October 24, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Cody Kessler (6) throws against the Utah Utes during the first half at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
PAC-12
Arizona at USC – The last two weeks, the Southern Cal Trojans have added the needed physicality to go with their elite speed. The outcome has been a 42-24 win over Utah and a 27-21 win at improving Cal. This week, against Arizona’s speed game in the read-option series, the Trojans front has a chance to put up some excellent numbers as the Wildcats continue to reel. Linemen Delvon Simmons and Greg Townsend, Jr., continue to ascend on the USC Front-4.
TROJANS 45, WILDCATS 21
Stanford at Colorado – The Cardinal escaped Pullman, Washington with a 31-30 win over the Cougars when Wazzu kicker Erik Powell missed a 43-yard field goal on the game’s last play. The Buffs are improving under Mike McIntyre as they took UCLA to the wire in the Rose Bowl. The Cardinal rushing game is too potent for Colorado as the Buffs can’t handle a physical contest.
CARDINAL 38, BUFFALOES 10
Cal at Oregon – Mark Helfrich may use Royce Freeman and the run game to neutralize the minutes that Jared Goff and the potent Cal offense are on the field. Freeman, Darren Carrington and Bralon Addison all had their moments last week in the Ducks’ 61-55 overtime win at Arizona State. Vernon Adams was back in rhythm, throwing for 315 yards.
DUCKS 35, BEARS 29
Utah at Washington – A trap game here for the Utes. The Huskies continue to play strong on the defensive side of the ball as they took a 49-3 win over Arizona, while freshman quarterback Jake Browning threw for 263 yards and four touchdowns. It will be interesting to see how Devontae Booker runs against the Huskies after they held the Wildcats to 163 yards rushing on 44 carries.
HUSKIES 28, UTES 24
UCLA @ Oregon State – Two struggling teams match up in Corvallis as the Bruins are beaten up on defens,e while the Beavers are in a rebuilding period under first-year coach Gary Andersen. The Bruins may be able to score enough with Josh Rosen and Paul Perkins working together in the backfield as Oregon State’s offense has been in a flux in its last four games.
BRUINS 31, BEAVERS 17
Arizona State at Washington State – It will be interesting to see the psyche of these two teams after last week. Washington State outplayed Stanford all evening, but lost 31-30 on a missed field goal, while the Sun Devils were outscored by Oregon, 61-55. The Sun Devils’ pass defense has given up 17 touchdown passes, 11th in the Pac-12, and Luke Falk throws it all over the field in the Mike Leach system.
COUGARS 48, SUN DEVILS 34
BIG 12
TCU at Oklahoma State – A battle of two 8-0 teams which features an Oklahoma State pass offense that averages 351 yards per game against a Horned Frogs pass defense that limits its opponents to 216 an outing. The Horned Frogs are in much better shape in the running game if they have to put it on the turf on the road and grind the clock. Oklahoma State is 92nd in the nation against the run. Aaron Green and Trevone Boykin may keep this on the ground enough to force the Cowboys to play catch-up against the TCU secondary.
HORNED FROGS 45, COWBOYS 35
Baylor at Kansas State – The speed differential in this game will be noticeable immediately. The Bears start freshman quarterback Jarrett Stidham in his first career start after Seth Russell was injured in the last game. Baylor running back Shock Linwood (139.1 yards per game) is seventh nationally in rushing, while wide receiver Corey Coleman leads the nation in receiving yards (137.1 yards per game) and receiving touchdowns (18). Stidham gets to show case his skills on national television in the most prolific of offenses.
BEARS 56, WILDCATS 23
Texas Tech at West Virginia – The Mountaineers will look for some more huge numbers themselves against a Red Raiders defense that just gave up 70 points to Oklahoma State after having a 24-0 lead. WVU has lost its first four Big 12 games as three have been on the road and this has put coach Dana Holgorsen, in his fifth year, under fire. Travel is an atrocity for West Virginia in this league and that has no doubt cramped the team at times in its first four Big 12 games. The Red Raiders are looking for their sixth win to become bowl eligible after Big 12 wins over lowly Kansas and Iowa State.
MOUNTAINEERS 44, RED RAIDERS 39
Iowa State at Oklahoma – The Cyclones look to build on their shut out of Texas while the Sooners are still in the hunt in the Big 12 after losing to the Longhorns. Iowa State just doesn’t have the athletes to match up with Sterling Shepard, Dede Westbrook and the deep Oklahoma wide receiver position. This gets ugly and fast.
SOONERS 59, CYCLONES 14
