Pac-12 Picks: Week Three Results
Sep 14, 2013; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils defensive end Carl Bradford (52) celebrates with teammates after beating the Wisconsin Badgers 32-30 at Sun Devil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Just realized that in counting my total record for the year, I wasn’t counting my picks for Husky games, which I have been making in the Gameday Guide posted the morning before each game. I’ll add that in. I’ve done a much better job this year compared to last year, but it has been mostly imbalanced nonconference games, so we’ll see how I fair once more tough conference contests come up on the schedule.
UCLA at Nebraska
My Pick: UCLA 28, Nebraska 24
Actual Score: UCLA 41, Nebraska 21
Figured that UCLA would beat Nebraska after a tough week of dealing with the loss of a teammate. I didn’t realize they would go to Nebraska and bury the Cornhuskers. That Mora and his team rallied around this tragedy to such a degree may be the greatest single statement in favor of Mora as UCLA’s longterm coach of the future. The Bruins are going to do big things with him at the helm.
Stanford at Army
My Pick: Stanford 45, Army 10
Actual Score: Stanford 34, Army 20
A bit too close, even for an east coast road game.
Fresno State at Colorado
Postponed due to flooding in Boulder.
Boston College at USC
My Pick: USC 16, Boston College 10
Actual Score: USC 35, Boston College 7
Suddenly the Trojans look to have their offense in one piece, and combined with a frightening, penetrating defense, that proved to be enough for a resounding win over Boston College. No one will trust that Kiffin has totally righted the ship until USC manages to put up points against a conference opponent, but it’s certainly better than getting booed at your own home stadium.
Tennessee at Oregon
My Pick: Oregon 45, Tennessee 17
Actual Score: Oregon 59, Tennessee 14
The Ducks squashed Tennessee just like everyone should have expected them to. For now, I simply don’t understand the Stanford over Oregon talk, aside from the fact that last year’s Stanford team beat the Ducks. This isn’t last year, ladies and gentlemen.
Southern Utah at Washington State
My Pick: WSU 30, S. Utah 10
Actual Score: WSU 48, S. Utah 10
The kind of win that an improving WSU team should have over an inferior opponent.
Ohio State at Cal
My Pick: Ohio State 31, Cal 20
Actual Score: Ohio State 52, Cal 34
I promise I won’t pick Cal to score less than 30 points again. The Buckeyes still won comfortably in Berkeley, but Coach Dykes sure has that Bear Raid up and operating.
Oregon State at Utah
My Pick: Utah 30, Oregon State 24
Actual Score: Oregon State 51, Utah 48
What a crazy, key overtime win on the road for the Beavers. Utah has looked solid this year, so in my eyes, this win means the Beavers are over their losing-to-FCS-teams phase and could be unexpected, under-the-radar trouble in the Pac-12 North now that so many have dismissed them based on one loss.
Wisconsin at Arizona State
My Pick: ASU 35, Wisconsin 21
Actual Score: ASU 32, Wisconsin 30
Probably the win from this week that most blatantly benefits the Pac-12 as a whole. Not only was it a strong non-conference performance by the Sun Devils, it also shows that just because the Pac-12 South race is rich in parity doesn’t mean it’s poor in quality, ranked teams. The Bruins and Sun Devils top that list, but just about every South team has been highly competitive this year.
UTSA at Arizona
My Pick: Arizona 45, UTSA 7
Actual Score: Arizona 38, UTSA 13
Arizona won. We won’t learn much about the Wildcats until they play Washington, as their nonconference slate has been incredibly weak.
My Record This Week: 9-1 (Counting UW Pick)
My Total Record: 26-3 (Counting Both UW Picks)