Pac-12 Football Game Picks: From Oregon to USC, Things Get No Easier for Colorado

We had a rougher opening to the Pac-12 schedule with our picks than Colorado did last week at Oregon.

But I have confidence we’ll bounce back this week better than Coach Prime’s squad, which now gets USC and reigning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams.

On the heels of a 42-6 loss to the Ducks, the Buffaloes jump right back into it against the Trojans, who struggled last week in a 42-28 win over Arizona State. We'll know early whether CU can make it a game - kickoff is 9 a.m. PT.

Not sure any team has started the season better than Utah, which is 4-0 against a legitimate schedule despite not yet having its starting quarterback. We’re expecting Cam Rising might be back on the field Friday night when the Utes visit Oregon State.

Cal, meanwhile, is a 12.5-point favorite to beat Arizona State at home, which will almost certainly be the biggest point spread the Bears enjoy all season. Can they cover that?

Last week: Jake 1-5, Jeff 1-5

Season: Jake 25-16, Jeff 24-17

All picks against the spread

Betting line from sisportsbook.com

FRIDAY

*** No. 10 Utah (plus-3.5) at No. 19 Oregon State, 6 p.m., FS1

Jake: Utah as an underdog? I know it’s in Corvallis, but I never bet against the Utes. Well, almost never. Pick: Utah

Jeff: Cam Rising is listed as the starting quarterback on Utah’s depth chart this week. Pair him with a defense that has allowed just 38 points in four victories and the Utes are enticing as a 3.5-point road underdog. Pick: Utah

SATURDAY

*** No. 8 USC (minus-21.5) at Colorado, 9 a.m., FOX

Jake: Second straight week Colorado is a three-touchdown underdog, but the Buffs are home this time. It won’t matter. USC is mad after struggling against Arizona State. Pick: USC

Jeff: Coach Prime’s lines of scrimmage were exposed at Oregon. Smarting after a less-than-impressive win over ASU, USC will be ready for this one. Pick: USC

*** Arizona State (plus-12.5) at Cal, noon, Pac-12 Network

Jake: Arizona State looked good last week against USC and Cal looked bad against Washington. That's enough for me. Pick: Arizona State

Jeff: Both teams have quarterback issues but the Bears are averaging 32.8 points compared with 16.8 for the Sun Devils. Plus, ASU ranks last nationally in turnover margin at minus-10. Pick: Cal

*** No. 9 Oregon (minus-27.5) at Stanford, 3:30 p.m., Pac-12 Network

Jake: Stanford, a Rose Bowl winner in 2016, is a four-touchdown underdog at home? Bo Nix has the Ducks’ offense in high gear. Pick: Oregon

Jeff: The Ducks are willing and able to run up the score, and Stanford may be helpless to do much about it. Pick: Oregon

*** No. 7 Washington (minus-17.5) at Arizona, 7 p.m., Pac-12 Network

Jake: Arizona will score at least three touchdowns, but that won’t be enough to cover with Michael Penix Jr. racking up TDs. Pick: Washington

Jeff: Arizona is pretty good defensively . . . but so was Cal until running into the Huskies. UW is scoring 21 points a game more than the Wildcats, so covering this point spread seems reasonable. Pick: Washington

Cover photo of USC quarterback Caleb Williams by Rob Schumacher, USA Today

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