Welcome to the heart of the Pac-12 conference season, where we'll know once and for all (for a week, at least) who's for real and who's not.

The Oregon Ducks prevailed in Eugene over Washington last week on national television, while Colorado fell on its face in the late night window in the City of Angels.

Those tidbits and more are delved into in great detail below, so get cracking on my weekly power rankings in the Conference of Champions.

1. Oregon Ducks (5-1, 2-1)

Last Week: Beat Washington, 30-27

This Week: At Washington State, 4:30 p.m. (Fox)

The Ducks pulled off a hell of a win on Saturday afternoon over their longtime rivals from Seattle, with junior QB Justin Herbert showing why he's a legit Heisman frontrunner. Herbert finished the day with 202 passing yards and two scores, setting Mario Cristobal's team up for their biggest win in a long, long while. The Ducks face a sneaky-tough matchup at Martin Stadium in Pullman this Saturday, with the Cougars winning each of their last three games against Oregon, including last year's 51-33 dismantling in Eugene. This year's contest should be one for the ages, with Herbert and Cougar QB Gardner Minshew IV matching each other score-for-score on the Palouse.

2. Washington Huskies (5-2, 3-1)

Last Week: Lost to Oregon, 30-27

This Week: Vs. Colorado, 12:30 p.m. (Fox)

The Huskies found themselves on the wrong end of Saturday's clash in the Willamette Valley, effectively eliminating them from playoff position. That said, Chris Petersen's squad is still alive and well in the Pac-12 North Division race, especially if Washington State beats Oregon this week. The Huskies will have a shot at taking out their frustrations on a hobbled Colorado squad that lost its top-three receivers against USC a week ago, giving the Huskies' defense a chance to maul the Buffs with great vigor on the banks of the mighty Lake Washington. 

3. Washington State (5-1, 2-1)

Last Week: Bye Week

This Week: Vs. Oregon, 4:30 p.m. (Fox)

I'm probably much higher on Mike Leach's squad than most, given their relatively weak non-conference schedule and batshit crazy loss to USC a few weeks ago. That said, I'm high on Mike Leach's bunch because of their always explosive offense, with grad transfer Minshew (see above) tossing 19 touchdowns in six games, with four interceptions to his name. Minshew leads the conference in passing yards per game (403.7) and passing touchdowns—pacing the Cougars to unexpected highs this fall. The Cougars season will rest on their ability to pull off an upset over the Ducks at home this week, with road games against Stanford and Colorado on the horizon.

4. Utah Utes (4-2, 2-2)

Last Week: Beat Arizona, 42-10

This Week: Vs. USC, 5 p.m. (Pac-12 Network)

The Utes have seen their season prognosis improve significantly in the last two weeks, thanks to resounding wins over Stanford (in Palo Alto) and Arizona (at home). The Utes arguably have the Pac-12's best defense, under former Oregon State coach Gary Andersen, sitting atop the conference with Washington in points allowed (16.0), while giving up the fewest yards per game (300.0) of any team in the Pac-12. The Utes' offense isn't sexy, but QB Tyler Huntley has done his job well, with 1,221 passing yards and 7 passing touchdowns, to a mere three interceptions. Running back Zack Moss has emerged as a big-play threat out of the backfield for the squad of-late as well, leading the Utes in rushing yards (617) and rushing TDs (7). The Utes face a huge test in the SLC this weekend, when the Trojans come calling. A win and they'll be in the driver's seat to make the Pac-12 championship game for the first time. A loss, and it's Holiday Bowl or bust for Whittingham's bunch.

5. USC Trojans (4-2, 3-1)

Last Week: Beat Colorado, 31-20

This Week: At Utah, 5 p.m. (Pac-12 Network)

The Trojans are, without a doubt, the most frustratingly inconsistent team in the conference. Clay Helton's bunch has all the talent in the world, with freshman QB JT Daniels showing flashes of brilliance this season, while also making mind-numbingly stupid passes, like the one he tried in the first play from scrimmage against Colorado last Saturday. Another problem for USC has been its inability to avoid committing penalties, with a conference-worst 59 of them in six games, 7 more than the next-worst squad, which happens to be the Arizona Wildcats. The Trojans will be put to the test on Saturday, against a Utes squad that doesn't commit such stupid penalties. It'll be interesting to see if Daniels, 1,540 passing yards and 7 touchdowns (with 5 interceptions) this season, can crack the Utes' vaunted pass defense at altitude this week.

