Ted Miller

  (3:00 PM)

Hola! Happy second week of the season. How am I bothering you this week?

Big Mike (Grants Pass, OR)

Ted...remember when Oregon went into the "BIG HOUSE"...) Capacity 106,201) much like this Saturday and thumped the Wolverines 39-7........... Lets say the 07' Michigan team were to play todays Tennessee team...who would win???? My guess it's Michigan....Neyland stadium is about the same capacity.. Did I mention Chip Kelly is NOW the coach.......Coach Kelly will have this team focused, he's been there and done that..A new,faster better team than 07'....DUCKS WIN BIG 48-20

Ted Miller

  (3:01 PM)

The "Big House" is nothing like Neyland Stadium. Michigan is one of the quietest big stadiums you'll ever go to. Neyland is not. Neyland is as loud as Autzen.

Skyler (Corvallis)

Although he only had 9 completions, do you think Katz will become a real threat to defenses as the season continues?

Ted Miller

  (3:02 PM)

Yes.... I think Katz is going to be a good one. Just know that at some point this season he'll likely turn in a rear-end-over-tea-kettle performance. Young QBs do that (and some old ones too). Tons of potential. And just a sophomore.

Suke (Portland)

How many other teams go undefeated with BSU's schedule? 15? 25?

Ted Miller

  (3:04 PM)

There are 15 teams that would beat Virginia Tech. There aren't 20 teams that would beat Oregon State. And there are only about 35 teams that would go unbeaten through the WAC (it's just hard to win every game, period). I'd say only 7-8 or so teams might do it.

wotongoducks (Rip City, OR)

Ted! I fear my Ducks will have a tougher time down south than some may think. What do you think are the keys to the game for Oregon to win?

Ted Miller

  (3:05 PM)

1. Stop the run; 2. Thomas avoids mistakes due to being wowed by Neyland. I, too, have a feeling this one is going to be tougher than some Ducks fans think. Maybe it's a hangover from when I was covering the SEC in the 1990s, but I have a hard time seeing the Vols as an easy out. They should have beaten the undefeated national champions last year.

Nick (Albuquerque)

First Pac-10 game of the season! Will UCLA's slide continue into a possible 0-4 start (games v. Houston and Texas next) or will UCLA find a way to stop Andrew Luck, who might throw the most accurate deep ball in college football.

Ted Miller

  (3:07 PM)

I think LUCK and Stanford win, which makes the Houston game critical to reverse the course of the season. But darn that Case Keenum is good.

Sam (LA)

How can USC solve its defensive problems?

Ted Miller

  (3:07 PM)

Play harder and smarter. Young? Sure. But plenty of young teams play better than that. And I still think the talent is top-10 in the nation.

Aaron (Eugene)

If Darron Thomas (god forbid) leads Oregon to a loss against the Vols, could we be seeing Costa start against Portland State...and the rest of the season?

Ted Miller

  (3:09 PM)

If he cracks under pressure. Don't see that happening though. But if Thomas threw a couple of first-half picks and made some other bad reads, you'd probably see Costa and then QB would be an issue going forward. Don't think Kelly will have a quick trigger on a QB switch though.

JohnV8r (El Dorado Hills, CA)

Ted, is the pre-season co-coordinator concern/question officially over at Arizona or are you not entirely sold yet?

Ted Miller

  (3:10 PM)

Looked smooth in a blowout. But the real test is in a tight game when there may be differences of opinion. That's when the "Too many cooks in the kitchen" syndrome could appear. Stoops gets mad at me for bringing it up, but it's something new and worth watching as the season goes forward and the screws tighten.

Paul (Albany, OR)

Ted, did you hear anything about Patterson requesting the roof be open in Dallas? I thought it was a neutral site game so how can a coach make a request like that? Please understand that TCU handled my Beavers so this is not an excuse, just an attempt to understand the situation. Thank you.

Ted Miller

  (3:11 PM)

Patterson said he had nothing to do with it. I don't think it was an issue. TCU was the Beavers chief problem.

Sean (Arizona)

Do you see anyone in the Pac-10 pulling an Ole Miss against any D1-AA opponents?

Ted Miller

  (3:12 PM)

No... but I could be wrong. Have been before. And Montana State at WSU is worrisome, particularly for Paul Wulff.

Eric (Gresham, OR)

Do you approve of what BSU is doing to football? This season feels like the BCS title is already half picked. Ohio State and Bama with the other half. The people on the outside really don't have a chance. Do you think BSU deserves to go to the NC over an undefeated Pac 10 team?

Ted Miller

  (3:13 PM)

Over an undefeated Pac-10 team? No. And it's unlikely the Broncos would get picked over an undefeated team from a BCS conference because of the computer portion of the BCS standings. But an undefeated Boise could -- and probably should -- go over a once-beaten team from a BCS conference. I saw nothing vs. V-Tech that didn't suggest Boise could hang with anyone.

