Arizona State defensive end Terrell Suggs likes quarterbacks, and get this: quarterbacks like him.

That's good, because they spend a lot of time together.

Suggs said "howdy" to Washington's Cody Pickett 4½ times last Saturday.

"He's a good guy," Pickett said after Arizona State whipped the Huskies 27-16.

Chilly Temperatures, Heated Battle

It's supposed to be chilly when Colorado State pays a visit to Air Force on Saturday, and that's perfect because the winner likely will get the pleasure of playing in the Liberty Bowl in Memphis in what figure to be frigid conditions on Dec. 31. While a trip to Memphis doesn't sound like an ideal destination for Dec. 31, it's the prize for the Mountain West Conference champion. The game took on a different feel after Air Force was upset 34-26 at Wyoming last Saturday, the Falcons second consecutive defeat after winning their first six games. That left No. 24 Colorado State as the lone ranked team in the conference. The 7-2 Rams and San Diego State, which is 3-5 overall, are the only teams unbeaten in conference play. The game features two of the nation's better running offenses. The Falcons are second in the nation with 299.3 yards per game, while CSU ranks 19th with 217.1 yards. While Air Force relies on its complicated triple option guided by quarterback Chance Harridge, the Rams lean on 225-pound Cecil Sapp. Sapp, the conference's best tailback, obviously is fully recovered from the foot injury that kept him sidelined last year. His 121.1 yards rushing per game ranks 11th in the nation, and he needs 330 yards to break Steve Bartalo's single-season school record of 1,419 set in 1986. "He's definitely improved," CSU coach Sonny Lubick said. "Missing that year made him hungrier." Air Force should be hungry, too. Its loss at Wyoming knocked it out of the national rankings and appeared to be a result of a letdown after a defeat in the hyped game against Notre Dame. "I don't think it was a hangover from Notre Dame," Falcons coach Fisher DeBerry said. "I was a little disappointed in the intensity of our players." The Falcons and Rams have split their last four meetings with the home team winning each time. -- Ted Miller

Suggs has shared similar special moments with quarterbacks -- some cynical folks call them sacks -- 17½ times this year, which leads the nation and already has tied the NCAA's single-season record.

During the preseason Pac-10 media event, Suggs hung out with the likes of Pickett, Washington State's Jason Gesser, Arizona's Jason Johnson and California's Kyle Boller. There was lots of good cheer.

"I remember them saying, 'Don't hit me!'" Suggs said. "And I said, 'You guys can take hits!'"

No offense, but Gesser is hoping he doesn't have to chat with Suggs until after their game Saturday. The No. 9 Cougars and No. 16 Sun Devils square off in a matchup of the Pac-10's only two unbeaten teams in conference play.

Last year, the Cougars were the conference's surprise team. This year, it's the Sun Devils, who were tapped ninth in the preseason media poll.

Suggs, a junior who likely won't stick around for his senior season, was called "unblockable" by Washington coach Rick Neuheisel, and Washington State coach Mike Price concurs.

"You have to double-team him every chance you get," Price said. "If you triple-team him, that third guy that hits him is usually the quarterback. The guy is phenomenal, one of the best I've ever seen."

Suggs, nicknamed T-Rex, was a running back at Hamilton High School in Chandler, Ariz. He rushed for 2,274 yards and 26 touchdowns his senior season.

But when he arrived at Arizona State, he saw depth at tailback and wanted to get on the field. So the 6-foot-3, 252-pound Suggs opted for defense.

It was a good choice. With 24 tackles for a loss to go with his sacks, he's become one of the nation's most dominant defensive players. And don't just take our word for it.

"Suggs is the most dominant player I have seen on film this year," Oregon coach Mike Bellotti said.

Suggs also is an outgoing, eccentric sort. For one, he is reported to shave his entire body before every game, though he claims he hasn't done that for a couple of weeks. He also took a class in lip reading, which he thought might be a great way to meet women. It ended up as an even better way to figure out what quarterbacks are talking about in the huddle.

Second-year Sun Devils coach Dirk Koetter described him as a "motor mouth." Yet Suggs also commands respect from his teammates. His pregame speeches are said to be eloquent and motivating.

"When he stands up, a whole other personality comes up," Koetter said. "The difference is striking and impressive."

Said Suggs, "It just kind of flows. I don't prepare to do it. I just tell all the guys what I feel inside."

Suggs comes up with big plays at critical times. He didn't have a sack against Oregon, but he hit Ducks quarterback Jason Fife on the final play of the game, causing an interception.

Pickett was in Suggs' grasp when he threw his only interception of the evening, which set up Arizona State's second touchdown.

The winner of Saturday's game will be in the conference's catbird seat. If Washington State wins, it would own a head-to-head tiebreaker over USC and the Sun Devils and could even afford to lose one of its final three conference games.

