It’s a big week in the Pac-12 as Oregon and Utah take to the road in two tough matchups. Oregon and Utah remain the last hope for the conference to get in the College Football Playoff. Here are my week 10 picks.
My record: Straight up – 43-21, Against spread: 31-25
Saturday
Oregon State (3-4) at Arizona (4-4) 1:30 p.m. (Pac-12) Line: Arizona -5.5
Two teams that are going in opposite directions will meet in Tucson on Saturday afternoon. Arizona has lost three in a row – all by double-digits. Oregon State enjoyed a bye week after defeating California on the road. The wrong team is favored here. Extra rest and an extra week for Jonathan Smith to get his offense prepared for a struggling Arizona defense will be the difference
Oregon State 41 Arizona 35
#7 Oregon (7-1) at USC (5-3) 5 p.m. (FOX) Line: Oregon -5
Oregon now finds themselves right in the thick of things for the College Football Playoff. But things haven’t come easy for the Ducks. Oregon needed a 14-point comeback at Washington and a game winning field goal to knock off Washington State last week. A banged up USC team survived at Colorado last Friday night, 35-31. Oregon has played two exhausting games in a row and now must face a talented USC team on the road with an extra day of rest. Trojans eliminate Oregon from playoff contention as Kedon Slovis has a big day through the air.
USC 35 Oregon 31
Colorado (3-5) at UCLA (3-5) 6 p.m. (Pac-12) Line: UCLA -6.5
Chip Kelly and the UCLA Bruins are starting to turn the corner it would seem. UCLA crushed No. 24 Arizona State, 42-32 – last Saturday. At one point in the third quarter, the Bruins led 35-7. The Buffaloes meanwhile continue to struggle on defense. Colorado has lost four games in a row after their 35-31 defeat against USC. UCLA controls their destiny in the South Division and they are highly motivated right now. Bruins roll to an easy victory this Saturday.
UCLA 42 Colorado 30
* Check back later for my preview/prediction article for the Utah at Washington game.