Bobby (Germany)

Ted, Why do you say that Oregon is better on both sides of the ball to this Tennessee team?

Ted Miller

  (3:14 PM)

Better players.

Ryan (UTAH)

With what we know after week one, where would Utah fall in your Power Rankings if they were in the PAC now?

Ted Miller

  (3:15 PM)

Good one! Considering the fluidity of the power rankings -- recent games count a lot -- I'd likely have Utah 2nd after beating nationally ranked Pitt.

Logan (Tucson)

Hey Ted, What do you think of duber1's comment underneath the conversation we are all having? Do you get these a lot?

Ted Miller

  (3:15 PM)

I can see duber1's comment. Sounds like I don't want to.

Chris M. (Pullman, WA)

Do you see WSU responding from it's week 1 blow out this week vs Montana State?

Ted Miller

  (3:17 PM)

I don't see much middle ground. I see either an energized team playing angry and delivering a whipping or I see a discouraged team getting embarrassed at home. I don't root for teams, but I'd like to see the Cougs taste some success this year just because the program has been through a brutal down time.

brett (eugene)

more likely to take the michigan job should richrod get fired: peterson or harbaugh?

Ted Miller

  (3:18 PM)

Harbaugh.

Jason Yee (Davis, CA)

Who do you think will be the Pac 10's offensive and defensive freshmen of the year?

Ted Miller

  (3:18 PM)

little early... Keenan Allen is an obvious choice on offense.... defense? We need to see more FB.

JohnV8r (El Dorado Hills, CA)

Why the disparity between the AP and the Coaches poll for Arizona this week? Is the media still suffering a hangover from Arizona's Holiday Bowl disaster? If you had a vote, where would you rank Arizona nationally (or would you)?

Ted Miller

  (3:19 PM)

I wouldn't get too hung up on polls in week two.

Eric (Gresham, OR)

What is your favorite kind of beer to sit down and watch a game to?

Ted Miller

  (3:20 PM)

1/2 grey goose, 1/2 Bombay gin, splash vermouth, stirred not shaken with a twist. Yum.

Alan (Los Angeles)

So are you going to actually eat at all your university food recommendations?

Ted Miller

  (3:21 PM)

Probably not... but I will hit a lot of them. I love my Friday nights on the road, and now I have some insider info. And with so many night games, I've got lunch options too.

Stefan (Eugene)

Ted, you said a whle ago that D Thomas was timed running the 40 way slower than dixon, and even costa beat him. But isn't the reason Thomas got the starting job because up the upside of his running game over costa?

Ted Miller

  (3:23 PM)

No. It was that his total body of work during practices was better, according to Kelly. Costa actually runs the spread-option better. Thomas has more upside as a passer.

Jeff (Bend, Or)

Is Paul Wulff going to survive this season? Is he a good fit for WSU, or did he just land in a bad situation?

Ted Miller

  (3:25 PM)

He landed in a terrible situation. Worse than you can know. Wulff has recruited fairly well. But he predicted a more competitive team this fall and fans are going to hold him to it. There needs to be improvement we all can see. in the preseason, I predicted he's going to survive and I'm sticking to that. But I'm less confidence based on the Oklahoma State game.

Tyler (NYC)

Who leads the Ducks in rushing yards this weekend? Barner or James?

Ted Miller

  (3:25 PM)

james

L.J. (San Francisco)

Ted, were you surprised with Cal's Keenan Allens performance on Saturday against Davis?

Ted Miller

  (3:26 PM)

Yes... but UC Davis isn't Oregon or USC or even Colorado. Let's see what he does for an encore before we crown him King of Football.

Jose (Chandler, AZ)

Given your insight to the PAC-10, how worried should ASU fans be about the lack of verbal commits today? I assume that winning will help the Devils tremendously, and, also that right now they're only verbal. And am I wrong to want to see ASU collecting local offensive linemen recruits?

Ted Miller

  (3:27 PM)

I wouldn't get too worked up. For one, I think the Sun Devils are going to sign a small class (I think 15 or so, but don't hold me to that). Considering the young talent on the roster, I'd say you should feel pretty good that Erickson, long considered an elite talent evaluator, will figure things out. As for O-linemen: Just get good ones, wherever they are from.

Chris M. (Pullman, WA)

Over/Under 100yds receiving and 1 TD for Marquess Wilson this weekend?

Ted Miller

  (3:28 PM)

over.

Bryce (Portland, OR)

Is the Jake Locker realistic Heisman talk over after the loss at BYU?

Ted Miller

  (3:28 PM)

No. If the Huskies beat Syracuse and then upset Nebraska and he puts up big numbers, then all is forgiven for the hiccup at BYU.