If Arizona State wins, it's Nov. 16 game at USC likely would be for the conference title.

Yet the Pac-10 is always nutty down the stretch. It's too early to start Rose Bowl permutations with any seriousness.

Suggs and the youthful Sun Devils weren't suppose to be here, battling for the conference crown. But just getting an invitation to the dance isn't enough, said Suggs.

"This is our big shot," he said. "Why let it pass us by?"

He can't wait to have a little chat with Gesser.

Around the Pac-10

Arizona
Arizona, the only winless team in Pac-10 play, appears headed for its fourth consecutive losing conference record. The Wildcats' poor performance has even obscured the brilliant play of Bobby Wade, who was left off 10-man Biletnikoff semifinalist list, despite ranking first in the conference and fourth in the nation in receiving yards per game (117.5). He had nine catches for 204 yards against Washington State and has moved into fifth place on the Pac-10's career receiving list. He is just the sixth player in conference history with 200 receptions. He also leads the conference in punt returns and all-purpose yards. ... The Wildcats are playing better on defense. Their last three opponents have scored just three touchdowns in 12 trips into the red zone. The defense's primary task Saturday at Oregon State will be stopping Beavers tailback Steven Jackson, who had 239 yards rushing against California. ... The Wildcats have lost three straight to the Beavers. The series has been marked by blowouts, including OSU's 38-3 victory last year, and just one of the last six meetings has been decided by less than 20 points.

Arizona State
Arizona State has avoided major injuries for the most part, a key in their unexpected resurgence. Before last week's game against Washington, coach Dirk Koetter said the Sun Devils were so healthy "it's scary." That luck may have changed slightly because both starting inside linebackers are nursing injuries. Josh Amobi won't play at Washington State this weekend because of a sprained knee, while Mason Unck is questionable with a bruised Achilles' tendon. Sophomore defensive end Connor Banks will see action at linebacker to provide depth.

California
California gets a much-needed bye after playing games nine consecutive weekends, the last six against teams that were ranked at least at some point this season. The Bears looked tired in their 24-13 loss at Oregon State, producing just 16 yards rushing while giving up 301 yards on the ground to the Beavers, including 239 to Steven Jackson. Cal hadn't allowed a team to rush for more than 300 yards since Arizona State gained 345 yards in 1995. Cal also yielded four sacks after giving up just 13 in the previous eight games and lost the turnover battle for the first time this season, 2-1. ... Quarterback Kyle Boller passed for 284 yards but didn't throw a touchdown pass for the first time in 10 games. ... The Bears need one more victory to ensure for the first time in five years they won't finish with a losing record.

Oregon
The Ducks unveiled a new mascot before the USC game that looked a bit like Darth Vader. The Force certainly wasn't with the Ducks in the second half against the Trojans. USC outgained Oregon 274-9 and scored three touchdowns in the third quarter to put away a previously close game, handing the Ducks their first consecutive losses at Autzen Stadium since 1997. USC would score 30 unanswered points and pile up 608 total yards against the staggering Oregon defense, which allowed a 200-yard game to an opposing receiver for the third straight game. The offense had 412 yards, but 156 of those yards came on meaningless drives in the last four minutes. Tailback Onterrio Smith joined Maurice Morris as the only Oregon players to rush for over 1,000 yards twice during their careers, but Smith had a season-low 79 yards on 19 carries against the Trojans. Quarterback Jason Fife threw for 336 yards and two touchdowns, but he completed just 11 of 30 in the second half and had two interceptions. On the positive side, kicker Jared Siegel extended his consecutive field goals made streak to 13 with boots of 44, 41, 48 and 31 yards in the first half. ... The Ducks will try to get back on track against Stanford, which has dominated the series of late, winning four of the last five and seven of nine. The Cardinal came back from a 42-28 deficit to beat the Ducks 49-42 last year, Oregon's only loss of the season.

Oregon State
Oregon State apparently had a very productive bye week. The Beavers snapped a three-game losing streak by leaning on their stingy defense and running game in a 24-13 victory over California. "That's going to be our philosophy," OSU coach Dennis Erickson said. Tailback Steven Jackson rushed for 239 yards -- the second-best total in school history -- and scored three touchdowns against the Bears. The defense shut down the Cal running game and prevented quarterback Kyle Boller from throwing a touchdown pass for the first time in 11 games, sacking Boller four times in the process. That took the pressure off struggling sophomore quarterback Derek Anderson, who passed for just 80 yards. ... The Beavers also are getting healthy. Safety Mitch Meeuwsen, who has missed two games with a sprained knee, and offensive tackle Brian Kilkenny, who missed four games with a broken leg, might play Saturday against Arizona. An OSU victory would make the Beavers bowl eligible.

