Things are starting to heat up in the Pac-12 this week with some big matchups.
Here are my week five picks……
Friday
UCLA (0-3) @ Colorado (3-0) 6 p.m. (FS1) Line: Colorado -9
Who would have thought Chip Kelly’s much anticipated start at UCLA would have turned out to be this bad? Not me or you. Things are getting worse for the Bruins as conference play begins this week.
Colorado has been the surprise of the conference so far, starting out 3-0. The Buffs’ haven’t had a tough non-conference schedule but they have looked good.
Both teams are coming off byes but it’s Colorado at home that will give Chip Kelly and the Bruins an 0-4 start.
Colorado 35 UCLA 28
Utah (2-1) @ Washington State (3-1) 3 p.m. (Pac-12) Line: Utah -2
The Cougars are coming off a heart breaking 39-36 loss at USC last Friday night. Washington State had a 30-24 lead heading to the fourth quarter before USC outscored WSU 15-6 in the fourth quarter. The loss was a tough one, but transfer quarterback Gardner Minshew seems to be the real deal. Minshew passed for 344 yards and three touchdowns in the loss.
The Utes had a bye week after losing 21-7 loss to Washington. Utah’s defense has been good this year but the offense has been a different story. In the past two games, Utah has scored a total of 24 points. Can they get right against a WSU defense that just gave up 39 points to a true freshman QB?
In what could be a very big game, the Utes’ bye week will be just what the doctor ordered.
Utah 27 Washington State 24
#7 Stanford (4-0) at #8 Notre Dame (4-0) 4:30 p.m (NBC) Line: Notre Dame -5.5
A game with all kinds of playoff implications takes place under the lights at Notre Dame. The Irish are 4-0 and coming off a dominating 56-27 win at Wake Forest. If the Fighting Irish can get the offense production they got last week, they very well could find themselves in the College Football Playoff.
The Cardinal are coming off an improbable overtime win at Oregon. Stanford trailed 24-7 in the third quarter before storming back to take down the Ducks. It could be a season defining win but Stanford’s defense remains a concern.
Notre Dame has a better defense and it will show on Saturday.
Notre Dame 30 Stanford 20
Oregon State (1-3) at Arizona State (2-2) 7 p.m. (Pac-12) Line: Arizona State -22
The Sun Devils gave everything they had at Washington before falling 27-20. Herm Edwards has this program on the right track. It all comes down to getting the right talent in place.
Oregon State suffered a 35-14 loss at home against Arizona last weekend. It’s a rebuilding year in Corvallis. The first step will be fixing the defense. In Oregon State’s three losses this season, the Beavers have given up 49.6 points per game.
Arizona State rolls in the desert.
Arizona State 42 Oregon State 24
USC (2-2) at Arizona (2-2) 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2) Line: USC-3.5
Arizona made some strides on defense last week, allowing just 238 yards, in a 35-14 win at Oregon State. Meanwhile the Wildcats rushed for an impressive 442 yards in the win. Still question marks remain about this team but it’s a start.
True freshman JT Daniels stole the show for the Trojans in their 39-36 comeback win over Washington State last week. Daniels passed for 241 yards and three touchdowns. But as USC’s offense gains momentum, the Trojans’ defense has struggled these last two weeks – allowing 36.5 points per game.
Expect a lot of points in the Desert on Saturday. USC rides true freshman JT Daniels for their second consecutive win.
USC 42 Arizona 35
#19 Oregon (3-1) at #24 California (3-0) 7:30 p.m. (FS1) Line: Oregon -1.5
Oregon has no time to harp on their tough overtime loss this week. Their defense must rebound after a tough second second half against Stanford.
California is 3-0 and coming off of a bye week. The Golden Bears’ most impressive win of the season, is a 21-18 win at BYU.
I’m not sure California can score enough points to win this game.
Oregon 30 California 24
*Check back tomorrow for Ruth Robbins’ game preview of the #20 BYU at #11 Washington game for my prediction.
