Last week Go Joe Bruin previewed the early PAC-12 Football match ups when Stanford and Oregon State opened their season with Rice and Colorado State respectively. This week we preview the full slate of games starting this Thursday.
College football is finally in full swing folks! We had a smattering of games last week but starting this Thursday there will be a plethora of PAC-12 Football to keep up on. We here at Go Joe Bruin believe in not only bringing you some of the best UCLA Football coverage out there but want to keep you informed about the rest of the conference.
Stanford and Oregon State gave us just a little taste of the upcoming college football season but after reading the previews below you’ll be ready to fully wet your college football whistle.
Related Story: UCLA Football: The GJB 2017 season preview
North Dakota at Utah, Thursday 4:30 p.m., (PAC-12 Network)
The Utes open their season with the North Dakota Fighting Hawks. While the Hawks might be from the FCS level, the Utes better be ready to play. This North Dakota team returns nearly everyone from a roster last year that went undefeated in Big Sky play. That conference boast some of the best talent in FCS. The Utes lost a ton through graduation and the NFL draft and have named Tyler Huntley as their new QB heading into 2017. He better be wary though because the Hawks have one of the best DBs in the FCS in Cole Reyes.
New Mexico State at Arizona State, Thursday 7:30 p.m., (PAC-12 Network)
The Arizona State Sun Devils might be one of the worst teams in the PAC-12 Football this year. In fact they might be so bad that the New Mexico State Aggies are going to push them. No disrespect to the Aggies but in the last four years they are 10-38. This year they should be better and have a very strong QB/RB combination. They’ve also addressed some of their defensive issues. ASU on the other hand could be an offensive mess unless they lean on the running game. Blake Barnett comes in as a transfer from Alabama but the big time QB has plenty of questions to answer. PAC-12 Football is a strong conference but the talent seems top heavy.
#8 Washington Huskies at Rutgers Scarlett Knights, Fri., 5p.m., (FS1)
This game should be an tune up for the Huskies. Head coach Chris Petersen, in only his second year, is already one of the better PAC-12 Football coaches. The Scarlett Knights on the other hand didn’t win a single game in the Big Ten last year. Taking on a strong Huskies team might not be the best chance for a season opening win but will go a long way in seeing some of the young pieces Rutgers has on the roster. Washington needs to replace about 90% of their defensive secondary but won’t be pushed here by Rutgers.
Colorado State at Colorado Buffaloes, Fri., 5 p.m., (PAC-12 Network)
Colorado was the upstart PAC-12 Football team of the year in 2016. They surprised everyone with their solid offense and very strong defense. 2017 could be very different. The defense has to be overhauled and the offense will have a new signal caller in Steven Montez. Luckily the Buffaloes return some talent especially in the backfield. Colorado State on the other hand displayed their offensive power last week with a 58-27 beatdown over Oregon State last week. Senior CSU QB Nick Stevens shredded the Beavers for 334 yards and three scores and could have another big day against an inexperienced defense.
Cal Golden Bears at North Carolina, Sat., 9:20 a.m., (ACC Network)
Cal is going to have a new man at the helm of the team and a new QB. Justin Wilcox scores his first starting gig but who will be the man slinging the ball? Ross Bowers has been named the starter for this game but has yet to see any real game action. Defensively Cal was atrocious last year and there’s nowhere to go but up although a shift in base defense could take an adjustment period. The Tar Heels on the other hand have a QB but Brandon Harris the LSU transfer wasn’t great in his first stop. How much better can he be is a serious question. Head coach Larry Fedora will have a number of offensive pieces to replace but Cal shouldn’t pose a significant threat as he tries to put the pieces together.
Portland State at Oregon State, 11 a.m., (PAC-12 Network)
Oregon State and the Portland State Vikings both took losses in their season openers last week. Come Saturday someone will be 0-2. The Vikings faced off against an always tough BYU team last week and while they struggled to muster very many points they did hold BYU QB Tanner Mangum to 194 yards and one score. Defense was an issue for the Beavers as they allowed Colorado State to run all over them and didn’t do much against the pass. OSU RB Ryan Nall will be a major key to this game. He is secretly one of the better PAC-12 Football runners and if the Beavers can play keep away they might have a fighting chance in a few more games this season.
