ESPN

Ted Miller

  (3:00 PM)

Greetings. Fire away.

Brian (Corvallis)

Hey Ted two quick questions. Do you think Sean Canfield has a good chance of sneaking into the draft? What round. And do you think the Beavs will have a let down on homecoming against UCLA.

Ted Miller

  (3:01 PM)

1. Yes, I think Canfield will be drafted... if he keeps playing like he did vs. USC, he might go on the first day. 2. No. I think OSU wins.

John (Orange County)

I am a Cal Bears fan. If the Bears beat ASU and by some chance won out and became 10-2, what bowl do you think they would go to? Is it possible that they could go to some other BCS bowl even though they might not even be in second place or tied for second in the pac-10?

Ted Miller

  (3:02 PM)

That depends on what USC and Oregon do... most bowls would favore a 10-2 USC or Oregon team over Cal because of the head-to-head deal. I don't think Cal can play its way into a BCS bowl. My guess is the Bears best-case is the Holiday Bowl.

Joe (Chico, CA)

Does the USC-Oregon loser still have a chance at a one of the big bowls (plenty of BCS teams have made a big bowl with 2 losses)

Ted Miller

  (3:04 PM)

Yes... USC's chances are better for an at-large berth because the Trojans are a national team who would drive TV ratings better than Oregon... but I think the Ducks, at 10-2, with the Pac-10 having four or five ranked teams, could get an invite to the Fiesta Bowl if things play out in their favor.

Ryan (Medford, OR)

Does LaMichael James deserve to be in the running for All-PAC-10 RB? What do you think about him?

Ted Miller

  (3:06 PM)

He's good... but the Pac-10 has the best depth at running back in the country. Unless James goes nuts and passes Toby Gerhart, Jacquizz Rodgers and Jahvid Best statistically, my guess is he'll finish behind those three... which, of course, probably means second-team All-Pac-10.

Derek (AL)

LSU lost to #1 Florida, while USC lost to an unranked team that LSU beat. Why is USC ranked higher than LSU?

Ted Miller

  (3:09 PM)

Because folks think USC is better than LSU in large part because USC has beaten good teams and LSU hasn't.

Matthew (Tacoma)

Ted - Could Paul Wulff be sent packing after year two with Washington St? If so, who would be a good replacement for the Cougs in your estimation?

Ted Miller

  (3:10 PM)

I don't think this will happen. I think it will be a mistake if it does. So I'm not going to speculate.

Jason (Salem, OR)

Why aren't the coach's votes public? It makes no sense!? It's another example of how the BCS offers no accountability and is run by a cartel of head honcho's greedy for money.

Ted Miller

  (3:11 PM)

I don't want to go all conspiracy theory on that, but the coaches vote should be public because it prevents obvious regional bias.

Tim (ATL)

i just looked at the ESPN heisman watch thing, and CJ spiller has 3 times the points as quizz!?! i assume you were the one to put him at #2, but how crazy is it that with 155ypg from scrimmage and 15 TDs that quizz is getting nearly zero love?!?

Ted Miller

  (3:12 PM)

Dude, that's why I've been ringing that bell. If Quizz has a nice game vs. UCLA, my guess is he'll start to get more hype.

Crazy Man (Pennsylvania)

Ted quick queston, a 11-1 USC team, stuck in the rose bowl again. or will they be picked up for an at-large bid?

Ted Miller

  (3:14 PM)

I hope not. Think most folks would like to see an 11-1 USC paired with the SEC champion in the national title game. But if that's not going to happen, USC will be in the Rose Bowl. Again.

Ken (CA)

How is it that Dez Bryant gets a year suspension for lying about something that wasn't illegal, and yet USC STILL gets no action with Reggie Bush and Mayo?

Ted Miller

  (3:18 PM)

Apples and oranges... there remains no credible evidence that USC had knowledge of Bush's relationship with wanna-be agents, though that might strain credulity. I don't know what the hold-up with Mayo is. As for Bryant, I think the situation is horribly unfair and a disservice to college football. My sympathies are with Bryant 100 percent.

Blake (Abilene, TX)

Ted, I here the comentators at ESPN say this a lot. So I ask, is trickeration good literation?

Ted Miller

  (3:19 PM)

Funny... it should become a libation!

RAY GORDONREID ( ATHENS GEORGIA 306O2)

QUESTION TO TED MILLER AT 3.50PM HI TED WHO DO HAVE SATURDAY DUCKS OR TROJANS

Ted Miller

  (3:19 PM)

Answer at 12:18 PDT... I got the Ducks

Matthew (Salem, OR)

I saw you wrote about Blount already, but how much of an impact will he have if he comes back. Oregon already looks dynamic!

