PAC-8 Power Rankings #2

Washington and UCLA opened up their PAC-8 schedules this past weekend to round out all the PAC-8 openers. Everyone has played at least twice in the conference and that means we have some moves in this week’s power rankings.

Number in parenthesis is last week’s ranking

1.(1) Utah Utes (5-3, 2-0 PAC-8) T-2nd in Conference

Last Week: 1-1 (Win vs Montana St 10-1, Loss vs Arizona St 1-4)
This Week: @ UCLA (Fri.), @ UCLA (Sat.)

This past weekend was bittersweet for the Utes as they picked up an easy win on Friday but left a golden opportunity on the ice Saturday against Arizona State. Another road trip comes this weekend as they take on UCLA for the first time in team history.

2.(2) Oregon Ducks (4-0, 4-0 PAC-8) 1st in Conference

Last Week: 2-0 (Win vs UCLA 7-3, Win vs UCLA 8-5)
This Week: @ Washington (Fri.), @ Washington (Sat.)

Another successful weekend for the Ducks as they move into the top spot in the conference with a pair of wins against UCLA. A much tougher test comes this weekend as they travel to Seattle to take on Washington, who swept the Ducks 4-0 last year.

3.(5) Washington Huskies (4-2, 2-0 PAC-8) T-2nd in Conference

Last Week: 2-0 (Win @ WSU 6-4, Win @ WSU 8-0)
This Week: Home vs Oregon (Fri.), Home vs Oregon (Sat.)

Washington opened up PAC-8 play with wins against rival Washington State to start right where they left off last year in the conference. I-5 Cup play opens up this weekend as UW takes on Oregon in their home opener. The Huskies have won the last three I-5 Cups against the Ducks.

4.(3) Cal Golden Bears (4-2, 1-2 PAC-8) 5th in Conference

Last Week: 2-0 (Win vs Stanford 9-0, Win @ Stanford 7-2)
This Week: Bye Week

Cal drops a spot despite winning twice against rival Stanford. The Bears have still started strong but the majority of wins have come against Stanford. Cal has the week off before they hit the road for statement games against Washington next week.

5.(4) USC Trojans (2-5, 2-1 PAC-8) T-2nd in Conference

Last Week: 0-1 (Loss vs SJSU 4-6)
This Week: Home vs Stanford (Sat.)

USC hung tough with SJSU, but couldn’t pull of the upset losing 6-4. The Trojans will look to regroup this week as they take on Stanford, who still hasn’t won this season.

6.(6) UCLA Bruins (0-4, 0-2 PAC-8) 6th in Conference

Last Week: 0-2 (Loss @ Oregon 3-7, Loss @ Oregon 5-8)
This Week: Home vs Utah (Fri.), Home vs Utah (Sat.)

The opening to the PAC-8 schedule for the Bruins wasn’t what they planned, losing twice to Oregon. The schedule doesn’t get any easier though as frontrunner Utah comes to town this weekend. This will be UCLA’s first games against the Utes.

7.(7) Washington State Cougars (1-6, 0-6 PAC-8) 7th in Conference

Last Week: 0-2 (Loss vs Washington 4-6, Loss vs Washington 0-8)
This Week: Bye Week

It was another rough weekend in the PAC-8 for Wazzu as they go to 0-6 in the conference after losing to the Huskies. They’ll have the week off before they get ready for a weekend clash with UCLA.

8.(8) Stanford Cardinal (0-7, 0-3 PAC-8) 8th in Conference (On Provisional Status)

Last Week: 0-2 (Loss @ Cal 0-9, Loss vs Cal 2-7)
This Week: @ Chapman (Fri.), @ USC (Sat.)

The Cardinal continues to go through their growing pains as they now go to 0-3 against Cal this year. Stanford looks for that elusive first win this weekend against D3 foe Chapman University as well as against USC.