Picking the Pac: Weekly Predictions and Betting Odds

It’s been a brutal start to the 2021 season for most of the Pac-12 as the first few weeks have been nothing short of absolute disarray. Most of the Pac-12 is just getting started with Pac-12 play this week, raising the stakes and intensifying things for the rest of the season moving forward. While no team has a bye this week, there’s only six games to keep an eye on, with three of them coming as “Pac-12 After Dark” matchups, where things are notoriously weird. 

Here’s this week’s slate of Pac-12 games, along with the kickoff time, betting odds, and picks from PHNX Sun Devils’ beat reporters Brittany Bowyer and Shane Dieffenbach. 

*All odds from DraftKings Sportsbook. Use code PHNX at signup.*

Washington State @ Utah – 11:30am

Utah might be 1-2 at this point in the season, but make no mistake; The Utes are not a weak football team by any means. Not as many people are giving BYU the credit it deserves, especially being a ranked team at this point in time, and San Diego State is a notorious thorn in the side for Pac12 schools in recent years. Washington State looked like they were off to a solid start last week against USC when they jumped out to a two touchdown lead, but USC’s 35 unanswered points were enough to wipe out most of the memories of how things started. The Utes realistically should be able to easily work their way back to an even 2-2 this weekend with a win. 

Britt’s Pick: Utah   

Shane’s Pick: Utah  

Spread: Utah -15  

Total: 53.5 

Moneyline: Washington State +450/Utah -650  

UCLA @ Stanford – 3:00pm

Starting the season, UCLA looked like the team to beat in the Pac12 South, but a loss last week to Fresno State left the Oregon Ducks as the lone undefeated team and threw the entire conference for a loop. While Stanford hasn’t been the silent powerhouse they’ve been in years past, the Cardinal proved the possibility to show out is there when they want to with a huge upset over USC. This is another game to keep an eye on, as the results could go either way, but expect Chip Kelly’s Bruins to be fired up and hungry for a win. 

Britt’s Pick: UCLA  

Shane’s Pick: UCLA  

Spread: UCLA -5  

Total: 58.5  

Moneyline: Stanford +160/UCLA -190  

Cal @ Washington – 6:30pm

It’s been a rough start to the season for both of these teams, as they each endured an upsetting loss to start the season out in week one. Despite the fact that both teams lost in week two, the losses sent them trending in two different directions in terms of what the season will likely look like. Cal’s offense was at least able to generate more production against another tough defense in TCU, making it a game until the very end; Meanwhile, Washington only could put up ten against a struggling Michigan team while simultaneously allowing them to outscore them 31-10. It might not be a Pac12 After Dark game, but it could end up being wild. 

Britt’s Pick: Cal  

Shane’s Pick: Washington  

Spread: Washington -7.5  

Total: 47  

Moneyline: Cal +245/Washington -310  

Arizona @ Oregon – 7:30pm

After Arizona lost last week’s game to Northern Arizona last week at home, an FCS school nonetheless, expectations for the once-eager Wildcats have quickly diminished. The Wildcats’ losing streak will hit 721 days this Saturday, as they continue to extend the NCAA record. Meanwhile for Oregon, week one might have been a close one against Fresno State, but the statement win against Ohio State in the Horseshoe in week two proved they’re legit. The Ducks could likely start all of their backup players and still beat the Wildcats with ease.

Britt’s Pick: Oregon   

Shane’s Pick: Oregon  

Spread: Oregon 28.5  

Total: 59  

Moneyline: N/A  

Oregon State @ USC – 7:30

While USC might be in the midst of some major turmoil within the program, their second-half comeback against Washington State last week proved they’re able to shut out all the noise and get the job done. They’ll have to prove it again this week, though, as they’re up against more adversity and change. Trojans QB Jaxon Dart, who came in unexpectedly to play in place of Kedon Slovis after he went down with a neck injury against Stanford, is out indefinitely now after undergoing knee surgery for a meniscus injury sustained during the Washington State game last week. Dart, who was so electric on the field, was believed by some to be in the running for the starting job over Slovis and brought new energy to the offense. All of this doesn’t even include the drama involving the hunt for a new Head Coach, after Clay Helton was fired following the loss to Stanford. Despite all that, Oregon State won’t have an easy task ahead of them, and unless there’s a dramatic meltdown of sorts on the Trojans’ side, they’re going to have the upper hand. 

Britt’s Pick: USC

Shane’s Pick: USC  

Spread: USC -11    

Total: 61.5   

Moneyline: Oregon State +380/USC -500   

Colorado @ Arizona State – 7:30

Both teams are coming into this game off a loss last week, and both of them were ugly in their own way. Colorado got shut out 30-0 last week, with the offense only racking up a total of 63 total yards in the game. The ground game was especially concerning for the Buffs, where they rushed for -19 yards. Problems for Arizona State were mostly self-inflicted. The Devils had the most penalties in a game since the Dirk Koetter era in 2006 last week against BYU, and had four turnovers in the game. While both games were ugly in their own way, Arizona State should walk away with the win, so long as they don’t metaphorically shoot themselves in the foot. 

Britt’s Pick: Arizona State   

Shane’s Pick: Arizona State

Spread: Arizona State -14 

Total: 45  

Moneyline: Colorado +450/Arizona State -650