Ted Miller

  (3:20 PM)

Not sure. My guess is he will come off the bench behind LaMichael James, not unlike what he did last year with Jeremiah Johnson. But Blount is a good player who will give Oregon a power back option it's been lacking.

Dave (Coralville, IA)

USC wins out, Iowa wins out. Iowa, contrary to national perception about big 10 teams, plays well in bowl games (beating LSU, Florida, South Carolina and close losses to Texas and Florida). Should misplaced perception matter more than on the field results (win-loss record and strength of schedule)?

Ted Miller

  (3:22 PM)

That's going to be a tough one, and it certainly won't feel fair to Iowa fans if a once-beaten team plays for the national title over an unbeaten Iowa team. My thought is this: Let's see what happens. Seems to me that things haven't been predictable since 2005.

Jake (Honolulu, HI)

Recently you linked an article about some computers putting Pac10 as the 2nd or best conference, you think Pac10 is a legit #2 conference?

Ted Miller

  (3:22 PM)

Yes.

Carl (Steubenville,Oh)

If Zach Collaros of Cincy, combines what he has shown running and passing could he be in the Heisman talks next year?

Ted Miller

  (3:24 PM)

Wow... we can't figure out the Heisman frontrunner this year yet we're looking ahead to 2010... probably need to see some more from Zach before writing him onto the list... I'm still trying to compute Pike's situation.

Brian (SO CAL DUCK)

Why is it Oregon gets no love as the best one loss team? The loss and aftermath were BAD, but Boise is undefeated, Oregon has had a tough schedule since. Is the PUNCH holding them back?

Ted Miller

  (3:25 PM)

Could happen after this weekend. I don't think it's the punch. It's the performance at Boise that's holding them back.

Chris (SEATTLE)

Who has Oregon played again?

Ted Miller

  (3:26 PM)

You mean like how many teams ranked in the BCS standings? Three.

Craig G. (Fairfield, California)

Hey Ted, just caught your "lunch links," which I always enjoy. What would be your ideal Rose Bowl matchup?

Ted Miller

  (3:27 PM)

Oregon-Iowa.

Rob (Austin, TX)

Arizona has yet to play USC and Oregon. how are they going to stack up in those games?

Ted Miller

  (3:30 PM)

Oregon's visit on Nov. 21 will be interesting... could be a trap game for the Ducks, and a Wildcats win might have HUGE ramifications in the Pac-10 pecking order... Arizona plays at USC on 12/5, the season's last weekend. The stakes will be big there, too, but the Trojans have won 47 of 48 at home...

Grant (Chicago)

What if Oregon lost to Washington instead of Boise St, would they be #4 right now?

Ted Miller

  (3:33 PM)

No... the loss is more recent. Also, a team's high ranking when it loses helps it climb back up the rankings (a team falls from No. 3 to say, No. 12, vs. a team that fans from No. 12 to say 24). And look at USC's schedule... they've beaten three teams ranked in the BCS standings...

Josh (Eugene)

are you going to be at the Oregon USC game. I think you were good luck last week.

Ted Miller

  (3:35 PM)

Yes... a whole gaggle of ESPN folk will be on hand.

A (Z)

Do you think Oregon's young offensive line can create the space LaMichael James needs against a tough USC line?

Ted Miller

  (3:36 PM)

That's a big question... USC has struggled against the pass but it's been dominant against the run. James needs to be productive, but so do Masoli and Ed Dickson.

Charlie (Atlanta)

Ted, if you could coach ANYWHERE, where would it be and why? "Cheerleaders" is a legit answer. FYI, the LSU/USC/UW argument is silly because Oregon thumped UW while LSU barely got by. You don't hear Duck fans complaining they're behind USC.

Ted Miller

  (3:38 PM)

Does the city of Charleston, S.C. have a football team? I love that place. Good point about the LSU/USC/UW deal. Fact is, when teams don't play head-to-head, we can get loopy with all the transitive property matchups.

Sean (Tallahassee)

Im a Seminole and I was wondering if fsu was with only one loss would christian ponder be a heisman canidit

Ted Miller

  (3:39 PM)

Yes... and if the Seminoles manage a mini-roll after the UNC comeback, and Ponder continues to put up numbers, he may get there yet.

Bradford (Boise, ID)

Ted, what's your take on Boise State? I ask because it seems the Broncos are being judged based on their game against the Ducks. Thanks.

