Pac-12 Football Picks: USC Hosts San Jose State As the Conference Begins Its Farewell Tour

The final season of Pac-12 football — at least as we know it — gets under way Saturday with a single game.

USC, whose defection along with UCLA to the Big Ten began the Pac-12 exodus, plays host to San Jose State in the conference’s lone game this week.

Cal debuts a week from now at North Texas and begins Pac-12 play three weeks later at Washington, which also is bound for the Big Ten.

That will be the first of six conference games the Bears will play against longtime rivals they may never face again, with subsequent matchups vs. Arizona State, Utah, USC, Oregon and UCLA — all of them headed to either the Big Ten or Big 12 next fall.

In any case, we will endeavor to make predictions on all games involving Pac-12 teams this season, picking against the spread, as usual.

A year ago, I got the better of Jake Curtis, posting a season record of 59-38-1 compared to his ledger of 52-45-1.

All picks against the spread

Betting line from sisportsbook.com

Saturday

San Jose State (plus-30.5 points) at USC, 5 p.m., Pac-12 Network

Jake: USC is picked to win the Pac-12, and San Jose State is expected to finish in the middle of the Mountain West Conference. And the game is on the Trojans’ home field. I’m guessing USC gets ahead by 40 points, takes Caleb Williams out, allowing the Spartans to score two meaningless touchdowns to beat the spread. Pick: San Jose State

Jeff: The Trojans are 5-0 all-time vs. San Jose State, winning by an average margin of 37-10. This USC team is ranked No. 6 in the preseason AP Top-25 and projected to challenge for a Pac-12 title before defecting to the Big Ten. The Trojans will be eager to impress on opening night. Pick: USC.

Cover photo of USC quarterback Caleb Williams by Jerome Miron, USA Today

Follow Jeff Faraudo of Cal Sports Report on Twitter: @jefffaraudo