Block U Pac-12 Power Poll Week 9

I’m starting to feel like that announcer on the movie Major League. As the season progresses, I drink more, and more clothes start to come off. TMI? Probably. Anywho, I still believe Utah is a better team than the ones I have ranked ahead of them, but they’re in a funk, and here’s hoping they pull out of it this week.

Here are the rankings

Overall rankings

1. Washington
2. USC
3. Stanford
4. Arizona
5. Washington State
6. Arizona State
7. Oregon
8. Colorado
9. UCLA
10. Utah
11. Cal
12. Oregon State

Alex’s ballot

1. Washington
2. USC
3. Arizona
4. Stanford
5. Washington State
6. Arizona State
7. UCLA
8. Oregon
9. Colorado
10. Utah
11. Cal
12. Oregon State

Shane’s ballot

1. Washington
2. USC
3. Stanford
4. Arizona
5. Washington State
6. Arizona State
7. Oregon
8. Colorado
9. Utah
10. Cal
11. UCLA
12. Oregon State

Neel’s ballot

1. Washington
2. USC
3. Stanford
4. Arizona
5. Washington State
6. Arizona State
7. Oregon
8. UCLA
9. Colorado
10. Cal
11. Utah
12. Oregon State

YeOldeJimmy’s ballot and breakdown

Welcome to another week of the WOW-POWR ratings! The rules of the system can be found here, let's dive in:

1) Washington (7-1) - 5 P5 wins (WOW%: 40%), 1 G5 win (63%), 1 FCS win (63%); 1 P5 loss [LOW%: 50%]; took care of business and climbs back to the very unstable #1 position

2) WSU (7-2) - 4 P5 wins (51%), 2 G5 wins (44%), 1 FCS win (50%); 2 P5 losses [59%]; the curse of the #1 spot strikes again, WSU has shown some real flaws in their recent losses

3) USC (7-2) - 6 P5 wins (47%), 1 G5 win (56%); 2 P5 losses [82%]; got back on track with a convincing win against ASU seemingly putting the south title between Arizona and USC

4) Stanford (6-2) - 5 P5 wins (44%), 1 G5 win (13%); 1 P5 loss [78%], 1 G5 loss [78%]; if Bryce Love doesn't come back soon, Stanford may have a really bumpy road ahead.

5) Arizona (6-2) - 4 P5 wins (57%), 1 G5 win (0%), 1 FCS win (75%); 1 P5 loss [50%], 1 G5 loss [63%]; we can be glad that Utah didn't have to face Khalil Tate when we played the Wildcats

6) Oregon (5-4) - 3 P5 wins (48%), 1 G5 win (63%), 1 FCS win (75%); 4 P5 losses [64%]; got the running game going at home to put Utah at .500

7) Colorado (5-4) - 2 P5 wins (29%), 2 G5 wins (47%), 1 FCS win (29%); 4 P5 losses (73%); defended home field against Cal and looks to qualify for their second bowl game in a row

8) ASU (4-4) - 3 P5 wins (64%), 1 G5 win (38%); 3 P5 losses (68%), 1 G5 loss (78%); brought back down to earth after big wins over Washington and Utah

9) UCLA (4-4) - 3 P5 wins (58%), 1 G5 win (38%); 3 P5 losses [79%], 1 G5 loss [88%]; a major game for bowl hopes happens on a short week against the Utes, health of Rosen is a key

10) Utah (4-4) - 1 P5 win (75%), 2 G5 wins (17%), 1 FCS win (33%); 4 P5 losses [65%]; if there is any sort of silver lining to Utah's losing streak, it's that they haven't lost to any teams with a losing record (at this time)

11) Cal (4-5) - 3 P5 wins (42%), 1 FCS win (75%); 5 P5 losses [70%]; I think Cal fans can appreciate that the season is going better than expected and they still have a real shot at bowl eligibility

12) OSU (1-7) - 1 FCS win (0%); 6 P5 losses [71%], 1 G5 loss [67%]; have looked like a much better team since Andersen's firing and nearly brought down a Love-less Stanford team at home, questions linger about the future of the program as bowl eligibility this year is now out of the question

Sadly, the Utes' downward trend continued, which contributed to a complete mess in the 6-11 positions this week. It seems that the top of the conference is pretty well stratified right now, but there's no guarantee that it will remain that way as there are a number of big matchups coming in the final 4 weeks. The season-to-date average rating for each team continues to normalize and has really flattened in the middle region. The chart suggests that the conference is mostly equally good teams where results are more or less determined by chance rather than really predictable things. If that proves true, then it's anyone's guess how Utah will finish, for good or for bad. The target for the team becomes bowl eligibility and the first important step in that direction comes against a very similarly struggling ULCA team on a short week.