Pac-10 power rankings

Pac-10 rankings

1. USC (4-0)

Won 49 of 51, and 3 of their past 5 with Pac-10 investigators

2. Cal (4-1)

On Telegraph Avenue, Bears the hottest thing since the reefer

3. Oregon (4-0)

For Berkeley game, Nike designing tie-dyed jerseys

4. Washington (4-1)

Administration will explore cushy summer jobs on L.A. trip

5. UCLA (3-1)

To prepare for 'Zona offense, defenders staring at beige walls

6. WSU (3-2)

With 4 wins (3 real, 1 moral), only two from bowl-eligible

7. Arizona State (3-2)

Drawing comparisons to all-time worst No. 7s in these rankings

8. Arizona (2-3)

Revealed: 'Cats have been using old Sanskrit playbook

9. Oregon State (2-2)

Fans turn attention from Raising Reser to Razing Riley

10. Stanford (0-5)

Supporters had no idea new A.D. Bowlsby would drop football

Pac-10 picks

USC 31, Washington 14

Trojans might be ready to find another gear

WSU 34, Oregon State 27

Cougars ought to have a burr in their saddle over Beavers

Cal 38, Oregon 35

Looks a lot like a classic Pac-10 shootout

Notre Dame 49, Stanford 14

But basketball practice starting next week on Farm

UCLA 28, Arizona 7

Bruins defense looks much improved over '05 version

Last week: 4-1. Season: 15-3.

A shout-out ...

Martel Van Zant, a junior cornerback from Oklahoma State, plays despite being deaf after he was born without eardrums as a result of his mother's chicken pox during pregnancy. A management student, he works with an interpreter who accompanies him to classes, football meetings, practices and games.

Boos

Jeff Bowden continues to struggle as offensive coordinator under his father Bobby at Florida State. The once-potent Seminoles are eighth in the ACC in total offense and, entering Thursday night's game with N.C. State, hadn't had more than 272 yards in their past five league games.

Stat central

Stanford is not only bad, it may be too nice. The Cardinal has committed only 16 penalties in five games, second-best in the nation.

Talking the talk

Steve Spurrier, South Carolina coach, responding to a local writer who questioned his allegiance to the school after Spurrier made his second appearance at Florida in a month (one for a reunion, one for a ring-of-honor ceremony): "I spent half my life in Gainesville, Fla., and I went to the University of Florida, and my wife and three children have degrees from Florida, and some of my most fun times ever in my life, championships, we celebrated down here in Gainesville. So don't think I'm supposed to forget about all those good times."

Bud Withers