Race for Second Place Could Mean Roses

Having blown chances to upend UCLA--both schools lost second-half leads to the Bruins--the Ducks and Wildcats face off in Tucson in a game with intriguing possibilities.

The winner remains alive for the Rose Bowl, particularly if UCLA goes to the Fiesta Bowl. The Rose Bowl would be hard-pressed to deny either a 10-1 Oregon or 10-1 Arizona a trip to Pasadena--it would be the first appearance for the Wildcats.

One problem for Arizona. Oregon has won four in a row in this series, three since Mike Bellotti took over for Rich Brooks in 1995.

“It’s a combination of real hard work and a little bit of luck,” Bellotti said of the streak. “Our kids have played very well against Arizona. They beat us pretty badly physically in ’93 (31-10). Since that time, our kids have said, ‘That’s not going to happen again.’ ”

Oregon showed its national staying power last week when, stung by an emotional overtime defeat by UCLA and the loss of tailback Reuben Droughns because of a season-ending injury, the Ducks rebounded for a hard-fought victory over USC in Eugene.

With Droughns out, however, Oregon has to lean even more heavily on quarterback Akili Smith’s considerable running skills.

Although the Pac-10 boasts a leading Heisman contender in UCLA’s Cade McNown, it was no slight this week when Arizona Coach Dick Tomey said of Smith, “I think, at this point in time, he’s having the best year of any quarterback in the league.”

Tomey and Bellotti have taken different paths to success. Bellotti junked the quarterback platoon system he used last year and handed the job to Smith, with remarkable results.

Tomey has stuck with his two-quarterback attack of Keith Smith and Ortege Jenkins, who have combined for 1,889 yards and 11 touchdown passes.

With the Ducks wounded at running back, Arizona is now the more balanced team, led by running back Trung Canidate’s 494 yards in 105 carries.

Line: Arizona by 1 1/2

Rating the TV Games

RATINGS

**** Don’t leave the recliner

*** The yardwork can wait

** Ok to flip to fishing show

* For arena football scouts only

** No. 22 Michigan (5-2) at Minnesota (4-3), 9 a.m., ESPN

They’ll need a cut doctor at ringside as the Jerry Quarry-like Wolverines slug their way to another unimpressive win.

Line: Michigan by 12 1/2.

** Northwestern (2-6) at Michigan State (3-4), 9 a.m., ESPN2

Game may be delayed several minutes as Wildcats arrive late from Gamblers Anonymous meeting.

Line: Michigan State by 10 1/2.

** No. 4 Kansas State (7-0) at Kansas (3-5), 9:30 a.m., FSW2

Only one more exhibition game after this before Kansas State plays Nebraska for bragging rights among the flat states.

Line: Kansas State by 25.

** Baylor (2-5) at No. 16 Notre Dame (5-1), 11:30 a.m., Channel 4

Schools meet for the first time since 1925, when Knute Rockne’s boys knocked the Bears off the schedule with a 41-0 pounding.

Line: Notre Dame by 15.

*** No. 6 Florida (6-1) vs. No. 11 Georgia (6-1), 12:30, Channel 2

Meeting is billed as “The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party,” but the loser’s season will be on the rocks.

Line: Florida by 12.

** Boston College (3-4) at No. 25 Miami (4-2), 3 p.m., ESPN2

B.C. hasn’t beaten Miami since that pint-sized quarterback now playing for Buffalo let go a game-winning heave in 1984.

Line: Miami by 15.

** No. 8 Texas A&M; (7-1) at Oklahoma State (3-4), 4 p.m., FSW

Last year’s loss to A&M; cost the Cowboys the Big 12 South title. Can you say revenge?

Line: Texas A&M; by 5 1/2.

* Alabama State (2-5) vs. Alabama A&M; (4-4), 4 p.m., BET

In this epic Southwestern Conference battle of Alabamas with appendages, go with A&M; over State.

Line: None.

** North Carolina (3-3) at No. 5 Florida State (7-1), 4:30 p.m., ESPN

Last year’s meeting was a battle of top-10 unbeatens. This year’s meeting is not.

Line: Florida State by 27.

* Wyoming (6-1) at Texas Christian (4-3), 6 p.m., ESPN2

In a game as appealing as a saddle burn, Wyoming seeks to win the last 16-team WAC title.

Line: Wyoming by 3 1/2.

5 Things To Look For

1. The Heisman race to shake out. This is a critical stretch for Ricky Williams. The Texas tailback has been less than stellar against stiff competition. He rushed for 43 yards against Kansas State and was held in check by UCLA before scoring three times in the fourth quarter against backups. Saturday, though, Williams faces Nebraska in Lincoln, followed by games against Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and Texas A&M;, schools that are allowing opponents 2.9 yards a carry.

2. Stanford’s Tree. As of press time, the costume for the school’s mascot remained missing, presumed to be stolen. Gee, we can’t imagine what cross-bay rival might be responsible. Stanford officials have warned students not to retaliate by kidnapping Oski, Cal’s mascot, but could you blame the kids?