6. Colorado Buffaloes (5-1, 2-1)

Last Week: Lost to USC, 31-20

This Week: At Washington, 12:30 p.m. (Fox)

The Buffaloes' woes were on full display Saturday night, losing a road game in LA in the most excruciating, drawn-out fashion. The Buffaloes looked awful on national television, with junior quarterback Steven Montez turning into a pumpkin, with 170 yards on 26-of-47 passes, finishing with an abysmal quarterback ranking of 26.7 in the 11-point loss. The Buffs' woes won't get any easier, with a pissed-off Washington squad on their schedule this week for an offense that looked hopelessly lost without receiver Laviska Shenault Jr., who suffered a leg injury in the loss to the Trojans. It looks like reality is crashing down on the fine folks of Boulder after a dream-like opening five games. Things are only going to get uglier before they get better, with Shenault and fellow receiver Jay MacIntyre missing practice this week.

7. Stanford Cardinal (4-2, 2-1)

Last Week: Bye Week

This Week: Thursday, At ASU, 6 p.m. (ESPN)

The Cardinal got a well-deserved week off on Saturday, after getting their asses kicked by Notre Dame and Utah, to the tune of 78-38. David Shaw's squad desperately needs senior back Bryce Love, who was a Heisman finalist a year ago with 2,118 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns, to get healthy. Love has been hampered by a bad ankle all year, with 327 rushing yards and three scores this year, resulting in the Cardinal offense sputtering to a halt. Love is questionable to play in the team's Thursday night clash with ASU in Tempe, which is a huge deal as QB KJ Costello has looked worse and worse each week, tossing three picks to a mere two touchdowns in the team's losses. The Cardinal are in desperate need of a W to save their season this week, with Washington State and Washington next up on their schedule.

8. Arizona State Sun Devils (3-3, 1-2)

Last Week: Bye Week

This Week: Thursday, vs. Stanford, 6 p.m. (ESPN)

God bless the Fighting Herm Edwards' for their valiant effort all season, gutting out single-digit defeats to San Diego State, Washington and Colorado (who all beat the Devils by 7 points). The Devils will only go as far as senior QB Manny Wilkins can take them, with the veteran gunslinger tossing 11 touchdowns to one interception this season, showing that he's one of the best quarterbacks in the league. The Devils have a fighting chance against the Cardinal this week, with a win setting off what's likely to be a bowl season along the mistake of a lake in Tempe, which is something that few, if any, of the so-called "experts" predicted in the offseason.

9. UCLA Bruins (1-5, 1-2)

Last Week: Beat Cal, 37-7

This Week: Vs. Arizona, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

Chip Kelly and his team got a massive win in Berkeley on Saturday night, taking out five weeks worth of frustration on a suddenly listless Bears squad. Running back Joshua Kelley looked untouchable in the win, with 157 yards and three scores on 30 carries, while freshman QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson did a good job managing the game, completing 13-of-15 passes for for 141 yards. Thompson-Robinson didn't have any touchdowns in the win, but more importantly never turned the ball over for the Bruins, while establishing a solid connection with wideout Caleb Wilson, who had five catches for 92 yards in the win. The Bruins' aren't going to go bowling this season in all likelihood, but they've got a good shot at beating Arizona this weekend and possibly playing the spoiler against Oregon, USC and Stanford down the stretch.

10. Arizona Wildcats (3-4, 2-2)

Last Week: Lost to Utah, 41-10

This Week: At UCLA, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

Raise your hand if you have any idea what the Wildcats will do on a week-by-week basis? If you raised your hand, you're a damn liar, as this team has zero consistency, thanks mainly to Khalil Tate's bad ankle and Noel Mazzone's bad play-calling. The Wildcats looked putrid in their loss to Utah last week, with Tate going down early to an injury and freshman Jamarye Joiner of Cienega High School in Vail looking like—well, a freshman. it's going to be a long rest of the season in Tucson. Luckily for everyone, basketball season is back and beer is now available inside the confines of Arizona Stadium to dull the pain of losing.

