And like USC's UT Chattanooga game, the game will be telecast on an ESPN network -- ESPN2.

Pick your loser, LA.

Sitting in the airport, headed to the Apple Cup ... no time to waste trying to be witty.

Nathan from Corvallis, Ore., writes: Ted, You've thrown my beavs under the bus for the last time. Promise me you will eat your words on Sunday morning when the beavs roll.

Susan from Portland writes: What do you have against Oregon State? Are you a Duck? Or are you just stupid?

Albert from Los Angeles writes: The Beaver nation is laughing at you. You obviously don't know anything about Oregon State or football.

Rick from Parts Unknown writes: Cal couldn't stop Oregon State, despite your best efforts to convince us they could. What makes you think that Arizona can do any differently? You seem to be pulling for whoever is playing the Beavs each week!

Ted Miller: Sigh.

In 2000, Washington center Kyle Benn asked me halfway through the season why I picked Washington to lose just about every week. I pointed out that I had picked the Huskies to beat Oregon. I asked him how many times I had been correct that season. He smiled.

I'm still waiting for my Rose Bowl ring.

But if you, Beaver Nation, want me to pick you guys to win I most certainly will for next weekend's Civil War.

Matt from Sisters, Ore., writes: Ted, It's not unreasonable to think that the WSU Men's basketball team might have a chance to register a better points against per game average than the football team this year. I wonder if that's ever happened to a Div 1 school before.

Ted Miller: Good one, Matt. I'd bet you'd have to go back to the age of peach baskets for something like that.

Spencer from Tucson, Ariz., writes: Ted, would you agree with me that the Arizona/ Oregon State game this weekend could potentially decide who wins Pac-10 coach of the year? I figure that Riley and Stoops are the leading candidates for 2008 with Riley the clear favorite at this point, but if Arizona were to win would that raise eyebrows in Stoops' favor?

Ted Miller: Agree, though I think if Stanford beats California and Arizona and Oregon State lose their rivalry games, Stanford's Jim Harbaugh is the guy. Riley's a slam dunk with a Rose Bowl berth. Stoops probably gets it if the Wildcats win their next two.

Stephen from Raleigh writes: I think that the Oregon State vs. Arizona game is going to be real great. As a USC fan, I'm looking forward to the result either way. If OSU win USC goes to another "BSC" bowl, and plays possibly a great Florida, Alabama, or even possibly a Texas team, which would be a great game. At the same time, if Penn State wins, they go to the Rose Bowl, and I think that game would be equally great as well (if OSU were to lose, and USC wins out). I don't know how people are rooting for OSU because they don't want to see a boring Rose Bowl. The Spread offense of Penn State vs. the Great Defense of USC's would be a match up that I'm willing to make a cross country trip for.

Ted Miller: Stephen I think you're great!

It's not often we receive a note of complete unbridled optimism based on every scenario.

Ken from Clearlake, Calif., writes: Ted do you honestly think that Toby Gerhart will run wild against the Cal run defense? I don't Cal has already played against better players than Gerhart. I think you will see inspired play from Cal playing at home this weekend. The Bears will make some big plays on special teams, Stanford looks real vulnerable on kickoff coverage.Yeah I know we gave up a kickoff touchdown to OSU, not this weekend.....GO BEARS

Ted Miller: Well, Gerhart hit the century mark against USC. Seems like he gets his yards just about every game. My guess is Gerhart has a nice day, but other players decided this one, one way or the other. Maybe you're right about special teams.

Bryan in Tempe, Ariz., writes: Ted, With ASU being 4-6 right now, what are their chances of them making a bowl game? I think we have a great chance against UCLA and U of A is a rivalry game so anything can happen. GO DEVILS!

Ted Miller: I'd say 30 percent.

They should beat UCLA. They should lose to Arizona.

But it's a rivalry game, as you noted, and I never bet against Dennis Erickson. It's actually one of my rules.

Danny from He Didn't Say writes: Hey Ted, It seems beaver fans have taken to calling Oregon fans the "worst" fans in the pac-10 as far as class is concerned. Yet in my own experiences I have not found Autzen and its fans to be any more or less obnoxious (although certainly more hostile for opposing teams) than other pac-10 stadiums/fans I have visited. I was curious if you as an impartial observer could weigh in on who you believe are the best and worst fans in the pac-10. Thanks! Danny

Ted Miller: Quick story.

Walking to Sun Devil Stadium before the Georgia-ASU game, I watched a dude dressed head-to-toe in Georgia gear strutting up and down the street bellowing, "Go Dawgs... woof woof woof." He'd run up to people in ASU gear and get in their faces... slobbering this over and over at them. He hounded an older couple and made them walk faster down the road to get away from him. That made him let out an imbecile laugh.

