The Pac-12 is likely out of the College Football Playoff for a consecutive season after Washington suffered a heartbreaking overtime loss at Oregon. But the conference is starting to gain buzz again with #12 Oregon at #25 Washington State this Saturday.
Here are my week eight picks……
Thursday
Stanford (4-2) at Arizona State (3-3) 6 p.m (ESPN) Line: Stanford -2.5
The Cardinal are coming off a much needed bye after being outscored by Notre Dame and Utah by a combined 78-38 the previous two weeks. Bryce Love left the Notre Dame game with an ankle injury and sat out the next week in Stanford’s 40-21 loss against Utah. The good news is Bryce Love will be back Thursday night.
Arizona State was also on a bye after losing at Colorado, 28-21. Herm Edwards has plenty of work to do in recruiting but so far ASU looks like they are headed in the right direction.
David Shaw’s teams tend to get better as the year goes on and coming off a bye, the Cardinal get a much needed close road victory.
Stanford 31 Arizona State 23
Saturday
California (3-3) at Oregon State (1-5) 1 p.m. (Pac-12) Line: California -6.5
The Golden Bears have lost three in-a-row after last week’s 37-7 loss at home against the then win-less Bruins. Once again the California offense was plagued with the turnover bug as they finished with five turnovers. In three conference games, Cal has turned the ball over an astonishing 14 times.
Oregon State enjoyed a bye last week. The Beavers are looking for their first conference win this year after losing to Washington State, 56-37 two weeks ago. OSU’s problem this year, a defense allowing 47.0 points per game. We will see if they figured out anything over the bye week.
If California can turn the ball three times or less they win.
California 38 Oregon State 27
#12 Oregon (5-1) at #25 Washington State (5-1) 4:30 p.m. (FOX) Line: Washington State -3
The Oregon Ducks upset the Washington Huskies in a thrilling overtime game last week. Oregon took full advantage of the bye week and seemed prepared for what UW threw at them. The Ducks used solid defense and a balanced offense to beat UW.
Washington State is coming off a bye in anticipation for one of the biggest game’s in recent memory for the Cougars. College Gameday will be in Pullman for the matchup on Saturday.
Oregon beat UW last week but the physical toll it took might be too much to overcome against a fresh WSU team.
Washington State 38 Oregon 31
USC (4-2) at Utah (4-2) 5 p.m. (Pac-12) Line: Utah -7
Everything is starting to click after a slow start for the Utes. Utah beat Arizona 42-10 at home last week. The previous week, they defeated Stanford 40-21.
USC comes in also playing some good football after beating Colorado, 31-20 last week. The Trojans have won three in-a-row and are on top of the South Division.
The Trojans have scored only 37 total points in three true road games. Utah is clicking and I’m not sure USC can do anything on offense against this stout Utes defense.
Utah 24 USC 14
Arizona (3-4) at UCLA (1-5) 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2) Line: UCLA -8
The Wildcats have been the disappointment in the conference so far. And things got worse last week, losing to Utah, 42-10. Khalil Tate was also injured and has been ruled out for this Saturday’s game.
After playing Washington close two weeks ago, the Bruins broke through with a 37-7 road win at California. UCLA played great defense and rushed for 207 yards in the win. Things might be starting to click for Chip Kelly and the Bruins.
No Khalil Tate equals no fun for Arizona in Los Angeles.
UCLA 35 Arizona 20
* Check back Friday for my prediction of the Colorado at Washington game in Ruth Robbins’ preview.
