From the diaries - more great stuff from 2k3. -N

The bowl position we have put ourselves in is getting quite complicated. I will try my best to sort this out. Right now, UCLA is 5-1, Oregon is 5-1, and USC is 6-0 in conference standing.

Fiesta - UCLA, Holiday - USC, Sun - Oregon

UCLA would need to beat Arizona State and USC. Oregon would have to lose to either Washington State this weekend or Oregon State next weekend. UCLA would finish 7-1, USC 7-1 (loses tiebreaker to UCLA), Oregon 6-2.

Rose - USC, Fiesta - Oregon, Holiday - UCLA

UCLA would need to beat Arizona State but loses to USC. USC wins out by beating California, Fresno State, and UCLA and goes to play for the national title. Oregon wins out by beating Washington State and Oregon State, finishes in the top 12 in the BCS ranking, and is selected as an at-large team to play in Tempe. By default, UCLA is the best remaining team in the Pac 10 and goes bowling in San Diego.

Rose - USC, Holiday - Oregon, Sun - UCLA

UCLA beats Arizona State but loses to USC. USC wins out and plays in the Rose Bowl. Oregon wins out but plays in the Holiday Bowl because the Fiesta Bowl says "fuck you" to Oregon and the Pac 10. UCLA gets sunburned.

Fiesta - USC, Holiday - Oregon, Sun - UCLA

UCLA beats Arizona State and USC and finishes 7-1. USC beats Cal but loses to UCLA and finishes 7-1. Oregon wins out and finishes 7-1. USC wins the three-way tie-breaker and plays in the Fiesta Bowl. Oregon plays in the Holiday Bowl because UCLA lost to Arizona, a team lower in the conference standing (Oregon lost to USC). UCLA gets sunburned again.

Rose - USC, Holiday - Oregon, Sun - Arizona State, Insight - UCLA

UCLA loses to Arizona State and USC and finishes the season at 5-3. USC and Oregon wins out. Arizon State also finishes 5-3 but wins the tiebreaker. UCLA plays its bowl game in a baseball stadium in Phoenix, the Insight Bowl at Bank One Ballpark.

There are a shitload of other bowl scenarios but these are the five that I have been able to figure out thus far, as far as UCLA is concerned. If we think we have a shot of beating Arizona State AND USC, then we need Oregon to lose one game. If we think we're gonna lose to USC, then we need Oregon to win out and hope they get picked to play in the Fiesta Bowl. For sure, we need to beat Arizona State this weekend. But I'm not sure who to root for in the Oregon game. Why the fuck did we put ourselves in this position?