I thought for a moment about tearing his arm off and beating him over the head with it, but it was hot and I didn't want to get arrested and then fired, in that order.

I told him he was an idiot, and when he asked for clarification I rephrased more colorfully.

Larger point: I grew up in Atlanta. I like Georgia fans. Always felt like they were among the best in the SEC.

So this guy doesn't represent UGA fans to me.

But to many folks in Tempe, he does.

I've witnessed terrible behavior in Autzen Stadium. And most other places.

Autzen is tough, but I don't think their fans are remarkable in terms of buffoonery.

As for my favorite, I love everyone equally except ... whoops, got to get on my plane!

Eight things to consider, underline or anticipate heading into the weekend.

1. Moevao at 75 percent or backup Canfield at 100? Oregon State quarterback Lyle Moevao didn't look fully healthy last weekend against California, though he managed the victory fairly well. He hasn't practiced much this week; his strained throwing shoulder is still bothering him. Sean Canfield is not a typical backup. He's more physically talented than Moevao -- he was projected as future star when he signed in 2005 -- and started nine games last year. He played well during the seven quarters he had to step in for Moevao. But the screws are significantly tighter on the road in front of the rowdy Arizona fans with a Rose Bowl berth just two wins away.

2. California's beleaguered offensive line vs. Stanford's blitz-happy D: Cal quarterbacks have been sacked 19 times in the last five games. For comparison, Stanford quarterbacks have gone down 17 times -- all season. The Cardinal defense also is tied with Oregon for the Pac-10 lead in sacks, averaging three per game. A good running game would slow down the Stanford pass rush, and the Cardinal is not great vs. the run, ranking seventh in the conference in run defense (141 yards per game). But Cal has struggled to run of late, averaging just 81 yards on the ground in the last three games. Reports are that speedy tailback Jahvid Best is feeling healthy. But will he get space to get fancy?

3. Out of the misery, will a star -- for at least an afternoon -- rise out of the Apple Cup? Both Washington and Washington State rank among the nation's worst on defense. On the other hand, they also rank among the nation's worst in offense. Neither team boasts a statistically impressive player who will receive All-Conference consideration. That's how it is when two teams combine for a 1-20 record. Yet one will win this game. And rivalry game often feature a special individual performance that fans remember for years to come. So who among the Cougars and Huskies rises to the occasion?

4. Arizona LBs vs. Jacquizz Rodgers: Everyone knows that Rodgers is coming, but no one has stopped him yet, see seven 100-yard games. He hides behind a wall of blockers then shoots through the hole, and it seems like it takes a defense time to figure out his tendencies. The Wildcats linebackers, particularly leading tackler Sterling Lewis and Ronnie Palmer (8.5 tackles for a loss), will have their hands full. And the Beavers may lean on Rodgers even more than usual, considering the questions at quarterback.

5. Riley will need to rally: In his past two games, Cal quarterback Kevin Riley has completed 15 of 41 passes with two interceptions and a touchdown. He's seemed skittish at times since he was knocked out of the Oregon game with a concussion. While Stanford quarterback Tavita Pritchard can lean on a power running game, it's likely the the Bears will need to throw well to consistently move the ball and keep the Cardinal defense honest. Playing at home should help, and Stanford's weakness is pass defense. That means Riley shouldn't complete less than 50 percent of his passes.

6. Beavers must ground Gronkowski: Arizona tight end Rob Gronkowski has 34 receptions and eight touchdowns, which means he hits paydirt once every 4.3 receptions. If he catches nine passes against Oregon State, that could be the difference. And the Wildcats will try to get him nine balls. Gronkowski is too athletic for most linebackers, so Beavers safeties Al Afalava and Greg Laybourn need to make Gronkowski work for every catch and, most important, get him down on first contact instead of letting him rev up his 260 pounds in space.

7. Cal LBs vs. Stanford power running: Cal's 3-4 defense has been mostly a success this season. It ranks third in the conference in scoring (21.9 ppg) and fourth in rushing (124.3 yards per game). It has, however, sometimes struggled against the run, see 144 yards from Jacquizz Rodgers and 149 from Arizona's Keola Antolin. But both of them were smaller, slashing, scatback types. Stanford runs right at a defense with 230-pound Toby Gerhart and 210-pound Anthony Kimble. That power attack has worked vs. just about every defense, see 200 yards rushing vs. USC. How will Cal's four outstanding linebackers match up?

8. How can the loser of the Apple Cup possibly get motivated for another game? One team will walk away from the Apple Cup with something warm and reassuring to cling to -- a victory. Of course, the other will see its season-long misery only increase with the knowledge that it will be widely viewed as the nation's worst BCS conference team. Yet both have another game to play. Washington visits California, while Washington State heads to Hawaii. Neither figures to win. But it's hard to imagine the loser will be able to muster much intensity and focus for a 12th and final embarrassment.