Here are my week 10 Pac-12 picks….
My record: Straight up- 48-18, against the spread- 30-28
Friday
UCLA (4-4) at Utah (4-4) 6:30 p.m. (FS1) Line: Utah -6.5
The Utah Utes have lost four in a row after falling 41-20 at Oregon last week. Losing eight players to the NFL last season has really hampered the Utes.
UCLA, lost 44-23 at Washington, allowing 333 rushing yards. Josh Rosen left in the third quarter with an injury and is considered questionable for Friday’s game.
The Utes will find a way to rally at home tomorrow night under QB Tyler Huntley.
Utah 30 UCLA 27
Saturday
#21 Stanford (6-2) at #25 Washington State (7-2) 12:30 p.m. (FOX) Line: Washington State -2.5
Maybe the game of the week in the Pac-12. Washington State is coming off a disappointing 58-37 loss at Arizona. QB Luke Falk was benched after completing 13-23 passes for 93 yards and a TD. Tyler Hilinski replaced Falk and completed 45-61 passes, for 509 yards and two touchdowns. Hilinski threw four interceptions. Falk is expected to be back at QB against Stanford.
Bryce Love missed last week’s game against Oregon State with a hurt ankle. Without Love, the Cardinal struggled to do anything on offense and avoided an upset with a late TD to hold off the Beavers, 15-14. Bryce Love is a game time decision once again.
The status of Bryce Love makes this game hard to predict. But overall I’m just not sure Stanford can score enough points in this game.
Washington State 30 Stanford 24
Oregon State (1-7) at California (4-5) 2 p.m. (Pac-12 Networks) Line: California -7.5
Getting to a bowl game would be a huge accomplishment for Justin Wilcox and the Golden Bears. California needs two wins to become bowl eligible and this one feels like a must win. After losing at Colorado, 44-28 last week, the Golden Bears return home this week.
Oregon State played very tough against Stanford last week before falling in the last seconds to a late Cardinal TD. Cory Hall has the Beavers playing some inspired football right now.
The Golden Bears seem to be a much better team at home this year. I’m not sure the Beavers can recover so quickly after the heartbreaking loss against Stanford
California 28 Oregon State 20
Colorado (5-4) at Arizona State (4-4) 6 p.m. (Pac-12 Networks) Line: Arizona State -3.5
Trying to figure out Arizona State is any ones best guess. After upsetting Washington and dominating Utah the following week, the Sun Devils laid an egg at home last week, losing 48-17 to USC. You just never know what team is going to show up week-to-week.
Colorado meanwhile, after losing four of five games, beat California at home 44-28. Bowl eligibility is no sure thing for the Buffs’, who still have to play at Arizona State, vs USC, and at Utah.
My guess, Arizona State shows up this week. But who really knows.
Arizona State 34 Colorado 28
#22 Arizona (6-2) at #17 USC (7-2) 7:45 p.m. (ESPN) Line: USC -7.5
The winner of this Saturday night showdown controls their own destiny in the Pac-12’s South division.
Arizona QB, Khalil Tate, won the Pac-12 offensive Player of the Week for the fourth consecutive week after passing for 275 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 146 yards rushing and a TD in the Wildcats’ 58-37 win over WSU. Tate has turned the whole Arizona program around and maybe will start to enter the Heisman conversation if he keeps playing this good.
USC is starting to get healthy and it showed last week. The Trojans dominated the Sun Devils in a 48-17 win.
The speed of USC’s defense should be able to hold the powerful Wildcats offense under 40 points.
USC 42 Arizona 35
*Check back tomorrow for my preview and prediction article for the Oregon at No. 12 Washington game.