11. Cal Bears (3-3, 0-3)

Last Week: Lost to UCLA, 37-7

This Week: At Oregon State, 1 p.m. (Pac-12 Network)

Cal has fallen and can't get up. Justin Wilcox's team has lost to Arizona and UCLA in consecutive weeks, and there's no guarantee they won't do the same against Oregon State in Corvallis this Saturday. Brandon McIlwain might be the real deal (eventually) for the Golden Bears, but right now, the getting is awful in the beautiful Strawberry Hills of Berkeley.

12. Oregon State Beavers (1-5, 0-3)

Last Week: Bye Week

This Week: Vs. Cal, 1 p.m. (Pac-12 Network)

Pour one out for your friends in Corvallis, it's going to be be a long, long, long season up there. They will likely go 1-11 this year, though there's a chance they might beat Cal this week. Nonetheless, just remember friends, basketball season is around the corner, and Wayne Tinkle might actually win a few games for the Beavers this season. 

Songwriters from around the Tucson and Oro Valley area submitted over 70 homespun songs to the local "Passport to Nashville" songwriting contest. The winner and runners up will be announced at Monterey Court this Thursday, Oct. 18th. But for now, the top ten contestants have been announced!

In alphabetical order, the top ten local songwriters for the inaugural contest are: Andrew Miceli, Eric Schaffer, Freddy Parish, Helen Hudson, Jacob Acosta, Lauren Lawson, Sophia Rankin, Steff Koeppen, Stuart Oliver and Tom Hodgson.

"Passport to Nashville" is a competition for Arizona songwriters to have their music listened to and judged by a panel of those in the music industry. Founded by Nashville-to-Tucson transplant Virginia Cannon, the competition had songwriters submit their songs for a chance to win a one-year membership with Nashville Songwriters Association, free music lessons, and a round trip to Nashville.

“I love songwriters, I love the whole process,” Cannon said. “I really wanted to do something to help the community.”

Some of the songwriters, including Schaffer and Acosta, are longtime songwriters with studio albums already under their belts. Others, like Lauren Lawson, 15, are just starting their musical career.

The judges panel includes songwriter Dave Pomeroy, music writer Bobby Rymer, music consultant Monty Hitchcock and more. Cannon said while the physical awards for winners are nice, the true awards come in making connections with industry professionals.

“That’s absolutely the prize,” Cannon said, speaking of the contestants meeting the judges. “I’m constantly getting songwriters asking me to connect them with producers. This is a way for all five judges to listen to a lot of local songwriters. The connections will naturally happen.”

At the finals show, the top ten songwriters will perform their tracks before the judges and audience, and the winners will be announced from a number of categories, including judge’s picks and grand winner.

“I’m very pleased with everyone in the top ten,” Cannon said. “Every once in a while, I’ll come across someone that makes me say, ‘wow, that’s just a good songwriter.”

For more information, visit passporttonashville.com

Show Info:
Passport to Nashville Awards Night
6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18
Monterey Court Studio Galleries & Cafe
505 W. Miracle Mile

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The Race for Groundwater: A Shrinking Resource. UA College of Science is hosting this fall lecture series all about Women in Science: From Pioneers to the Present. Women researchers from the University of Arizona will be talking about their research, as well as about other women researchers who inspired them. On this week’s docket: Jen McIntosh in hydrology and atmospheric sciences, who will be talking about the world’s shrinking supply of groundwater, particularly in the United States. She’ll also talk about the work of Barbara Sherwood-Lollar, a scientist from the University of Toronto who discovered deep water resources in the earth’s crust (and the microbial life that lives there). 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 16. Magpie’s Gourmet Pizza, 605 N. Fourth Ave. Free. Details Here.

