Pac-10 Baseball: Connor Predicts What Will Happen in Week Ten

I went 6-4 last weekend, which isn't bad compared to my 2-8 mark before that. The highlight of the week included UCLA's big series win over Arizona, proving that they would be a contender in this year's Pac-10 race. But there were also three big sweeps this weekend, with each team proving that they weren't headed anywhere but up in the conference standings.

Up in Seattle, the Golden Bears swept the Huskies, in Stanford, the ice-cold Cardinal dropped three to the red-hot Beavers, and down in Tempe, Arizona State kept Washington State in the cellar with three dominating wins against the Cougs. 

Now we enter a new week, with two great series featuring Arizona State @ California and UCLA @ Stanford.

In case you missed our first posts, I'll be predicting every Thursday-Monday Pac-10 game throughout the season, and I'll keep the records of everyone who joins in at the comments section.

So, here's my Week 10 picks.

Washington (Thursday-Saturday, USC, Monday, @ Gonzaga)

Prediction : 1-3

Originally thought to be a battle to stay out of the cellar in the Pac-10, the two teams come into this weekend sitting at fifth and ninth, respectively. I think USC takes the series in Seattle, and the red-hot Bulldogs eek out a big mid-week win on Monday.

Washington State (Thursday-Saturday, @ Oregon State, Monday, BYU)

Prediction : 1-3

Part of me wants to say that this is a trap series for the Beavers, but the other part of me thinks that the Beavs will take a very business-like approach and handle the Cougars with ease. I think the business-like Beavers show up, but I'm not 100% sure about it.

In the BYU game, Washington State will be so desperate for a win that they should come out firing against an undermatched opponent. I think they get a win there to earn at least a bit of respect on the weekend.

Oregon (Thursday-Saturday, Arizona)

Prediction : 1-2

If the Ducks want to stay in reasonable talks for the NCAA Tournament, then it is an absolute must that they win this series. I think they get a win after an inspiring performance from starter Tyler Anderson on Thursday night, but I think Arizona takes the final two to send the Ducks' dreams swirling down their toilet seat logo.

Oregon State (Thursday-Saturday, Washington State)

Prediction: 3-0

Like I said before, I see this as a trap-series for the Beavers, but instead I think the players will take a business-like approach and sweep the struggling Cougars.

California (Thursday-Saturday, Arizona State, Monday, @ Stanford)

Prediction: 2-2

I can't wait for this series. This one could very well decide who stays in the race for the Pac-10 title, and all three games should be close. In the end, I think the Sun Devils get the seires win, but California's week will still be a success if they can defeat Stanford in Palo Alto on Monday.

More predictions after the break

Stanford (Thursday-Saturday, UCLA, Monday, California)

Prediction: 0-4

I think the Cardinal get bounced off of the NCAA bubble after an 0-4 record this weekend. The Bruins are rolling right now and Stanford is ice-cold, and the weekend will end awfully with a loss to rival California on Monday.

USC (Thursday-Saturday, @ Washington)

Prediction: 2-1

I think this one just comes down to who is more talented, and the answer is obviously USC. All three games should be close, but I like the Trojans to get out of Seattle with a 2-1 series victory.

UCLA (Thursday-Saturday, @ Stanford)

Prediction: 3-0

Like I said above, UCLA is rolling right now and I can't imagine them not sweeping the Cardinal.

Arizona (Thursday-Saturday, @ Oregon)

Prediction: 2-1

I think the Wildcats lose the series opener to a desperate Oregon team, but the Wildcats still have a chance at hosting a Regional and should come out firing in the final two games. 

Arizona State (Thursday-Saturday, @ California)

Prediction: 2-1

Like I said earlier, this should be one of the best series in the nation this weekend. I think Arizona State takes it, but all three games should be close and they will go either way.

Record (Either a win, loss, or tie, based on correctly predicting that team's record for the weekend): 38-41-9, Goal: 95-45-9