ESPN Pac-10 Blog

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

Sitting in the airport, headed to the Apple Cup ... no time to waste trying to be witty.

Nathan from Corvallis, Ore., writes: Ted, You've thrown my beavs under the bus for the last time. Promise me you will eat your words on Sunday morning when the beavs roll.

Susan from Portland writes: What do you have against Oregon State? Are you a Duck? Or are you just stupid?

Albert from Los Angeles writes: The Beaver nation is laughing at you. You obviously don't know anything about Oregon State or football.

Rick from Parts Unknown writes: Cal couldn't stop Oregon State, despite your best efforts to convince us they could. What makes you think that Arizona can do any differently? You seem to be pulling for whoever is playing the Beavs each week!

Ted Miller: Sigh.

In 2000, Washington center Kyle Benn asked me halfway through the season why I picked Washington to lose just about every week. I pointed out that I had picked the Huskies to beat Oregon. I asked him how many times I had been correct that season. He smiled.

I'm still waiting for my Rose Bowl ring.

But if you, Beaver Nation, want me to pick you guys to win I most certainly will for next weekend's Civil War.

Matt from Sisters, Ore., writes: Ted, It's not unreasonable to think that the WSU Men's basketball team might have a chance to register a better points against per game average than the football team this year. I wonder if that's ever happened to a Div 1 school before.

Ted Miller: Good one, Matt. I'd bet you'd have to go back to the age of peach baskets for something like that.

Spencer from Tucson, Ariz., writes: Ted, would you agree with me that the Arizona/ Oregon State game this weekend could potentially decide who wins Pac-10 coach of the year? I figure that Riley and Stoops are the leading candidates for 2008 with Riley the clear favorite at this point, but if Arizona were to win would that raise eyebrows in Stoops' favor?

Ted Miller: Agree, though I think if Stanford beats California and Arizona and Oregon State lose their rivalry games, Stanford's Jim Harbaugh is the guy. Riley's a slam dunk with a Rose Bowl berth. Stoops probably gets it if the Wildcats win their next two.

Stephen from Raleigh writes: I think that the Oregon State vs. Arizona game is going to be real great. As a USC fan, I'm looking forward to the result either way. If OSU win USC goes to another "BSC" bowl, and plays possibly a great Florida, Alabama, or even possibly a Texas team, which would be a great game. At the same time, if Penn State wins, they go to the Rose Bowl, and I think that game would be equally great as well (if OSU were to lose, and USC wins out). I don't know how people are rooting for OSU because they don't want to see a boring Rose Bowl. The Spread offense of Penn State vs. the Great Defense of USC's would be a match up that I'm willing to make a cross country trip for.

Ted Miller: Stephen I think you're great!

It's not often we receive a note of complete unbridled optimism based on every scenario.

Ken from Clearlake, Calif., writes: Ted do you honestly think that Toby Gerhart will run wild against the Cal run defense? I don't Cal has already played against better players than Gerhart. I think you will see inspired play from Cal playing at home this weekend. The Bears will make some big plays on special teams, Stanford looks real vulnerable on kickoff coverage.Yeah I know we gave up a kickoff touchdown to OSU, not this weekend.....GO BEARS

Ted Miller: Well, Gerhart hit the century mark against USC. Seems like he gets his yards just about every game. My guess is Gerhart has a nice day, but other players decided this one, one way or the other. Maybe you're right about special teams.

Bryan in Tempe, Ariz., writes: Ted, With ASU being 4-6 right now, what are their chances of them making a bowl game? I think we have a great chance against UCLA and U of A is a rivalry game so anything can happen. GO DEVILS!

Ted Miller: I'd say 30 percent.

They should beat UCLA. They should lose to Arizona.

But it's a rivalry game, as you noted, and I never bet against Dennis Erickson. It's actually one of my rules.

Danny from He Didn't Say writes: Hey Ted, It seems beaver fans have taken to calling Oregon fans the "worst" fans in the pac-10 as far as class is concerned. Yet in my own experiences I have not found Autzen and its fans to be any more or less obnoxious (although certainly more hostile for opposing teams) than other pac-10 stadiums/fans I have visited. I was curious if you as an impartial observer could weigh in on who you believe are the best and worst fans in the pac-10. Thanks! Danny

Ted Miller: Quick story.

Walking to Sun Devil Stadium before the Georgia-ASU game, I watched a dude dressed head-to-toe in Georgia gear strutting up and down the street bellowing, "Go Dawgs... woof woof woof." He'd run up to people in ASU gear and get in their faces... slobbering this over and over at them. He hounded an older couple and made them walk faster down the road to get away from him. That made him let out an imbecile laugh.

I thought for a moment about tearing his arm off and beating him over the head with it, but it was hot and I didn't want to get arrested and then fired, in that order.

I told him he was an idiot, and when he asked for clarification I rephrased more colorfully.

Larger point: I grew up in Atlanta. I like Georgia fans. Always felt like they were among the best in the SEC.

So this guy doesn't represent UGA fans to me.

But to many folks in Tempe, he does.

I've witnessed terrible behavior in Autzen Stadium. And most other places.

Autzen is tough, but I don't think their fans are remarkable in terms of buffoonery.

As for my favorite, I love everyone equally except ... whoops, got to get on my plane!