Pac-12 picks: It’s mostly a gimme week for Pac-12 football teams
Welcome back everybody, college football is finally here again. The Pac-12 schools elected to ease into the season, and if the oddsmakers have their way the conference will finish the week with just one loss.
But when have the oddsmakers had their way? There is bound to be an upset or two somewhere in these early gimmes, but if you can find it you’re a better bettor than I.
Note: Normally this segment will run on Wednesdays, but with the Cougars playing on Thursday everyone’s schedule is a little wacky.
Idaho State at Utah, no line: How bad are the Bengals? Since 2011 ISU has played two Pac-12 schools – the two from Washington – and lost by a combined score of 120-21. Utah 45-13.
Rutgers at Washington State, WSU by 8: Rutgers can’t stop the pass. The Cougars can’t help but pass. WSU 41-31.
Weber State at Arizona State, no line: When the home team can name the score, the professionals in Las Vegas don’t even hazard a guess. But I will. ASU 66-9.
Colorado State at Colorado, Colorado by 3: The Colorado schools get their rivalry game out of the way early in what is easily the most interesting Pac-12 game of Week One. Colorado 35-21.
UNLV at Arizona, Arizona by 23 1/2: The most interesting part of this game will be seeing who starts at quarterback for the Wildcats. After that’s out of the way feel free to see if FXX is still running that Simpsons marathon. Arizona 34-21.
UCLA at Virginia, UCLA by 22: Brett Hundley has a chance to make an early impression on eastern Heisman Trophy voters. It’s a good bet he makes the most of it. UCLA 45-24.
California at Northwestern, Northwestern by 11: The fact that the Wildcats are favored by double digits despite losing their top receiver and rusher in the past month says everything about how the Golden Bears are perceived right now. Northwestern 31-17.
Portland State at Oregon State, no line: Consider this game Sean Mannion’s open tryout to see who will replace Brandin Cooks as his top receiver. OSU 45-13.
UC Davis at Stanford, no line: In this instance “no line” could likely also refer to the size of the crowd. Stanford 55-10.
Fresno State at USC, USC by 21 1/2: Steve Sarkisian will win at USC, but it will take awhile before his Trojans are blowing teams out. USC 38-24.
Washington at Hawaii, UW by 15 1/2: Expect offense in Chris Petersen’s UW debut. Jeff Lindquist has one shot to show he should keep the starting quarterback job once Cyler Miles comes back from suspension. UW 38-17.
South Dakota at Oregon, no line: The only question about this game is how soon the Ducks will sit quarterback Marcus Mariota. After the second quarter? After the first? Oregon 63-13.