The PAC Twelver - Week 11

First: The #8 Washington State Cougars (9-1 / 6-1 PAC 12) mauled the Colorado Buffaloes (5-5 / 2-5 PAC 12) 31-7 in The Rockies on Saturday, keeping their run for the college football playoff well alive. WSU senior quarterback and legitimate Heisman candidate “The Constant” Gardner Minshew (35 for 58 passing / 335 yards / 2 TD’s / 60.0 QBR / 6 carries / 26 rushing yards / 1 rushing TD / 4.3 YPC / 1 amazing mustache) was lights out against the Buffs, furthering his claim as one of the best college football players in the country.

Second: #8 WSU senior D-lineman Logan “Carne Asada” Tago (4 tackles / 2 TFL / 1 sack / 1 QBH) was again the difference at the point of attack for his side, and should be named 1st Team All-Conference by year’s end. #I❤️Tagos

Third: #8 Washington State head coach “The Pirate” Mike Leach is one of my favorite personalities in football, and what he has done is Pullman is nothing short of amazing.

Fourth: In a result that I never would have predicted, Utah (7-3 / 5-3 PAC 12) took care of Oregon (6-4 / 4-3 PAC 12) 32-25 in Salt Lake City on Saturday, proving yet again that I know very little about the sport I cover weekly. That being said, I would very much appreciate if we could keep this between us. Utes senior linebackers Chase Hansen (13 tackles / 4 TFL / 1 sack / 1 PD) and Cody Barton (11 tackles / 3 TFL / 1 sack) were again rock solid defensively, as they have been all year for the red and white. #TwoUtesAndTheirWorkBoots

Fifth: Utah junior running back Armand “You Can’t Stop The” Shyne (26 carries / 174 yards / 6.7 YPC) also had a field day, on the field, against the Ducks.

Sixth: Stanford (6-4 / 4-3 PAC 12) harnessed all of their disappointment versus Oregon State (2-8 / 1-6 PAC 12) this past weekend on The Farm, and 48-17 was the final tally. Cardinal 6’8” sophomore TE Colby Parkinson (6 receptions / 166 yards / 4 TD’s / 27.7 YPR) went off against the “Dam” Beavers, much to the enjoyment of the home crowd on Senior Night at Stanford Stadium. In light of his performance, Parkinson became the first tight end to win PAC-12 Player of the Week honors in over five years.

Seventh: Cardinal All-World running back Bryce “Dr.” Love (11 carries / 90 yards / 1 TD / 8.2 YPC) showed flashes of his true ability in this contest, and looked to be at about 90%, which is the healthiest he has been all year. No matter the statistics he puts up in ’18, “The Doctor” has proved his toughness and dedication to his teammates on an unquestionable level. #TheLoveDoctor #Dr.Love

Eighth: Arizona State (6-4 / 4-3 PAC 12) outlasted a somewhat resurgent U₵LA (2-8 / 2-5 PAC 12) club 31-28 on Saturday in the desert. Sun Devils senior QB Manny Wilkins (16 for 22 passing / 199 yards / 1 TD / 1 INT / 14 carries / 60 rushing yards / 2 rushing TD’s / 79.9 QBR) went out in style, in what was his last game in Tempe.

Ninth: First year ASU head coach Herm Edwards and his team become Bowl eligible with this win, and that is certainly positive momentum to build the program with. Going forward, I see the Devils and the Bruins taking hold of the PAC-12 South over the years to come, and that my friends, is bad news for SC and U of A fans.

Tenth: In that capacity, as if the trend is already under way, CAL (6-4 / 3-4 PAC 12) snapped a 14-game losing streak against U$C (5-5 / 4-4 PAC 12), beating the Trojans 15-14 in the ugliest game of the week. SC was up 14-0 early on, but self destructed on just about every level in defeat. Honestly, I am shocked that “Just” Clay Helton still has a job today, considering the mediocrity that Trojan Football is drowning in. He must know something, about someone important, otherwise it is just plain lunacy.

Eleventh: The talented Bears linebacking duo of senior Jordan Kunaszyk (12 tackles / 1 fumble recovered / 1 TFL / 1 QBH) and junior Evan Weaver (13 tackles / 3 TFL / 2 sacks) led the way vs. U$C, as they consistently do for CAL. #ThoseDudesBall #BadA$$Bears

Twelfth: I rode the Sculpin Train for the Stanford clobbering of Oregon State, and it was a silky smooth ride as always. Imagine a beautiful woman covering Paul Simon’s ‘Slip Sliding Away’ properly both lyrically and on her perfectly weathered guitar, in a cool, smokey dive bar somewhere. It was pretty much just like that. Anyhow, the way I see it this week, the three best PAC-12 games to be tipping adult beverages for are Arizona (5-5) at #8 Washington State (9-1), Arizona State (6-4) at Oregon (6-4), and of course the BIGGEST GAME of them all with Stanford (6-4) at CAL (6-4) in the ‘Big Game’ on Saturday. Good luck to all of your teams this weekend, and no matter the results, please feel free to drop a line here on your favorite beers, cocktails, and wines for game days. Cheers y’all.