Pac-12 football picks: Jacob Thorpe picks Cougs, Ducks and more

You made some easy money going with our picks last week, so stay away this week. The Law of Averages will rear its ugly head, and this week features a number of games that are atypically hard to read. Is Oregon really only two touchdowns better than UW? How will USC react to the Lane Kiffin firing?

If you’re a gambler, give it a rest this week. Then again, if you’re a gambler then that’s not the way your mind works.

Arizona at USC, USC by 6: USC plays loose in its first game with Ed Orgeron at the helm. Marquise Lee has a big day catching the ball and the Trojans cruise. USC 35-21

Oregon at UW, Oregon by 14: The ESPN College Gameday atmosphere and an athletic defense but UO will pull away, like always. Oregon 41-24

Stanford at Utah, Stanford by 9: The odds makers seem to think that Utah played well to keep so close to UCLA. I think UCLA just played exceptionally poorly. Can Wilson throw even more interceptions this week? Stanford 42-21

Colorado at ASU, ASU by 25: Colorado won’t win this one, but it has some playmakers and is headed in the right direction. ASU 31-14

Cal at UCLA, UCLA by 24 1/2: UCLA wants to prove it’s still elite after a subpar showing at Utah. Cal’s injuries are piling up. UCLA 52-17

OSU at WSU, WSU by 1: For the second straight week, Vegas has the Cougs winning by a single point. For the second straight week, I have them winning, but not by as much as last week. WSU 28-24

Last week: 5-0 straight up, 4-1 against the spread. Overall: 5-0, 4-1