Ted Miller

  (3:42 PM)

The Boise State question is a tough one. Obviously a good team. But how should the Broncos rate compared to an unbeaten TCU or Cincinnati team. Or even a once-beaten Pac-10 team. I go back and forth on it... Boise deserves it vs. Boise can't hang its entire season on one game, and a season-opener at home at that.

Brandon (Dallas)

If oregon beats USC this week, where do you see the ducks moving to in the polls

Ted Miller

  (3:43 PM)

Not sure if it will be the majority call, but I will rate Oregon the No. 1 one-loss team.

Chris (Iowa)

Would you rather have a chance to beat the best team of the decade in USC in the Rose Bowl or a chance to win the NC?

Ted Miller

  (3:44 PM)

National championship all the way... who cares who you play to win it?

sweatervestesd1 (Space)

Ted, just wanted to wish yall a Happy Halloween!

Ted Miller

  (3:46 PM)

You too sweater...

Daniel (Anaheim)

Do you think Masoli can pull out the mid - long rangepassing skills when needed this weekend? That's where USC has been porous lately, but the Ducks haven't done all that much downfield passing.

Ted Miller

  (3:47 PM)

Yes... I suspect that USC will gang up on TE Ed Dickson and force Masoli to find his receivers. That may be where the game turns.

Craig G. (Fairfield, California)

Hey Ted, are you top 3 PAC-10 RB's 1) Best, 2) Jacquizz, 3)Gerhart?

Ted Miller

  (3:49 PM)

Jacqizz is my No. 1. Right now.

Chris (Boise)

Is Kellen Moore the best passer in the country?

Ted Miller

  (3:51 PM)

maybe... he's No. 1 in pass efficiency... but a lot of folks don't give him his due because of the schedule, which is obviously not his fault.

Who cares (Anywhere but the east coast)

Phillies or Yankees?

Ted Miller

  (3:52 PM)

hmm... what conference are they in?

Chris (Phoenix)

Will the new Pac-10 Commish get us a better TV deal? We should have our teams all over National TV on Saturdays like the SEC. I just think a natural tie in with Fox through the FSN system would make for a great noon PDT Pac-10 national game of the week like CBS has with the SEC.

Ted Miller

  (3:53 PM)

That's the hope. But TV deals are market driven... he needs to convince a network that the Pac-10 can produce the ratings that will drive revenue.

Tom (Atlanta)

You've noted that Sagarin is rating the Pac-10 the best conference right now. But do you know Sagarin rated the ACC the best conference at the end of last year? Computers shouldn't be used to rank conferences, or teams for that matter.

Ted Miller

  (3:56 PM)

Rating conferences is sort of a crap shoot as it is... At lot of it is regional bias. Some of it's strategic scheduling, which the Pac-10 needs to learn how to do... Fact is, we don't know what would happen if the Pac-10, Big 12 or SEC played a tournament. And know what? If they played one on Saturday, they'd probably get different results if they played one two weeks later... that's how college football is.

Paul (Sacramento, CA (The real worst place on earth))

Why is Rodgers #1 to you? Because he carries it 2000 times a game? Let a USC back touch it as much as him, and see what happens.

Ted Miller

  (3:57 PM)

Dude, if he carried 2,000 time a game, he'd be No. 1 to everyone.... What I like about Rodgers: 15 TDs.

Kevin (Dothan, AL)

STRAIGHT-SHOOTER QUESTION:WHO WILL WIN THE NATIONAL TITLE?you don't even have to explain your answer......

Ted Miller

  (3:58 PM)

Alabama. Or Florida. No, Alabama.

Pac-Fan (Northwest)

I know the heisman race is up in the air this year, although it feels like Tebow won it before the season started. My question is, do you think the Pac is going to own the race next year, between locker and best (if they come back). Barkley, Foles, and Jaquizz. It seems that the pac-10 is going to have an even tougher conference next year.

Ted Miller

  (4:00 PM)

Tebow hasn't won it. He's just earned a lot of respect. But he's got work to do to win it again -- like win the SEC title. I don't know if the Pac-10 will "own" the Heisman race in 2010 but it should have a nice presence.

DCDuck (Bethesda, MD)

Ted, why do you have USC ahead of Oregon in your national power rankings but Oregon ahead of USC in Pac-10?

Ted Miller

  (4:04 PM)

I try to make the Pac-10 Power Rankings more fluid, more of a week-to-week thing. I moved Oregon past USC last week after I thought the Ducks looked better at Washington than the Trojans looked at home vs. Oregon State... The national power rankings represents my measure of the entire season, and based on that I see USC as being ahead of Oregon. I know, it's a little nutty. But that's my explanation.

Ted Miller

  (4:04 PM)

Folks, got to get back to the blog... thanks for stopping by.