Stanford
Stanford coach Buddy Teevens decided to go for it, but his plan backfired, as has much of what Teevens has done in his first year at the Cardinal helm. After the Stanford blew a 15-0 lead and was trailing UCLA 25-18 with six minutes left, the Cardinal faced a fourth-and-1 from their own 29-yard line. Time to punt, but, as Teevens later admitted, he thought with his heart and not his head. He went for the first down, but tailback Kerry Carter was stuffed, and the Bruins took over. Their ensuing field goal effectively ended Stanford's hopes. ... Stanford was supposed to have a high-powered offense after welcoming back nearly intact a unit that averaged 37 points per game last year, but the Cardinal has scored just 52 points in its last four games. The big question this week is whether quarterback Chris Lewis, who has struggled this year, will return for Saturday's game at Oregon, the site of a stunning 49-42 victory last season, the Ducks' lone defeat. Lewis is nursing a bum shoulder. His replacement, Kyle Matter, passed for just 75 yards against UCLA, the second-lowest total in school history. ... Stanford ranks ninth in the conference in scoring offense and 10th in scoring defense. The Cardinal does lead the Pac-10 in rushing with 158.5 yards per game.

UCLA
UCLA will start a true freshman quarterback Saturday at Washington, the only question is which one. Matt Moore led the Bruins to a comeback victory over Stanford, but Drew Olson's shoulder is significantly better. Olson was originally Cory Paus' backup, and replaced the injured Paus against California two weeks ago. But Olson also was hurt against Cal, opening the door for Moore. UCLA coach Bob Toledo said Olson threw well this week. "It's a possible he may start," Toledo said, though he left open the option that both quarterbacks could play. Whoever starts, the Bruins likely will lean on their defense and another freshman, tailback Tyler Ebell, against the Huskies. Ebell eclipsed the 100-yard mark for the fourth consecutive game against Stanford, while the UCLA defense sacked Cardinal quarterback Kyle Matter six times. ... It will be interesting to see what the Bruins strategy is to contain Washington receiver Reggie Williams. Arizona State slowed Williams down with double-coverage, but Bruins cornerbacks Matt Ware and Ricky Manning are perhaps the conference's best tandem. ... UCLA also has found a kicker, who also happens to be a good punter. Nate Fikse, an All-Pac-10 punter, replaced the ineffective Chris Griffith and tied a Pac-10 record when he was perfect on five field goals against Stanford.

USC
USC quarterback Carson Palmer turned in perhaps the best performance of his career against Oregon. Palmer, the Pac-10's offensive player of the week, completed 31-of-42 passes for 448 yards and five touchdowns in the Trojans' dominating 44-33 victory, their first win in Eugene since 1993. Palmer set a USC single-game passing record and became just the third quarterback in conference history to surpass 10,000 career passing yards. Coach Pete Carroll was so impressed, he declared Palmer "a legitimate top Heisman Trophy candidate." Palmer's main target was freshman Mike Williams, who hauled in 13 receptions for 226 yards and two touchdowns. The Trojans also apparently found a tailback. Justin Fargas replaced Sultan McCullough and rushed for 139 yards. "He never really got a chance to show what he could do," Carroll said. "It was time to give him a shot." ... After weathering a brutal schedule, the Trojans have an open date before paying a visit to Stanford on Nov. 9.

Washington
Washington no longer has the Pac-10 title or even a bowl game as its main priority. After falling to 4-4 overall and 1-3 in the conference, the Huskies are merely trying to avoid their first losing season since 1976 with the toughest part of their schedule ahead. "It's right there staring us in the face," coach Rick Neuheisel said. "If there's ever been a call to arms, it's now. We have got to find a way to go out and play with great passion." ... The Huskies high-flying passing attacked tanked against Arizona State. Quarterback Cody Pickett was sacked eight times and threw for juts 210 yards, his first game this season below 300 yards passing. Still, Pickett needs to average just 206.5 yards passing down the stretch to break the Pac-10's single-season passing yardage record of 3,637 yards set by Washington State's Ryan Leaf in 1997. ... The Huskies face UCLA at home on Saturday, a team that has beaten them four out of the past five meetings, including a 35-13 blowout last season in LA. Washington is 5-7 in its last 12 games, and three of those victories came against patsies: San Jose State, Wyoming and Idaho. The bright side against the Sun Devils was the defense, which yielded just 229 yards.

Washington State
With 275 yards passing and 279 yards of total offense in the victory over Arizona, Washington State quarterback Jason Gesser became the Cougars' career total offense leader (7,838 yards) and moved past Drew Bledsoe and Ryan Leaf into second place on the school's career passing list (7,591 yards). He needs just 228 yards passing to overtake Jack Thompson's career passing record set from 1975-78. Yet all was not well against Arizona. The Cougars came away with just 19 points after nine trips inside the Wildcats 30-yard line. WSU also struggled trying to get out of town after their charter flight back to Pullman had mechanical problems. They waited at the airport until 1 a.m., then returned to the team hotel. They went back to the airport at 5 a.m. and finally landed in Pullman at 9:30 a.m. ... Washington State has ascended to No. 8 in the Associated Press Poll, its highest AP ranking ever.

