Pac-10 offense shines through again

The Associated Press

Mike Stoops hasn't even coached his first conference game for Arizona and he's already noticed a difference between the Pac-10 and the kind of football he was used to in the Big 12 and Big Ten,

"West Coast teams seem to like to spread it around a little more," said Stoops, who was an assistant for 18 years at Iowa, Kansas State and Oklahoma.

Whether it's the warmer weather, the fast athletes or the skilled quarterbacks, the Pac-10 has always been known as an offensive league. This year is no different.

California leads the nation in total offense and is fourth in scoring offense, four teams -- Arizona State, Stanford, Oregon State and Washington State -- are in the top 20 in passing offense, and Southern California has featured perhaps the most feared offense in the nation the past three years.

"I think we're on the leading edge in style of offense and the things that we are asking our guys to do," USC coach Pete Carroll said. "It makes it very difficult on opponents. I don't think it is just the Pac-10, I think it is schools in the West. Utah does a fantastic job of moving the football. Boise State has a fantastic offense. I think there are some really big-time offenses out here. We are different than other schools around the country."

Quarterback play is a major reason for the Pac-10's offensive success. Seven Pac-10 quarterbacks started on opening day in the NFL, more than any other conference.

This year is a strong crop with USC's Matt Leinart, Cal's Aaron Rodgers and Arizona State's Andrew Walter considered strong NFL prospects. Then there's Oregon State's Derek Anderson, who has thrown for more than 300 yards per game this season and has touchdown passes in 21 straight contests.

Anderson goes up against Walter in an intriguing matchup that could turn into a typical Pac-10 shootout.

"I think both teams are super capable of putting up some big numbers," Oregon State coach Mike Riley said. "I'm hoping our defense plays up to its capabilities. I know their defense is good. Who knows what that means in the ballgame. It appears you could have a big shootout with the numbers Andrew and Derek put up. But the defenses might have something to say about that too."