The Pac-10 conference will likely send just four teams to bowl games this season. The conference has a shot to get two teams in BCS bowls for just the third time in 13 years, but aside from that may only have one or two more bowl-eligible teams. It could have been five total teams, but USC is ineligible this year for postseason play. Next week's battle between California and Washington just might be for a bowl bid. Here is a look at the current bowl projections for the Pac-10.
Oregon Ducks (10-0, 7-0 in Pac-10)
Projection: BCS National Title Game
Remaining Games: Arizona, at Oregon State
The top-ranked Ducks will play for the national title in Glendale, Arizona by winning their final two games. There is a chance they might fall to number two below Auburn, but if they win out they shouldn't slip lower than that as long as they win.
Stanford Cardinal (10-1, 7-1)
Projection: Orange Bowl
Remaining Games: Oregon State
Stanford got a blowout win over Cal in The Big Game, and are predicted to remain at sixth in tomorrow's BCS standings by the SB Nation blog BCS Evolution. However, Stanford looks to grouped rather tightly with both Ohio State and Wisconsin. If the Ducks make the title game, the Rose Bowl will get a replacement pick, but must choose an automatic qualifier from a non-BCS conference, so Boise State or TCU figures to get the call here. Stanford could lose out to either one-loss LSU or the non-Big-Ten winner of Ohio State and Wisconsin. Stanford might need Arkansas to beat LSU next weekend just to be safe for a BCS bowl bid.
Arizona Wildcats (7-3, 4-3)
Projection: Alamo Bowl
Remaining Games: at Oregon, Arizona State
The Alamo Bowl pits the second-place team in the Pac-10 with the third-place team in the Big XII, so if Stanford makes a BCS bowl, look for Arizona to slide right up.
California Golden Bears (5-6, 3-5)
Projection: Holiday Bowl
Remaining Games: Washington
The Bears, who came so close to beating top-ranked Oregon last week, got drubbed by Stanford this week. However, if they simply win their final game, a home contest against Washington, the will be bowl eligible. If Stanford misses out on a BCS bowl, slide Cal down to the Sun Bowl, which takes the fourth-place team in the conference (the Holiday Bowl takes the third-place squad).
Washington Huskies (4-6, 3-4)
Projection: outside looking in
Remaining Games: at Cal, Washington State
Next weekend's game at California is essentially a battle for bowl eligibility. If Cal wins, they qualify for a bowl, and if Washington wins, they would then just need a win over Washington State in the Apple Cup to get a bowl bid. Then again, Washington State did beat...
Oregon State (5-5, 4-3)
Projection: outside looking in
Remaining Games: at Stanford, Oregon
The Beavers got a great win at home against USC, drubbing them 36-7, but they still need one win against the two best teams in the conference just to qualify for a bowl. If Oregon State wins one more game, they would likely go to the Holiday or Sun Bowl.
UCLA Bruins (4-6, 2-5)
Projection: outside looking in
Remaining Games: at Arizona State, USC
The Bruins need two wins to become bowl-eligible, but given their quarterback problems and offensive inefficiency, that seems like too tall an order.
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USC Trojans (7-4, 4-4)
Bowl ineligible this season
Arizona State Sun Devils (4-6, 2-5)
Already eliminated. The Sun Devils have two wins against FCS teams, so it would need seven wins to become bowl-eligible. The Sun Devils only have two games remaining.
Washington State Cougars (2-9, 1-7)
Already eliminated
Thanks in part to CollegeFootballPoll.com.