Rivalry week starts this week in the Pac-12 as the regular season finishes next week. Here are my week 13 picks.
My Record: Straight up: 51-26, Against Spread: 39-30
Saturday
UCLA (4-6) at #23 USC (7-4) 12:30 p.m. (ABC) Line: USC -13.5
Two hated rivals will face each other Saturday afternoon on ABC. The Trojans entered the CFB Playoff rankings after their dominating win at California. UCLA was man-handled in a 49-3 defeat at Utah. This is a rivalry game but USC should impose their will on a Bruins team limping into the Coliseum.
USC 38 UCLA 21
California (5-5) at Stanford (4-6) 1 p.m. (Pac-12) Line: Stanford -3
Well the Big Game won’t be as big of a game as it could’ve been to start the season. Stanford entered the season ranked while California got off to a 4-0 start and looked to be contenders in the Pac-12. Instead these teams are fighting just to get to a bowl game. California’s starting QB Chase Garbers practiced this week but has yet to be cleared Saturday. This is the year that California breaks their nine game losing streak to Stanford.
California 24 Stanford 21
#6 Oregon (9-1) at Arizona State (5-5) 4:30 p.m. (ABC) Line: Oregon -15
Oregon heads to the desert with the No. 6 ranking in the latest CFB Playoff rankings. Meanwhile, the Sun Devils have lost four straight after their one point loss at Oregon State. This has trap game written all over it. Arizona State has been a place where rank teams tend to struggle. But right now it’s just too hard to back Arizona State with the way they are playing.
Oregon 38 Arizona State 24
Oregon State (5-5) at Washington State (5-5) 6 p.m. (Pac-12) Line: WSU -12
The Beavers are the feel good story of the conference this season. Oregon State sits alone in second place of the North Division after a 2-10 season. It’s been a disappointing season for the Cougars to say the least. Both teams will be heavy underdogs next week against their rivals, so this game could be the difference in bowl eligibility. Washington State outside of their collapse vs UCLA has been dominant at home and it stays that way this week.
Washington State 38 Oregon State 28
#7 Utah (9-1) at Arizona (4-6) 7 p.m. (FS1) Line: Utah -22.5
The Utes head to Tuscon playing their best football of the season. In their last five games they have outscored their opponents, 188-41. Arizona comes in limping having lost five straight games – all by double-digits. This game could get ugly early.
Utah 41 Arizona 14
*Check back later for my Washington at Colorado preview/prediction article.
