Pac-12 picks
PULLMAN – Well, it won’t be hard to figure out which TVs you should pay attention to this week. Half the Pac-12 games are expected to end in blowouts, two more should be field goal-close and one game is so screwy the oddsmakers haven’t set a line. Of course, this is the Pac-12, so if you simply favor the road teams, find out which officials went to middle school with which coaches’ spouses and figure out if it’s USC’s turn for a good week or bad week you should be good to go.
Oregon and California play Friday night, everyone else plays Saturday. Picks are for bragging rights only.
Oregon at California, Oregon by 17.5: Oregon’s Maserati offense could put up 100 on Cal’s defense, but with two big games coming up we’re thinking this is a good weekend for the Ducks to keep the sports car in the garage. Oregon 44-27
UCLA at Colorado, UCLA by 13.5: UCLA, birthed in the fire of preseason hype and undeserved expectations, has blown out just one team this season. Isn’t it time the Sun Devils had some company? UCLA 45-24
Oregon State at Stanford, Stanford by 13.5: Stunned by the lack of offensive production and willing to try anything to manufacture points, perhaps this is the game when Stanford’s coaches realize their top three running backs are combining to average 5.7 yards per carry. Stanford 31-17
Arizona at Washington State, Arizona by 2.5: Washington State is plugging holes on defense and that’s not a good place to be against the Pac-12’s most up-tempo offense. Arizona 45-38
USC at Utah, no line: Travis Wilson? Kendall Thompson? It doesn’t matter. Either way, Utah’s suddenly one-dimensional offense won’t be enough to overcome a USC team that’s starting to play up to its talent. USC 35-20
Arizona State at Washington, ASU by 3.5: Trying to reincorporate Taylor Kelly at quarterback while still giving time to Mike Bercovici on the road against a talented defense that was recently embarrassed may not be a recipe for success. UW 24-21
Last week: 4-1 straight up, 2-3 against the spread.
Overall: 40-17 straight up, 23-26 against the spread.