Steve (Sunnyvale, CA)

What would you be saying if Florida or Alabama would be heading to play UCLA at the Rose Bowl this week. My Guess is a blowout for either of those teams. I am not saying Oregon is either of those two at this time, but for a team that is picked 1st (preseason) in a major conference, Oregon is sure getting a lot of "Could be trouble" from the Media at Tennessee, an SEC team picked about 8-10 in their conference. Why the Double Standard??

Ted Miller

  (3:31 PM)

Rose Bowl for Florida and Bama not the same as Neyland. It's all about the venue, not the teams. If the game were on a neutral field, you'd hear much less talk of upsets. But,really, the line is like 12 points. And has anyone picked the VOls? Folks are just analyzing the game, looking for possible angles,and Neyland is one of them. If you are going to the game, you'll understand by Saturday night. It's quite a place.

Jake (SLC)

Does Boise State even finish in the top half of the PAC10? Maybe 4th?

Ted Miller

  (3:31 PM)

Without question top half. You guys sure are obsessed with Boise.

Kelson (Pullman, WA)

Ted, After watching last week's game against OSU, I feel very nervous about Montanta State on Saturday. I know they're a quality FCS team, but I'm not sure how the Cougs will respond to last week's loss. Should I be worried?

Ted Miller

  (3:32 PM)

Yes. But you can help the cause by showing. A bunch of empty seats won't help the Cougs.

Jeff (Tucson, AZ)

Ted, I see a lot of comments from people who are furious at you for not watching their beloved schools games (see ASU fans re: PSU). Obviously you can't watch them all live. On average how many Pac-10 games a week do you end up watching? Do you watch replays later?

Ted Miller

  (3:33 PM)

I watch as much as I can. But a Pac-10 team vs. an FCS team won't get my eyeballs unless it's an upset.

Ray (Hollywood, CA)

Bama #4, Ted?

Ted Miller

  (3:35 PM)

Yep... rebuilt defense. Boise and TCU both have beaten ranked teams. And Ohio State was my preseason No. 1. The Tide moves up if they beat Penn State. And as they go through the SEC schedule they also move up. A defending national champion doesn't get a free pass, particularly when they lose that many NFL draft picks.

Sam (LA)

How good is Baxter at USC, sounds like a lot of hype, the same as what Joe McKnight was brought in with.

Ted Miller

  (3:36 PM)

We'll see when the games start. Baxter has already accomplished more in practice,however, than McKnight ever did.

Kristina (Flagstaff, AZ)

Do you think Larry Scott is looking hard at a full or modified zipper? It seems like one of those would be best balanced and most fair for the Pac-12.

Ted Miller

  (3:37 PM)

He's looking at all options. Not sure if there's a frontrunner yet because everybody I talk to has an agenda.

Chris (Phoenix)

I'm glad Cal is under the radar. I think they can beat anyone in the conference. Saying that, which PacX team is a bad matchup for Cal?

Ted Miller

  (3:38 PM)

Oregon. See 2009 game. If Cal gets consistent QB play, and the secondary holds up, it can play with anyone.

Lane (Southern Oregon)

You seem to think that Oregon is not capable of going to Tennessee and winning! Always the negative.L.P.

Ted Miller

  (3:39 PM)

You mean other than picking the Ducks to win by 15 points. Lane, where do you get your material?

Eric (Gresham, OR)

If you were stranded on a desert island with one Pac 10 coach for a whole year, who would it be?

Ted Miller

  (3:40 PM)

Lane Kiffin. I'd need entertainment.

Dan (Olympia)

Since Sark has taken over and installed the pro style offense, Jake Locker has seemed a lot more hesitant and less "dangerous" from his first two years where he would scramble for as many yard as he would get through the air. In order to compensate for a below average o-line, shouldn't UW let him open it up and let the kid run more?

Ted Miller

  (3:42 PM)

Did you see the Cal game last year? That's what Locker needs to do. The "threat" of Locker running is almost as powerful as him actually running. And I think Sark has a responsibility to not lean on Jake as a runner. Yes, protecting his health should enter Sark's mind.

Chris (Seattle)

What was your most memorable game covering the Huskies?

Ted Miller

  (3:42 PM)

UW-Oregon State in 2000... best game no one saw. And the Curtis Williams game at Stanford... thrilling finish, horrible injury.

Dave (Seattle)

Why no love for RoJo...he'll be the best WR in the Pac, and probably the nation.

Ted Miller

  (3:43 PM)

YOu mean other than naming him Pac-10 special teams player of the week and getting all the Oregon fans mad at me because I didn't give it to Cliff Harris?

Kellen (Boston)

How do you see the once "soon to be" Pac 10 member Oklahoma Sooners matching up with FSU? See, I made this question Pac 10 relevant. Your pick?

Ted Miller

  (3:45 PM)

I've got no feeling for that one based on how oddly mediocre OU looked vs. Utah State. But I like the Sooners by a nose.

