Go Joe Bruin
Fansided

Pac-12 Football Week 1 Preview

By Mike Regalado

facebooktwitterreddit

Dec 7, 2013; Tempe, AZ, USA; The Stanford Cardinal take the field to start the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

With college football starting in the next 24 hours, Go Joe Bruin would like to prepare you for the Pac-12 football weekend. Here is a short preview of every game in the Pac-12 on this long Labor Day Weekend.

Note: Rankings are from the latest preseason AP Top 25 Poll, Records are from 2013

North Division

1. #11 Stanford (11-3, 7-2) Vs. UC Davis

Dec 7, 2013; Tempe, AZ, USA; Stanford Cardinal head coach David Shaw on the sidelines in the third quarter against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium. Stanford defeated Arizona State 38-14. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Cardinal may be the reigning back-to-back Pac-12 Champions, but they are not a team to stray from easing into the season with a “cupcake” to open up their potential “3-peat” campaign. The Cardinal start off against a less than stellar Aggies team that went 5-7 last season. They may not have been picked to win they Pac-12, but that has not stopped them from destroying everything in their path, including Oregon.

Prediction: UC Davis 0 – Stanford 35

2. #3 Oregon (11-2, 7-2) Vs. South Dakota

Oregon is another culprit that schedules easy early. Although, this year is different as they have Michigan State on the docket next week, but we will get in to that later. For opening weekend, they take on the mighty South Dakota Coyotes at Autzen Stadium. This is a no brainer, Oregon should easily win by 30+. With Marcus Mariota and a talented running back crew, expect rushing yardage up in the 400 range.

Prediction: South Dakota 3 – Oregon 58

3. #25 Washington (9-4, 5-4) At Hawai’i

Live Feed

Colorado vs. Oregon Prediction, Odds, Trends and Key Players for College Football Week 4
Colorado vs. Oregon Prediction, Odds, Trends and Key Players for College Football Week 4 /

Betsided

  • Pac-2 may take page from pro soccer's playbook to remain in Power FiveGlory Colorado
  • Ranking college football's top 10 quarterbacks after Week 3Saturday Blitz
  • Oregon Basketball: Projected starting lineup and depth chart for 2023-24Busting Brackets
  • What channel is Oregon playing on today, Sept. 16?FanSided
  • Colorado Basketball: Doryan Onwuchekwa becomes first commit in 2024 classBusting Brackets

    • With one team on the rise and one team possibly shutting down, this one is with out a doubt in Washington’s favor. Former Bruin coach Norm Chow has not had the most spectacular time in Oahu. Starting his third season, Chow is already on the hot seat. The opposite can be said for coaching mastermind Chris Petersen as he tackles his first game as UW head coach. Realistically, this will not be pretty for Hawai’i as is basically a “mini-vacation” for Washington.

    Prediction: Washignton 42 – Hawai’i 6

    4. Oregon State (7-6, 4-5) Vs. Portland State

    It would normally be easy to call this game, but after OSU lost their opening game to Eastern Washington last year, nothing is safe, at least for the up and down Beaver football team. Portland State is no push over either. Last season hey went 6-6 finishing with a narrow 42-41 loss to the same Eastern Washington Eagles that beat the Beavers. Still, OSU honed their aerial skills last season with QB Sean Mannion throwing the ball all around the field. Expect more of the same from this team.

    Prediction: Portland State 17 – Oregon State 24

    5. Washington State (6-7, 4-5) Vs. Rutgers (at CenturyLink Field)

    The Cougars might have ended in the bottom of the North Division last year, but that could change this season. The high-flying antics of WSU’s “Air-Raid” offense will be deadlier this year and we get to see it on opening night on Thursday. It also adds to the excitement of the start of college football as WSU takes on a bottom tier B1G Conference school. Look for golden armed QB Connor Halliday to have a field day with the Scarlet Knight offense.

    Prediction: Rutgers 27 – Washington State 42

    6. California (1-11, 0-9) At Northwestern

    The road does not get any easier for a Golden Bear team that struggled mightily last season. Although, so did the Wildcats. Northwestern had a painful seven-game losing stretch, which did not match Cal’s ten-game streak, but still. It is a new season and both teams are looking to start the season off strong. Do not be surprised if the Golden Bears pull off the upset. Also, do not be surprised if they lose by more than two touchdowns.

    Prediction: Cal 14 – Northwestern 28

    South Division

    1. #19 Arizona State (10-4, 8-1) Vs Weber State

    The Sun Devils look to repeat as winners of the South Division. They will get a good start by going 1-0 after they annihilate the Weber State Wildcats. The Big Sky Conference team went 2-10 last season while giving up 140 points in their first two losses, I think it would be safe to say that the up-tempo Sun Devil offense will exploit that.

    Prediction: Weber State 10 – Arizona State 52

    2. #7 UCLA (10-3, 6-3) At Virginia

    Dec 31, 2013; El Paso, TX, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Jim Mora on the sidelines during the fourth quarter against the Virginia Tech Hokies in the 2013 Sun Bowl at Sun Bowl Stadium. UCLA defeated Virginia Tech 42-12. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

    This should be both an easy game for UCLA, and a tough one. Despite Virginia only going 2-10 last season, they did play in a tough ACC conference. The Bruins should have no problem against a less-than-stellar offense. Against the Cavalier defense, that is another story as the Cavaliers have a strong aerial defenseman in Anthony Harris, the national leader in interceptions last season.  But let us be real, the Bruins should roll over UVA.

    Prediction: UCLA 42 – Virginia 10

    3. #15 USC 10-4, 6-3) Vs Fresno State

    A Las Vegas Bowl rematch… sort of. Fresno State is nothing close to what they were with QB Derek Carr who was drafted this off-season and USC should be better than last season, especially behind a great defense. This should be an easy win for the Trojans. The question is, can USC beat the negative attention surrounding suspended CB Josh Shaw?

    Prediction: Fresno State 17 – USC 32

    4. Arizona (8-5, 4-5) Vs UNLV

    Not a tough game, but not an easy one either as UNLV is a middle-of-the-road Mountain West Conference team. This should be a guaranteed victory for Arizona as they have been steadily improving since Rich Rodriguez took over.  The Wildcats were better than their record from last season suggests, but if there is any evidence that Arizona is doing some thing special in Tucson, just look to their incredible 42-16 thrashing of Oregon last season.

    Prediction: UNLV 13 – Arizona 28

    5. Utah (5-7, 2-7) Vs Idaho State

    With QB Travis Wilson back, things are looking up for the Utes. Utah is still looking to get into the top half of the South Division since joining the Pac-12 four years ago. This could be the year… or it could very well be just another noble effort. Either way, Utah gets a chance to pad the “W” column against a Bengal team that went 3-9 last season.

    Prediction: Idaho State 10 – Utah 34

    6. Colorado (4-8, 1-8) Vs Colorado State

    An early season rivalry game? Yes, please! This is what college football is all about. This Friday night contest between the in-state rivals will be held at Sports Authority Field in Denver, which should really get the college football juices going for both fanbases. Not only will the Buffaloes have a lot on their hands, but as we all know, anything can happen in a rivalry contest.

    Prediction: Colorado State 17 – Colorado 21

    Go Pac-12!