Somebody has been keeping an eye on what is going on in Eugene. Recently the NCAA was sent a report that star RB LaMichael James was seen driving around campus in a white 2003 Range Rover. Even though it isn't new it is still a $20,000 car which isn't easy for a college student to acquire without help.
According to the Willamette Week the NCAA actually sent an investigator out o Portland to check it out. Turns out it is being loaned to him by a former Portland gang member and felon (also a family friend) who traded cars with him because LaMichael says he was being stalked by someone.
This one is going to be interesting to watch even though the University of Oregon thinks the matter has been settled with the NCAA and James is still eligible.
Bowl Projections
The good news is that entering the final two weeks of the season the Pac 10 still has eight teams alive in the race to receive bowl bids. (USC is ineligible for bowl games due to NCAA violations) The bad news is depending on how things shake out the conference could only end up with only three bowl qualifiers.
Ducks 10-0
Oregon appears headed to the national championship game in Glendale, Az. this post season. The road isn't exactly easy because they still have Arizona and Oregon State to take care of over the last two weeks.
Projection : BCS Championship Game
Cardinal 10-1
Stanford has been rock solid all season and is deserving of a BCS berth. The Cardinal may have to settle for the Alamo unless Auburn loses and TCU moves into the #2 BCS slot. Auburn still has to beat Alabama on Friday and Beat South Carolina in the SEC championship game. The Cards need to avoid a home upset against Oregon State. I am a traditionalist...I want a Pac 10 team in the Rose Bowl.
Projection : Rose Bowl
Wildcats 7-3
The Wildcats will likely split over the next two weeks with games against Oregon and Arizona State. Even if they lose the next two they are a shoe in for the third Pac 10 bowl slot.
Projection : Alamo Bowl
Huskies 4-6
Washington rebounds to close the season with three straight wins and a bid to their first bowl game since 2002. Cal and WSU are very winnable games. San Diego is a great place to watch a game but from a competition perspective El Paso may be more hospitable.
Projection : Holiday
Beavers 5-5
Oregon State needs at least a split to go bowling this year. Too bad that the schedule ends with games against Stanford and Oregon. Oregon State has played four top ten teams this season. The loss to WSU was brutal. The Civil War may be their best chance to steal a win.
Prediction : No bowl
Bears 5-6
Cal needs to beat Washington on Saturday if they want to go bowling. The Bears have become too one dimensional late in the season and you always have to question this teams heart.
Projection : No bowl
Sun Devils 4-6
The road to a bowl on paper doesn't seem that difficult because the Devils have two winnable games left against UCLA and Arizona. The problem is even if they win out they will need an NCAA waiver to play in a bowl because of two wins against FCS schools.
Projection : No bowl
Bruins 4-6
Rick Neuheisel surprised me last year when he took a beaten and broken Bruin team to a bowl after a string of late season wins. He can still get that done this year with two winnable games left on the schedule against ASU and USC.
Projection : No bowl
Trojans 7-4
USC finishes up with Notre Dame and UCLA. They can easily finish 9-4 or 7-6 because it looks like QB Matt Barkley may be out with a high ankle sprain.
Projection : (USC is ineligible for bowl games due to NCAA violations)
Cougars 2-9
The Cougars get three weeks to get ready for the Apple Cup but have been eliminated from bowl consideration since mid October. That being said they would call it a successful season if they can knock off Washington in Pullman.
Projection : No bowl