Fred Fox Music+Festival. The Fred Fox School of Music will be hosting its eleventh Music+Festival this year to honor late poet Paul Pines. The festival will consist of seven concerts, a symposium and a major conference. Although most events are featured on the weekend, today they will be hosting the Poetry of Paul Pines set by Daniel Asia. 7:00 p.m. Holsclaw Hall, 1017 N. Olive Road. This is a free event. Details Here.

Creative Juice Spooky Starry Night. Get through the week with a little art, sipping on a glass of wine and learning how to paint like Van Gogh. With an instructor to guide you through step-by-step instructions, avoid a disaster with paint and have a great social hour at the same time. Plus, you'll be creating a masterpiece! $35 per person. 6530 E. Tanque Verde Road. Details Here.

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If you go to any of the events listed above, snap a quick pic and tag us for a chance to be featured on our social media sites! Find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @tucsonweekly.

Events compiled by Brianna Lewis, Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot, Zac Ogden and Jeff Gardner.

"Channel your fury." That was the subject line of one of the hundred-plus Democratic fundraising emails in my inbox on Sunday. Was it from MoveOn? Nope. From Bernie Sanders 2020? Nope again. It was from the Democratic Governors Association.

And that's why Republicans are making such a big deal about Democrats being angry, or one of the reasons anyway. Sure, they want to use the "Democrat angry mob" attack to rally their base by conflating the Democratic Party with their usual grab bag of scary people, the immigrants and gangs and just about any people of color — you know, the usual suspects in the Republican "Be very afraid, they're coming to get you!" campaign. But as important, they don't want Democrats to use anger to rally their base. The DGA email says Democrats have to "channel all our fury into fighting as hard as we can for the next 23 days until Election Day," so Dems will vote in large enough numbers, they'll win close races. Republicans expect that kind of talk from lefties like MoveOn and Bernie Sanders. But when it comes from the usually staid, measured Democratic Governors Association, that's scary.

Anger and vitriol are supposed to be exclusive Republican weapons used to pummel Democrats into submission, according to Republicans anyway. They know anger works. It gets voters' adrenalin pumping. It's especially effective when Democrats respond as they have historically, with measured tones, using logic to explain why Republican anger isn't justified.

"See?" the aggressors crow after a weak Democratic response. "Republicans are strong, we know how to fight! Democrats are wusses."

This week's top picks include two new books and one older, published in 2015, 2016 and 1989 respectively. While these are not books that I would immediately add to my favorites list, they are important both to the world of poetry and beyond.

Bastards of the Reagan Era by Reginald Dwayne Betts

Reginald Dwayne Betts read from his book Bastards of the Reagan Era at the University of Arizona Poetry Center on the last day of August last year. Videos of his reading are available on VOCA.

His voice as captivating as the words he spoke, Betts' poetry is relevant in both the time period in which it is set, and in today's political atmosphere as well. Themes such as police brutality, mass incarceration and the battle against racism fill these lyrical and powerful poems. The book takes on a somber tone, exposing some of the ugly truths that many, including the author, faced growing up throughout the 1980s and the lasting effects the Reagan Era had into the '90s and beyond. While reading is a great way to experience this book, I would highly suggest taking a listen to the VOCA recordings.

The Crown Ain't Worth Much by Hanif Willis-Abdurraqib

Another great book from publisher Button Poetry, The Crown Ain't Worth Much is a tiny book that packs a big punch. With the poetry taking on many forms, including blocks of prose, Willis-Abdurraqib explores age-old themes such as family, gender, race, community and love through various timely pop-culture references. The book follows the author through his life experiences starting in 1998 and ending in 2015, the year before the book was published. The poems intertwine the themes with lived experiences, such as time spent at the barber shop and concerts attended. Characters such as as the speaker's wife, the ghost of his mother and friends add depth to the poems.

"Never simple, always beautiful, Willis-Abdurraquib’s poems expand what epic story poetry can tell." - Los Angeles Review

Sonnets by Bernadette Mayer

 "I looked through my last poems in the morning and discovered I'd been writing the always somehow peripheral sonnet all along without understanding the forms of brief conclusive thought the poems had been taking so often in 14 lines without me."