Western Michigan at #4 USC Trojans, 2:15 p.m., (PAC-12 Network)
In another game hardly anyone at home will be able to watch (thanks DIRECTV) the Mustangs travel south to take on the much hyped Trojans. Former head coach PJ Fleck is no longer leading the program and this season could be a transition period that I fully expect the Trojans to take advantage of. It will also be the first opportunity of 2017 for the media to talk about how good the Trojans look should they win. In the smallest chance that they lose however the Trojans could kiss their shot at the college football playoff goodbye. Undoubtedly this game will produce a number of hot takes about QB Sam Darnold basically being a shoe-in to win the Heisman or how this USC defense will be the best in the country. Prepare yourselves folks.
Southern Utah at Oregon, 5:15 p.m., (PAC-12 Network)
The Willie Taggart era at Oregon could open up with a win and confidence boost but going to the FCS level to get one has always rubbed me the wrong way. Especially when that FCS team was as depleted as Southern Utah was by graduation. Still the Thunderbirds aren’t without a few aces up their sleeve. They return a young offensive line that took their lumps last season and have a young upstart back in James Felila who is ready for a monster season. Still the Oregon Ducks have talent across the board that should overwhelm SUU before game’s end. The Ducks won’t win the North this year and might not actually be that good but behind QB Justin Herbert and RB Royce Freeman they’ll be too good in week 1.
Montana State at #24 Washington State, 7:30 p.m., (FS1)
Like I mentioned before I’m not a huge fan of heading down to the FCS level to get some early season wins. The Bobcats are building a stronger team but Cougars QB Luke Falk and company might have something to say about that. WSU head coach Mike Leach loves to stretch teams with his wide open attack and will certainly do that on Saturday. This WSU offensive line is also studded with talent and should have little to no trouble running the ball if they so choose. If there’s one hope for the Bobcats its that their own QB Chris Murray is a dual threat signal caller that may allow the offense to keep WSU on their heels early.
Northern Arizona at Arizona, 8 p.m., (PAC-12)
Sometimes late west coast games can be a chance for some really good PAC-12 Football. Other times its the exact opposite. Remember what I said about me not liking when FBS teams take on FCS teams? I should have clarified, I don’t like it when the FCS team is undermanned against a clearly superior team. That’s not the case here. The Wildcats will be in the cellar of the division and the conference this year. That plus NAU actually being a good team could spell disaster for this Rich Rodriguez led team. His seat is already hot. A loss to this team, although not shocking, might see him axed. NAU’s QB Case Cookus had a shoulder injury end his 2016 prematurely but all indications from spring and fall camp are that he’s ready to carry this team.
Texas A&M at UCLA, Sunday, 4:30 p.m., (FOX)
The one you’ve all be waiting for. The Aggies come to town but have they settled on a QB? According to head coach Kevin Sumlin that decision will not be made before kickoff although I’m sure he knows who he’s going to trot out onto the field already. No matter who it is they’ll have a stable of capable backs and a game breaker at WR in Christian Kirk. UCLA has to answer questions about their offense but leave the keys in the hands of stud QB Josh Rosen. Can the offensive line handle an Aggie DL that ate them alive last year? A new scheme should allow the Bruins to find ways to protect Rosen but all that will be for naught if they can’t run the ball. On defense the Bruins are talented and have some depth but the defensive line is young. This one should come down to QB play and at this point the Bruins have the better one.
Other notable games in week 1
Louisana Monroe at Memphis, Thursday, 6 p.m., CBSSN-Although the Bruins shouldn’t look past Hawaii in week 2, they’ll get their first chance to see the Memphis Tigers this season and they’ll actually be facing a solid opponent.
#3 Florida State vs. #1 Alamaba, Saturday, 5 p.m., ABC- The biggest match up of the early season this is a game for college football lovers. While a loss won’t knock either team out of playoff contention, this game, at it’s core, is a major treat.
Next: UCLA Football: The Den wants you to get to the Rose Bowl!
Upcoming Pac-12 Football Games (Week 2):
- Texas State at Colorado (Saturday, Sept. 9) 11 a.m., (PAC-12)
- Nebraska at Oregon, 1:30 p.m., (FOX)
- Hawaii at UCLA, 2 p.m., (PAC-12)
- Weber State at Cal, 2 p.m., (PAC-12)
- Montana at #8 Washington, 5 p.m., (PAC-12)
- #14 Stanford at #4 USC, 5:30 p.m., (FOX)
- Minnesota at Oregon State, 7 p.m., (FS1)
- Utah at BYU, 7:15 p.m.
- Boise State at #24 Washington State, 7:30 p.m.
- Houston at Arizona, 7:30 p.m.
- San Diego State at Arizona State, 8 p.m., (PAC-12)