Pac-12 picks: A Big Game with big stakes as rivalry week, Part One, kicks off in Pac-12 Conference

Two weeks remain in the regular season. May the picks be with us.

Arizona at Oregon

Even – The Wildcats are using the core concepts of an offense that once made the Ducks great. And the quarterback running it? Maybe even more exciting than Marcus Mariota. The pick: Arizona 51, Oregon 38.

Arizona State at Oregon State

ASU by 7 – It’s the least interesting game of the weekend slate, but the Sun Devils can get their bowl game by being the 10th team to defeat the Beavers. Oh, and that seven-point spread is pretty generous. The pick: ASU 34, OSU 13.

UCLA at USC

USC by 16 – Josh Rosen and Sam Darnold haven’t had the Heisman-caliber seasons most were counting on, but the star quarterbacks – both of them born and groomed in Los Angeles – are still the top story of this one. But Darnold has weapons and Rosen has, well, just Rosen. The pick: USC 45, UCLA 23.

Cal at Stanford

Stanford by 16 – A Big Game with some big implications. Cal becomes bowl-eligible with a win over the Cardinal, Stanford boosts its chances of getting into the Pac-12 title game chances if it holds off the Golden Bears. As long as Bryce Love does his thing, Stanford coasts. The pick: Stanford 37, Cal 21.

Utah at Washington

Washington by 17.5 – The Huskies might come to the game dressed in Cal garb. Even with a win against Utah, Washington still needs the Golden Bears to stun Stanford in Palo Alto. But they also won’t want to enter the Apple Cup with consecutive losses, so I think they handle their business here. The pick: UW 44, Utah 17.

Theo Lawson’s records

Last week: 3-2 straight up, 2-3 against the spread

Overall: 57-19 straight up, 27-41 against the spread