This quote from Bernadette Mayer printed on the back cover of Sonnets tells you more about her writing style than any review. Long rambling sentences often lacking complete sense but giving you a general idea of what she is talking about is what most of this book entails. I was instructed  to read this book as an undergrad because of it's contradiction with the traditional form reserved for sonnets. Throughout the sentences within the poems, the confines of grammar are stretched with the order of words often jumbled. This book makes the reader work to understand the poetry and teaches about creativity through stretching the limits of meaning and form. While this book isn't as important in the social and political ways that the previous two are, it is important to the study of contemporary poetry.

As always, if you have recommendations of books of poetry to read, write them in the comments! 

On Tuesday, Oct. 16 at 6 p.m., the University of Arizona College of Science will be hosting UA Science Café. This installation of the Cafe is titled ‘The Race for Ground Water-A Shrinking Resource’ and is held at Magpies Gourmet Pizza on Fourth Ave.

Presented by Jen McIntosh, associate professor for UA Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences, the talk will bring the community together to talk about the competition and shrinking supply of the last deep groundwater resources in the United States.

Barbara Sherwood Lollar, a prominent scientist from the University of Toronto who discovered deep, billion-year-old water resources in the earth’s crust and the microbial life that lives there will be highlighted at the talk.

The Science Café at Magpies Gourmet Pizza series features leading female researchers from the University of Arizona who work in a variety of fields. Each presenter will reference a female researcher who came before them in their field, who inspired them at a time when few women were able to pursue a career in scientific research.

Science Cafés teach the latest research that is being conducted and allow all to come and interact with the faces behind the science. There are five different café series at five different locations in Tucson. 

Head over to the PACC PUP-kin Patch, or

 pumpkin CAT-ch?

You decide which of fuzzy, bundled of love you can't live without!

Pima Animal Care Center will be hosting “Pumpkin Patch Adoptions” with trunk-or-treating, games, raffles and costumes (please no masks or weapons as it will scare the animals). The event is on Sunday, Oct. 28, 10 am to 5pm.

The event is part of a “Pumpkin Promo” that starts on Oct. 15th throughout the rest of the month.

“Adopters can come by the shelter where they will find on the bottom of a pumpkin, a discount on pets who are four months or older.”

All pets adopted from PACC come spayed or neutered, vaccinated and microchipped, according to PACC. Each adoption also comes free follow-up vet visit.

Can’t make it to the event? Stop by the shelter Monday to Friday 12-7pm or Sat/Sun 10am-5pm at 4000 N. Silverbell Road.

Pima Animal Care Center: Is our community’s only open-admission shelter. PACC cares for about 17,000 pets each year and is the only shelter in the county that never turns away a pet in need. PACC is also our community’s largest adoption agency and has the largest selection of dogs, cats, puppies and kittens

How does one define place? “Place” may occur in nature, in the city or in our professional lives.

On Monday, Oct. 15 at 6 p.m. at the Tucson Museum of Art, UA College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture and the American Institute of Architects Southern Arizona will host “Cultures of Place” lecture series “Drawing as a Way to See”. Presented by Frank Harmon and sponsored by Studio Rick Joy, this lecture will bring attention on the ways we define “place”.

Harmon has designed sustainable modern buildings across the Southeast for 30 years. His work engages contemporary issues such as sustainability, restoration of cities and nature and "placelessness."

Harmon graduated from the Architectural Association in London and is a professor at the North Carolina State University’s College of Design. His buildings have won over 200 design awards. He recently received the AIA North Carolina Gold Medal for Architectural Design and his book, “Native Places, Drawing as a Way to See,” was published by Oro Publications in September.

Learn about the places each of us inhabits, the cultures that condition and interpret them and the role architecture can play in our world.

Some of his projects include:
1. STARworks Center for Creative Enterprise Star, NC in 2016
2. Seven Sisters Residence St. Helena's Island, SC in 2014
3. JC Raulston Arboretum Lath House Raleigh, NC in 2010
4. Walnut Creek Urban Wetland Education Center Raleigh, NC in 2009
5. Circular Congregational Church Charleston, SC in 2008 

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