller

  (12:16 PM)

It should be... Maryland has looked TERRIBLE. Bears have a lot of weapons on offense, and the D has looked good.

Jason (Chicago)

I get the feeling Oregon is going to put up 50 against Purdue, is it just me?

Ted Miller

  (12:18 PM)

I am eagerly awaiting what the Ducks do against a quality foe like Purdue. I picked Oregon second in the Pac-10 and am currently voting them in the top-10 of our national power rankings. Not sure if they'll go for half of century but it wouldn't surprise me.

Chris (Boston)

Why do SEC schools root for other schools in their conference to do well? Pretty much every Big 10 school hates Ohio St and roots against them. Do fans of Arkansas and Auburn really take pride in going 8-4 and having LSU beat Ohio St?

Ted Miller

  (12:21 PM)

Southern pride, my man. I'm from Atlanta and felt the same way growing up -- I hate SEC Team A, but sure as heck don't want that team to lose to a bunch of Yankees or flakes from the West Coast. I sort of believe that Alabama and Auburn fans have a hard go of rooting for each other and Alabama fans probably grinned over Tennessee flopping at UCLA. But SEC pride is part of the culture.

Chris (Broadview Heights, OH)

How much do the past 2 BCS championship games have to do with what people out west are saying about this game? I agree that Ohio State is the underdog but they've won at big time places recently too..like Texas.

Ted Miller

  (12:23 PM)

Chris... and remember the BCS title game against a ridiculously talented Miami team. Folks are overdoing the "Big Ten is slow" thing. Ohio State fans believe they were rebuilding last year for a run in 2008. So let's see what happens.

Jason (Atlanta)

Are the injuries to ASU's linebacking unit going to bite them? If Magee is out for any length of time, that's a blow when we start seeing the faster backs on the schedule (including Mr. Moreno, of course).

Ted Miller

  (12:26 PM)

Might... But Magee is a freshman, so he's play has been a bonus. The big one is Gerald Munns, who played great against Stanford. He opted to have surgery on his pinkie finger in order to be ready for Georgia. My guess is the D will do fine without him against UNLV

Tim (Athens)

With all that SEC pride you would think SEC fans would acknowledge that have struggled with the Big 10 recently. (13-14 against B10 last 10 yrs, 7-7 the last 5) Instead all they will talk about is 2 games. Not exactly accepting the truth.

Ted Miller

  (12:27 PM)

Tim... College football fans are a stubborn bunch. SEC fans just take it to another level.Just roll with it.

Nathan (Santa Cruz CA)

We all know how mobile QB's can give OU fits. Will there be any chance that the UW defense will be able to do their part on Saturday against the offensive juggernaut?

Ted Miller

  (12:29 PM)

After watching the Huskies D over two games, I saw nothing that convinced me that it can stop the Sooners. The Huskies only hope is the Sooners play terribly and turn the ball over a bunch of times.

Younger (Los Angeles, CA)

2 weeks in and some big upsets as well as lots of inconsistent play from the ranked teams. Do you think we will see another year like 07 where we end up with a 2 loss team in the championship?

Ted Miller

  (12:31 PM)

My guess is no. I don't see the USC-Ohio State winner losing twice.

Dan (Provo, UT)

How do you see the BYU vs UCLA game shaping up this weekend?

Ted Miller

  (12:34 PM)

BYU's offense looked liked like a finely tuned machine against Washington, but UCLA's D is much better. Then again, I'm not sold on the Bruins offense yet. My guess is it may play out a bit like the bowl game... Maybe the Cougars get another clutch blocked kick? Tend to favor the home team in this one.

Jonathan B (Burlington, NC)

Ted, I know your here to talked about the PAC-10, but how bout them Pirates?

Ted Miller

  (12:35 PM)

Love 'em... best resume out there right now... ranked them in the top 10 of my national power rankings.

michael( vidalia,ga)

who would you rather have on your team: moreno or beanie wells?

Ted Miller

  (12:37 PM)

i know I'm pac10 now, but I'm from Atlanta... got to go with Moreno.. so freaking talented.

Mitch(inglewood,ca0

you think bennie wells hould be at 100% buy the time the game comes around and will we see terell proyor and do the game wiill shape out

Ted Miller

  (12:39 PM)

I think wells will be full-go the entire game... and I think Pryor will get touches, though probably not as many as folks think... remember how Vince Young looked as a freshman?

Blake Crumley Athens Ga

Do you think UGA and USC would be a better game than Ohio St and USC?

Ted Miller

  (12:40 PM)

Yes... but maybe we'll get to see both. And not because we know USC and UGA are better, but because I love the whole Pac-10-SEC shout-down.

Nathan (Santa Cruz CA)

Ted, I read you're from ATL. Are you going to take this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the Dawgs play outside of the SE?

Ted Miller

  (12:42 PM)

I'll be there... and I will try to be objective. Told folks at ASU, who are great, that I will find myself torn professionally (Pac10!) and emotionally (Dawgs!).

Nathan (exchange student in finland)

Oregon vs Pur(don't) Spread offense vs Spread offense Who comes out on top? And can Oregons offense stay up to tempo like as weeks win?

Ted Miller

  (12:43 PM)

you are persistent nathan. yes.

Bryan Brussels belgium

Why is everyone making a big deal out of USC'S one win against Virginia. Didn't the Cavs struggle against Richmond the next week?

Ted Miller

  (12:45 PM)

Did you watch? UVA was a bowl team a year ago.

Howard (Los Angeles)

So how about Jahvid Best as a sleeper for the Heisman?

Ted Miller

  (12:46 PM)

If he keeps rolling up 80-plus-yard TD runs he'll be more than a sleeper... Cal needs to keep winning, though.

blake(sarasota, fl)

who wins next week uga or asu?

Ted Miller

  (12:48 PM)

Georgia... but I'm as curious about that one as the GAME of the CENTURY in LA on Saturday.

Brian, LA

You are not sold on the UCLA offense, but are you sold on the BYU defense? I would think UCLA will have a lot more room to run on Saturday.

Ted Miller

  (12:50 PM)

BYU's front seven seemed fairly salty to me... it's the secondary that the Bruins might exploit. But they have to protect Craft.

Josh (Bakersfield CA)

What is your prediction: do you believe USC will blow out Ohio State or will it be kept close with USC slowly creeping the game away with a victory? if so, score prediction.

Ted Miller

  (12:51 PM)

So my choices are USC wins big or USC wins close? Hmm... any other possible angles Mr. Confident?

Nate (Atlanta, GA)

Which team had the most dominating defense in recent memory: USC this season, LSU last season, Florida in '06, or the Westminster Wildcats in the mid-1980s?

Ted Miller

  (12:55 PM)

Are you kidding... the 'Cats team that shut down Marist in the1986 Region 5-AAA playoffs...Dick Butkus told me he trade his past for LB Will Lybrook's future. USC is a close second, though

Justin (WI)

You're out west, which is close enough for my question. What do us Badgers need to know about Fresno State?

Ted Miller

  (12:56 PM)

Good team... tough place to play... visiting fans my want to wear a helmet. Fear the Fu Manchu.

Daniel, Newport Beach

Im in New York on business and plan on traveling down to CALige Park this weekend to watch the Golden Bears eat some turtle soup... any threat on the Terps that might surprise us?

Ted Miller

  (12:59 PM)

Don't think the Terps have much left... eating crab might be the most exciting part of your trip

Ted Miller

  (12:59 PM)

Folks... got to get back to work... thanks for stopping by... good questions.