The Pac-12 is playing a 10-game conference-only season, scheduled to start on September 26th. Here’s a quick first look at each game with predictions and possible lines.
Pete Fiutak @PeteFiutak
Let’s just assume we really will have a college football season. Everyone will be safe, everything will go off without a hitch, and …
Let’s just hope this thing responsibly gets off the ground.
Done before the lines are released for the September 26th games – and blowing off that first week is very, very flexible – here are the first guesses, predictions, and line projections for Week 1 of the Pac-12 season.
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Colorado vs Oregon
Saturday, September 26
Autzen Stadium, Eugene, OR
Knee-Jerk Instant Analysis: A case could be made that this will be the 1 vs. 12 game in the overall Pac-12 power rankings – and it’s a perfect chance for Karl Dorrell to come up with a massive opening statement in his Colorado head coaching career.
The expectations will be through the roof for the loaded Ducks, but the Buffaloes should have just enough on the lines to keep this from being the 45-3 wipeout of last year. Oregon will win, but it’ll take a half to heat up.
First Thought Prediction: Oregon 38, Colorado 16
First Thought Line Guess: Oregon -23.5
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– Preseason Pac-12 Predictions For Every Game
Cal vs Oregon State
Saturday, September 26
Reser Stadium, Corvallis, OR
Knee-Jerk Instant Analysis: Just how good is Cal? The Bears have a sneaky-good team with what looks to be another amazing defense to go along with an offense that should start to do something positive on a regular basis if QB Chase Garbers can stay in one piece.
Just how good is Oregon State? The Beavers might not have the lines, but they have the linebacking corps and the skill guys to be one of the Pac-12’s teams to watch out for. They beat the Bears 21-17 last year in Berkeley, but Garbers was out.
First Thought Prediction: Cal 26, Oregon State 20
First Thought Line Guess: Cal -2.5
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2020 Pac-12 Team Previews, 5 Things To Know
North Cal | Oregon | Oregon State
Stanford | Washington | Washington State
South Arizona | Arizona State | Colorado
UCLA | USC | Utah
Utah vs Washington State
Saturday, September 26
Martin Stadium, Pullman, WA
Knee-Jerk Instant Analysis: There might be bigger Pac-12 games on a national scale in Week 1, but this might just be the most interesting. Utah has a whole slew of changes to make in the offensive backfield – but it’s going to be just fine. Washington State has a whole slew of changes with the new coaching staff – but it’s going to be fine.
On the road, the Utes are going to pound and pound some more on an okay Wazzu defensive front. The offensive line will take over right away and make things easier for everyone else. The Utah secondary will hold up just enough against the Cougar passing game.
First Thought Prediction: Utah 34, Washington State 17
First Thought Line Guess: Utah -9.5
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NEXT: Arizona State vs Arizona, Stanford vs Washington, USC vs UCLA
Arizona State vs Arizona
Saturday, September 26
Arizona Stadium, Tucson, AZ
Knee-Jerk Instant Analysis: Always one of the biggest games on the Pac-12 season – at least when it comes to rivalries – it’s scheduled to get going right out of the gate with the open date at the end of the season in case it has to be moved. Arizona State has won three straight Territorial Cups and four of the last five. At home, Wildcat head man Kevin Sumlin really, really needs a win.
Just a hunch – the defenses will be ahead of the offenses early on in this really, really strange season. The ASU defensive front seven should be a killer all throughout the year – it’ll be among the Pac-12’s best – in what might be a bit of a grind. Herm Edwards pulls out another tight one.
First Thought Prediction: Arizona State 27, Arizona 23
First Thought Line Guess: Arizona State -4.5
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Stanford vs Washington
Saturday, September 26
Husky Stadium, Seattle, WA
Knee-Jerk Instant Analysis: There’s no biggest Pac-12 X factor than the Stanford Cardinal. Crushed by injuries last season, they finished 4-8 with no offensive pop and with the defense collapsing late.
But they beat Washington 23-13.
It’s the first game for new Huskies head man Jimmy Lake, and it’s a huge one considering Oregon, Utah and USC are on the road – for whatever road games are going to mean this year. UW will win, but it’s going to be a fantastic battle in the trenches with the Dawg D line holding its own against the outstanding Cardinal front five.
Stanford will lose, but it’ll look like it’s back to form.
First Thought Prediction: Washington 27, Stanford 24
First Thought Line Guess: Washington -5.5
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– Preseason Pac-12 Predictions For Every Game
USC vs UCLA
Saturday, September 26
Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA
Knee-Jerk Instant Analysis: Good luck finding a Week 1 game – no matter when Week 1 is for each conference – with two coaches who need to win more in impressive fashion.
Find the wins on the UCLA schedule. There are too many 50/50 games, no sure-thing victories, and a whole lot of concerns, but beat USC for the second time in the last six tries, and the world around Chip Kelly can breathe a sigh of relief after he lost his first two season-openers.
Clay Helton can’t lose this game.
He has a loaded group of veterans, he has the high-powered offense, and his team is far, far better than UCLA.
Do the Bruins have the secondary to handle Kedon Slovis and the passing game? Sort of, but they won’t have the firepower to keep up.
First Thought Prediction: USC 44, UCLA 20
First Thought Line Guess: USC -16
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