3. Auburn turning back the clock. Having run a perfectly fine coach out of town in Terry Bowden, expect the school to consider alum Pat Sullivan as a replacement. Of course, there’s a good reason the former Heisman Trophy winner is available. Sullivan was fired at Texas Christian last season after posting a six-year record of 24-42-1.

4. The improving state of Oregon State. The school’s impossible-dream chances of posting its first winning season since 1970 rest on redshirt freshman quarterback Jonathan Smith, a walk-on from Glendora High who earned the starting job after throwing for a school-record 469 yards last week against Washington. The Beavers could move to 5-4 with a home win over Cal on Saturday, but would then need to beat UCLA and Oregon to finish with a winning record.

5. A race to the record. Saturday, Boston College’s Mike Cloud and West Virginia’s Amos Zereoue should both break the Big East rushing record of 3,114 yards, held by Rutgers’ Terrel Willis. Cloud needs 92 yards against Miami; Zereoue needs 26 yards against Virginia Tech.

THE OTHER GAMES

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FAVORITE LINE UNDERDOG California 2 at Oregon St. Arizona St. 7 at Washington St. N. Carolina St. 4 at Clemson x-Georgia Tech 12 Maryland Ohio St. 24 at Indiana Temple 3 1/2 at Rutgers at Syracuse 24 Pittsburgh at Penn St. 34 Illinois Virginia 11 at Wake Forest at Purdue 13 1/2 Iowa Tennessee 17 at South Carolina at Virginia Tech 4 West Virginia at Nebraska 16 1/2 Texas Arkansas 3 1/2 at Auburn LSU 9 at Mississippi at Air Force 18 1/2 SMU Duke 4 at Vanderbilt at Texas Tech 1 1/2 Missouri at Oklahoma 8 Iowa St. So. Mississippi 3 at Alabama Colorado St. 9 1/2 at Rice Fresno St. 5 1/2 at New Mexico at East Carolina 6 1/2 Houston Utah 7 San Jose St. Tulsa 5 at UNLV at Texas El Paso 14 1/2 Hawaii at New Mexico St. 4 Utah St. at Nevada No line Boise St. at Tulane 37 SW Louisiana Idaho 3 at North Texas at NE Louisiana 2 1/2 Ala. Birmingham

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x-at Baltimore

CHRIS DUFRESNE’s Top 25

1. UCLA (6-0): Bruins vault over Ohio State based on Rankman’s complicated strength of bus schedule formula.

2. Ohio State (7-0): Cooper blames poll drop on “Hal” the computer in “2001, A Space Odyssey.”

3. Tennessee (6-0): Has there ever been a worse year to be No. 3 in college football?

4. Florida State (7-1): Bobby Bowden already breaking down film for next year’s Auburn game.

5. Florida (6-1): Spurrier and Neuheisel meet in Oslo to discuss the upside of switching to wishbone offense.

6. Texas A&M; (7-1): Seven straight victories since loss to Florida State, but who’s counting?

7. Nebraska (7-1): Tom Osborne ticketed for speeding in Lincoln. Rankman wonders if voting coaches paid half share of fine.

8. Kansas State (7-0): You don’t need the BCS to know school has played one team ranked in AP top 25, No. 24 Colorado.

9. Wisconsin (8-0): Kansas State fires schedule maker after learning Badger opponents have record of 20-41.

10. Penn State (5-1): Paterno announces he wants to be oldest coach blasted into space.

11. Oregon (6-1): Safe to say Akili Smith is not this team’s Achilles’ heel.

12. Georgia (6-1): Key, all-important win over Florida would mean, well, we’re not quite sure.

13. Arizona (7-1): Players sent to “Rose Bowl etiquette” classes just in case school makes first appearance.

14. Notre Dame (5-1): In unprecedented move, South Bend woman named this year’s Rose Queen.

15. Arkansas (6-0): Ken Starr investigates school’s ties to SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission).

16. Tulane (6-0): Would you believe that, last week, a crawfish asked for Tommy Bowden’s autograph?

17. Syracuse (4-2): Another strong finish makes the Orangemen team to beat next year . . . again.

18. Michigan (5-2): Winning ugly enough to knock the Fiesta out of Ohio State in three weeks.

19. Georgia Tech (5-2): Shucks, you’re only eight (yellow) jacket sizes short of measuring up to FSU.

20. Virginia (6-1): “Sorry to hear about the injury to DB Poindexter.” Love, Felix the Cat.

21. Miami (4-2) Beeeeep: “Yeah, this is Pete Dalis. Ah, about that Dec. 5 remake . . . call me ASAP.”

22. Missouri (5-2): No biggie. You’ll get another chance to beat Nebraska in 2030.

23. Colorado (6-2): Named this week to Mr. Blackwell’s list of worst-looking offenses.

24. West Virginia (4-2): “Hey, Virginia Tech, how’s the weather down there?”

25. Virginia Tech (6-1): “You’ll find out after we whip you Saturday!”