Football is finally here! It’s officially game week as 11 Pac-12 teams are in action starting this Thursday. The only team not in action is Arizona – who lost at Hawaii 45-38 last week. Below you will find my week one picks.
Thursday
UCLA at Cincinnati 4 p.m. (ESPN) Line: Cincinnati -2.5
This will be a much improved UCLA team under Chip Kelly. The Bruins return 19 starters and showed signs of life towards the end of last year. Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson should lead a better offense that scored a combined 76 points in their final two games a season ago. Cincinnati returns 14 starters coming off an 11-2 season. This is a balanced team that doesn’t have too many weaknesses. UCLA will be better this season but again they fall to the Bearcats.
Cincinnati 27 UCLA 24
Arizona State vs Kent State 7 p.m. (Pac-12) Line: Arizona State -25
It’s year No. 2 for ASU head coach Herm Edwards. The Sun Devils must replace star wide receiver N’Keal Harry and QB Manny Wilkins. ASU will start true freshman QB Jayden Daniels. The dual threat QB was a top-50 recruit coming out of high school. Arizona State will ride star running back Eno Benjamin after a 2018 season where he rushed for 1,642 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Arizona State 38 Kent State 14
#14 Utah at BYU 7:15 p.m. (ESPN) Line: Utah -5.5
This could be a breakout year for the Utes with QB Tyler Huntley and RB Zack Moss healthy. Utah also is expected to have one of the best defenses in college football. BYU has lost eight straight games to Utah but just one was by more than eight points. Utah handles business again in the Holy War.
My pick of the week: Utah 24 BYU 14
Friday
Colorado State vs Colorado 7 p.m. (ESPN) Line: Colorado -13.5
Mel Tucker will hope to bring in his SEC toughness and bring back the glory days of the Buffaloes. Colorado returns one of the best player’s in college football Laviska Shenault. They also bring back veteran QB Steven Montez. Colorado State finished just 3-9 last year and lost to the Buffs’ 45-13. Colorado rolls in Broncos Stadium at Mile High.
Colorado 35 Colorado State 17
Oklahoma State at Oregon State 7:30 p.m. (FS1) Line: Oklahoma State -14
Offensive minded Oregon State HC Jonathan Smith improved the Beavers offense by almost six points in his first season in Corvallis. But the Beavers gave up 45.7 points per game. So you would expect a natural improvement this year on that side of the ball. Quarterback Jake Luton will lead an offense that should average over 30 points per game this season. Oklahoma State meanwhile has averaged at least 38 points in each of the last four seasons. But were just 1-4 on the road last season. The Beavers hang around in this one but just aren’t ready to take the next step.
Oklahoma State 41 Oregon State 30
Saturday
Northwestern at #25 Stanford 1 p.m. (FOX) Line: Stanford -6.5
This has the making of a low scoring, smash-mouth type of game. When these two teams met back in 2015, Northwestern won 16-6 at home. K.J. Costello quietly put together one of the best seasons in the Pac-12 – passing for 3,540 yards and 29 touchdowns. But after four straight seasons of the team averaging 200 yards rushing per game the Cardinal rushed for just 108 yards per game last season. Northwestern returns 12 starters after losing in the Big 10 title game a year ago. Stanford edges out Northwestern in a close one.
Stanford 20 Northwestern 17
UC Davis at California 3:30 p.m. (Pac-12) Line: N/A
California will have one of the best defenses in the conference if not the country. But can quarterback Chase Garbers help an offense that averaged just 21.5 points in 2018?
California 35 UC Davis 7
#11 Oregon vs #16 Auburn 4:30 p.m. (ABC) Line: Auburn -3.5
The game of the week takes place in AT&T Stadium as Oregon and Auburn meet up. The Ducks went 9-4 last season but struggled away from Autzen Stadium. Oregon might have the top offensive line in the country and possibly the No. 1 draft pick in quarterback Justin Herbert. The Ducks are banged up at WR but it appears Penn State transfer Juwan Johnson will be good to go Saturday. Oregon’s defense should improve upon a solid year even though defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt is gone. Auburn meanwhile will be breaking in five-star true freshman QB Bo Nix. It’s a big year for head coach Gus Malzahn who will be taking over play calling duties on offense. It should be fascinating to watch Auburn’s elite defensive front battle Oregon’s elite O-line. This game I’ve gone back and fourth on but I side with the experience of the Ducks on this one.
Oregon 30 Auburn 27
New Mexico State at #23 Washington State 7 p.m. (Pac-12) Line: WSU -31.5
It was a little shocking when coach Mike Leach announced that senior Anthony Gordon would be starting over Eastern Washington transfer Gage Gubrud. But Leach has earned the right that you can’t really question his offense that is always one of the best in the conference. Losing star safety Jalen Thompson in the off season will hurt this defense. But assuming Anthony Gordon is solid the offense will be fine. New Mexico State struggled big time vs. power five teams a year ago and this contest will be no different.
Washington State 48 New Mexico State 14
Fresno State at USC 7:30 p.m. (ESPN) Line: USC 13.5
Clay Helton is on the hot seat and many think he won’t make it through this season. The Trojans have a brutal schedule but like always they have the talent to beat almost any team in the country on the right day. USC will install an air raid system with sophomore QB J.T. Daniels throwing to talented wide-outs Michael Pittman and Amon-Ra St. Brown. USC has question marks in the secondary but should have a solid front seven. Nine starters return for Jeff Tedford’s Fresno State team that went 12-2 a season ago. The defense again should be very good but with just three returners on offense, there’s a bit of doubt. Trojans win but Fresno State covers.
USC 31 Fresno State 20.
* Check back on Friday for my Washington vs. Eastern Washington Preview/Prediction article.