Around the Mountain West
Air Force was unbeaten, nationally ranked and talking about throwing a wrench in the BCS machine two weeks ago. But after their second consecutive loss -- this time to conference doormat Wyoming -- the Falcons need to regroup and do it quickly with Colorado State coming to town and the conference title likely at stake. Pass defense has been the problem the last two weeks as opposing quarterbacks have completed 40 of 57 passes for 499 yards against the Falcons. ... BYU needs to win three of its last four games not only to be bowl eligible but also to avoid its first losing season since 1973, when the Cougars went 5-6 in LaVell Edwards' second campaign. The glaring problem must appear shocking for BYU fans: the Cougars have the lowest scoring offense in the Mountain West, having scored just 22 points in three conference games. Quarterback Matt Berry is expected to lead BYU's anemic offense against resurgent San Diego State even though he is nursing a bruised hand. The school also announced that quarterback Ben Olson, one of the nation's top prep players last year, will take the next two years off to serve a Mormon mission. ... Colorado State linebacker Adam Wade was named MWC defensive player of the week after he had a career-best 15 tackles against BYU, with a sack and three other tackles for a loss. He needs to make plays because the Rams defense is banged up. Cornerback Rhett Nelson (neck), linebacker Doug Heald (knee) and end Andrew Sommersell (knee) each are questionable for the Air Force game. In the secondary, freshman Ben Stratton and walk-on safety David Foley might have to play extensively because of a lack of healthy players. ... The third time was a charm for New Mexico, which finally won an overtime game in its third opportunity this season, 42-35, against Utah. Tailback DonTrell Moore finished with 163 yards on 26 carries, and his 329 yards is the most for a Lobos freshman in consecutive games. Quarterback Casey Kelly, ignoring the soft cast on his broken left forearm, accounted for two touchdowns passing and two others running, throwing for 134 yards and rushing for 55 yards. ... The Lobos are off this weekend and need to win three of their final four games to become bowl eligible. ... San Diego State followed an 0-5 start with its first three-game winning streak since 1998. Suddenly, the Aztecs, under first-year coach Tom Craft, are tied with Colorado State for the MWC lead at 3-0. The Aztecs' 31-21 victory over UNLV was a dramatic turnaround from the 31-3 whipping the Rebels gave them last year. The Aztecs also have found a running back: true freshman Frederick Collins, the prize of last winter's recruiting class. Making his first start, he ran for 106 yards on 31 carries with a touchdown. ... The Aztecs converted 10 of their 20 third down plays, while the Rebel were just 2 of 15 on third downs. But the Aztecs have struggled against BYU, losing 10 of the last 12 meetings and have been outscored 117-44 in the last four games. ... UNLV goes where enigmatic quarterback Jason Thomas takes them, and last weekend against San Diego State it was to another defeat. Facing a mediocre Aztecs defense, Thomas completed just 11 of 31 passes for 180 yards. Afterwards, coach John Robinson said the offense needs to be simplified, emphasizing rollout passes that allow Thomas to run if his first receiver isn't open. Thomas and the Rebels had just three first downs in the first 24 minutes after halftime and converted on just two of 15 third-down plays. Thomas has completed just 46.7 percent of his passes this season with three touchdowns and four interceptions, but he has rushed for 412 yards with six touchdowns. If the Rebels retain any hopes for a bowl game, this weekend's visit from Wyoming is a must-win. ... A saw is circling the floor under the feet of Utah coach Ron McBride, the man who built the Utes into a competitive team, after a 42-35 defeat to New Mexico. It was the Utes sixth consecutive defeat, the school's longest losing streak since 1986. Four of those games were decided in the final minutes. McBride's status overshadowed his apparently wise midseason decision to start Brett Elliott at quarterback ahead of Lance Rice. Elliott completed 26 of 39 passes for 440 yards and four touchdowns against the Lobos, the eighth best passing performance in school history. ... The Utes are off this weekend before UNLV on Nov. 9. ... Wyoming coach Vic Koenning may be pulling a Lazarus after the Cowboys upset then-No. 19 Air Force 34-26. Koenning's first victory against a MWC opponent also snapped the team's 17-game conference losing streak. Quarterback Casey Bramlet turned in one of the best performances of his career against the Falcons, completing 32 of 42 passes for 387 yards and two touchdowns. The defense kept Air Force quarterback Chance Harridge out of the endzone for the first time all season. If the Pokes, the conference's least penalized team, play smart football down the stretch, there's no reason why they can't split their final four games and save Koenning, a standup guy who apparently has kept his team from quitting while defeats piled up.

Ted Miller covers college football for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.