"This is the best defense I've seen"--UCLA quarterback Drew Olson on Oklahoma

"There aren't a lot of teams ... that can get pressure with a four-man rush. Iowa is a team that can" --Arizona State Coach Dick Koetter.

The kudos were all over the West Coast this week fpr the opponents of three Pacific 10 teams on Saturday. It would seem by the compliments from the players and coaches of  Oregon, UCLA and Arizona State that,  if they had their way, San Jose State, Oregon State and Idaho would be on the schedule instead of No. 3 Michigan, No. 1 Oklahoma and No. 18 Iowa, respectively.

The Ducks, who waddled into the top 25 after drubbing Arizona, would appear to have little chance, even at home, against the powerful Wolverines, who are led by all-world tailback Chris Perry (some have already awarded him the Heisman Trophy), and a huge offensive line. And who will give the Bruins'  opaque offense a dustdevil's chance against the top-ranked Sooners at Norman. Last week, UCLA beat Illinois, 6-3, at the Rose Bowl. Bruin receivers dropped so many passes, it gave new meaning to  "butterfingers."

Arizona State, who's strength lies in its passing game, is expected to have trouble holding off Iowa's rough-and-tumble defensive rush. But, just for ducks, let's look at these three interconference matchups a little closer. Michigan could be in for a blinding surprise at Autzen Stadium if Oregon wears its Day-Glo yellow uniforms. The light reflected will be so brilliant that Perry and his teammates won't be able to see. The uniforms are worth at least a touchdown to  the Ducks, eliminating the Wolverines as seven-point favorites. The uniforms, if they wear them, make it an even game.

As for UCLA, their faithful were wringing their hands after the Illinois game because the offense apparently was still winded after its loss at Colorado. But no reason to panic. The last time the Illini and Bruins met, in  the 1991 Sun Bowl,   the score was 6-3. So, until coach Karl Dorrell, who was a wide receiver at UCLA in the 1980s, teaches his players how to catch the ball, all scores of UCLA games will be 6-3.

Oklahoma will score three points on Saturday.

The Sun Devils, in preparation for their game at Iowa City, recently watched the classic musical  the "The Music Man." Coach Dick Koetter wants to do what Prof. Harold Hill did to the Iowans: Slicker them with charm until he's won them over. After a Hawkeye player is tackled, the Sun Devils will help him to his feet, dust him off, saying, "Sorry, old boy. Didn't mean to hit you so hard." Kill them with kindness is the strategy.

But, if none of this works, a good tip for next season would be to schedule San Jose State, Oregon State and Idaho.

COASTAL NOTES: USC has a bye this week. The No. 4- ranked Trojans (3-0) are focusing on their quarterbacks--specifically who will play and who will be red-shirted. Matt Leinart is still the starter but  freshman sensation John David Booty from Louisiana is reportedly taking a lot of snaps in practice. He could be Leinart's backup by the time USC plays California on Sept. 27...  Fifty-yard line tickets for the Michigan-Oregon game were on sale for $1,000 on E-Bay...The two-year probation sentence on San Diego State was upheld this week by the NCAA. The Aztecs were caught holding offseason practices that included summer workouts for offensive lineman and coach-supervised drills before the start of spring practice. Also, the lineman were given free t-shirts and hats, an NCAA violation. It was rumored that the NCAA was willing to look the other way on the practices and drills, but the free hats were too much....Arizona Coach John Mackovic is underfire again, this time from Wildcat fans who want him sacked. In its first two games, Arizona was outscored 107-23 by LSU and Oregon. In the 48-10 loss to the Ducks, the crowd began chanting "Fire Mackovic" before the first quarter was over. Last season, several Arizona players filed a protest to the university over Mackovic's coaching methods and alleged abusive attitude.