Jacob Thorpe’s Pac-12 picks
Week one didn’t go so well. Maybe this week I’ll make like the Cougars did last season and double my win total in the second go-around.
Unfortunately, even if I do that I’ll still have just two picks on the right side of the spread.
Arizona plays Thursday, the Cougars play Friday and everyone else plays on Saturday.
All picks are for entertainment (mostly comedic) purposes only.
Arizona at Texas-San Antonio, Arizona by 8: The Roadrunners may have launched their football program in 2009, but former Miami coach Larry Coker’s program is no pushover. Still, Anu Solomon and company win in a shootout. Arizona 45-38.
Washington State at Nevada, WSU by 4: The WSU defense will have a tough time containing athletic quarterback Cody Fajardo and the Wolf Pack’s potent ground game. But the offense should continue to thrive and in a must-win situation, the Cougars do. WSU 37-34.
Colorado at Massachusetts, Colorado by 17: The Buffaloes vent their frustration from the previous week’s rivalry loss during a blowout win over an overmatched UMass squad, but the big victory merely whitewashes over some real issues for CU. Colorado 34-14.
Fresno State at Utah, Utah by 11: The Bulldogs show what they can do against a team that isn’t exclusively populated with All-Americans. I’d take FSU in an upset if Rice-Eccles Stadium was not notoriously tough on visiting teams. Utah 34-31.
Sacramento State at California, no line: Good things come in twos for the Golden Bears this week. Cal doubles last season’s win total in week two of Sonny Dykes’ second year. California 41-14.
Eastern Washington at Washington, no line: The Huskies won’t be overlooking anybody after a debacle at Hawaii that was one point away from a catastrophe. Toward the end of the game Washington figured out that it could run the ball effectively, and Cyler Miles – who played well last season against two Pac-12 teams – will be a massive upgrade at quarterback. Washington 34-21.
USC at Stanford, Stanford by 3: Steve Sarkisian came within 40 yards of a win in Palo Alto last season, and this year’s team is vastly more talented. Stanford’s losses on defense become apparent as USC’s superb freshmen run wild. USC 38-31.
Michigan State at Oregon, Oregon by 12: The Spartans are bigger, tougher and meaner. None of that will matter when the Ducks fly right past them in a statement win for the conference. Oregon 49-31.
Arizona State at New Mexico, ASU by 26: Defending the triple option will be a nice test for the young Sun Devils defense. ASU 48-17.
Memphis at UCLA, UCLA by 24: The Bruins defense all but guarantees a win, but the offense still has some kinks to work out before the real Brett Hundley emerges. UCLA 38-21.
Oregon State at Hawaii, OSU by 11: The Hawaii trip is really difficult for mainland teams. The Beavers will become the second Pac-12 team to learn that lesson in as many weeks. OSU 24-17.
Last week: 9-3 straight up, 1-7 against the spread.