Peter (Tempe)

Hey Ted, any worries about ASU's defense after giving up 263 yards to FCS portland st. at home?

Ted Miller

  (3:46 PM)

Not really. It would be good if they get healthy at DT before heading to Wisconsin.

Ray (Hollywood, CA)

School with the most annoying body of fans? Please say Oregon, please say Oregon

Ted Miller

  (3:47 PM)

all fans are awesome. their passion is why I have a cool job at ESPN.com.

Troy (Portland)

What is your opinion of the Tennessee faithful claiming that their "big" linemen are going to push the Ducks around this weekend?

Ted Miller

  (3:48 PM)

It's possible. Funny that SEC fans would adopt a Big Ten Size over Speed pose, though.

Ben (Walnut Creek, CA)

Ted, Cal's defense didn't exactly light up Davis' offense. I understand that they limited them to 87 yards which is impressive but no INT's, and only two sacks on a pretty inferior offensive line. Does that spell trouble for the Bears' D against better opponents this year?

Ted Miller

  (3:49 PM)

I wouldn't draw many conclusions, good or bad, from a win over UC Davis. This weekend will be more revealing. Colorado looks like a much improved team. They could give the Bears trouble.

James B. (Springfield)

As far as Oregon v UT: The thing I keep coming back to is - We have a veteran WINNING team with a lot of returners and depth and almost no injuries. Tennessee has a young team with little experience and some of the skill position experience is injured. Boise was the exact opposite. They returned everyone and we had a whole new O-line. And they had a great qb who won 12 games the year before. Again, the opposite of what we are going to see in Tennessee.I don't want to get overconfident, but I keep coming back to the experience level. Even if you say the talent is comparable with first string, you have to expect the team with depth and experience to come out on top. As much as I worry about this game, I can't seem to come up with a scenario that doesn't have the Ducks winning by a lot. Especially if the Defense is as good as advertised.

Ted Miller

  (3:51 PM)

I agree. Again, I have Oregon winning by 15. To me, the biggest issue is how well Thomas deals with Neyland. If it doesn't bother him, I suspect it will be a fairly easy afternoon, though I do pause on the Vols running game. ONly a bit,though.

JohnML (San Francisco)

Beer, wine, or liquor?

Ted Miller

  (3:52 PM)

liquor is quicker...

Eric (Santa Clarita, CA)

Ted, I've noticed the throwing accuracy has improved significantly at UA. Especially with Matt Scott. Will the addition of a dedicated QB coach be the difference in how UA performs in the tight games?

Ted Miller

  (3:53 PM)

Everybody at Zona thinks Scelfo has done a lot with the QBs mechanics. So, yes, he's made a difference that should show up with the screws tighten.

brian (paradise)

Cal wins by at least 17 points ,if you think Cal was going to show you something last week your crazy

Ted Miller

  (3:53 PM)

I'd be surprised if it's that easy, but I could be wrong.

geoff (OR)

Ted, I'm looking over all of these questions and I'm not seeing any from the SC faithful. Does it seem to you that the bowl ban is depressing the fans more than the players?

Ted Miller

  (3:54 PM)

yes... that's fair to say... but if the Trojans start winning, they'll be back.

Mark (Sacramento)

UCLA just went a whole decade without a Rose Bowl berth (a first since the '30s). They've beaten Oregon once and USC once over the past 10 years. Who's to blame? Do you see them becoming a contender soon?

Ted Miller

  (3:56 PM)

If you look at the UCLA roster, they set up nicely for 2011. That's when Neuheisel's strong recruiting should pay off.

wade garrett (new york)

What happened with all the drops in the UW/BYU game? Thought receivers were a bright spot. Just a bad day, or something more?

Ted Miller

  (3:57 PM)

a little surprising... Sark seemed to believe it was a blip of high-expectation, first-game, road jitters. We shall see if it becomes a pattern

Peter (Tucson)

Ted, optimistic hypothetical situation. If UA is 11-0 (probably not going to happen) going into the ASU game, win they got to the NC game, lose, they go to the Rose Bowl. If you're an UA fan which do you root for knowing UA has never been to the Rose Bowl?

Ted Miller

  (3:58 PM)

National title game, no doubt. When a rival fan says you've never been to the Rose Bowl, you just flash him your ring.

Eric (Gresham, OR)

If I ever visited Tennessee, would good ol' Rocky Top become home sweet home for me? That song is stuck in my head.

Ted Miller

  (4:01 PM)

It's a great song, but if you cover a couple of Tennessee games, it gets .... just a bit old. They play it ENDLESSLY. I covered the SEC championship in 1997, and I wanted to claw my ear drums out while I was trying to get my story in on deadline.

Ted Miller

  (4:01 PM)

Folks... got to roll on. Great football weekend for all regions, so enjoy.