This is tenth in a series looking at potential dream and nightmare scenarios for all Pac-10 teams, starting at the bottom and working up from my 2010 predictions. If you aren't familiar with Ted Miller's Best/Worst Case Scenario Posts, then you definitely need to check them out.
Understand: These are NOT predictions. They are extreme scenarios and pieces of fiction.
Scenarios after the break
BEST CASE
After blowing out Toledo and The Citadel, the 6th Ranked Iowa Hawkeyes come to town. Iowa takes a 13-10 lead into Halftime, but Nick Foles gets two 2nd Half Touchdowns to lead Arizona to a 31-23 victory.
Next up for UA are visits from California and Oregon State. Golden Bear Quarterback Kevin Riley throws two Interceptions, and Arizona gets an easy 28-10 Win. The Beavers make thing a little tougher on the Wildcats, with Oregon State taking a 17-10 lead into the 4th Quarter. But Nick Foles passes for the game tieing Touchdown with just a minute remaining, and the Wildcats pull out a three point win in Overtime.
After blowing out Washington State, the Washington Huskies come to Tucson. Arizona gets rid of any upset thoughts that the Huskies had early on. UA leads 14-3 after the 1st Quarter, and 21-6 at Halftime. Washington is able to cut the lead to 7 early in the 3rd, but the Final Score is 38-16.
After blowing out UCLA, the Wildcats head to Palo Alto to face Stanford. Andrew Luck is on fire in the first half, and the Cardinal take a 20-3 lead into Halftime. Arizona is able to cut the lead to 20-17 early in the 4th Quarter, but the Final Score is 27-17.
The Wildcats bounce back with a huge win over the Trojans the next week, and find themselves at 9-1 going into the Oregon Game. The Wildcats are looking for revenge from last year's thriller, and Oregon is looking to keep their National Championship hopes alive. The sloppy conditons prove tough for both teams, and the Ducks take a 10-3 lead into the Locker Rooms.
Oregon adds another Touchdown early in the 3rd Quarter, and the Wildcats are able to cut the lead down to 17-10 with 5 Minutes left. But Oregon's explosive Offense gets another Touchdown, and the Wildcats Rose Bowl hopes are dashed.
Arizona takes their anger out the next week when rival Arizona State comes to town. They get a huge 37-14 Win, and clinch a spot in the Alamo Bowl against Texas Tech.
After the Red Raiders take an early 7-0 lead, it is all Arizona from there. The final score is 34-17, and Arizona finishes one of their best seasons in school history.
WORST CASE
After squeaking past Toledo and blowing out The Citadel, Arizona welcomes the Hawkeyes to Tucson. Iowa takes an early 7-0 lead, and they don't look back from there. The final score is 40-7, and the Wildcats realize that they aren't going to be very good this year.
After close losses to California and Oregon State, Arizona looks to get a win against Washington State.They only lead by 7 at the Half, but the final score is 34-10 and UA gets a much needed win.
They continue their winning streak with an upset over Washington and a big win at UCLA, and all of the sudden the Wildcats are 5-3. Needing just one more win to reach bowl eligibility, Arizona goes on a three game skid after losses to Stanford, USC, and Oregon.
Both Arizona and Arizona State enter the Territorial Cup needing wins to go bowling. Both teams play an ugly three quarters, and the score is tied at 13 going into the final 15 Minutes. Former Michigan Quarterback Steven Threet leads the Sun Devils down the field, but he throws a Pick-6 on the 15 Yardline to give the lead back to Arizona. After an ASU 3 and Out, Arizona scores again and locks up a 27-13 victory.
Arizona does end the season a high note, beating Louisiana Tech 24-10 in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl to finish the season 7-6.