This Weeks Picks in the Pac-12 (Hoops Edition!)
By Jeff Taylor
The early non-conference is upon us, so it is time to make my predictions about how each Pac-12 team will do. Normally, once the season gets rolling, I’ll post my picks each Thursday afternoon before the Pac-12 games begin that night and those will cover games through the weekend. Then I’ll post my weekly power rankings on Monday morning.
But, since Arizona has decided to get an early jump on the season with a Monday game against Valparaiso, I am posting the first “picks” post today. I’ll run it through Sunday, November 13th, and then post the next slate again on Monday the 14th to cover the following week. Sometimes I’ll add thoughts and analysis, sometimes I’ll just pick the winner. Here we go:
November 7:
Valparaiso at Arizona (Wildcats win)- What’s up with Arizona playing so early this year? They played their exhibition against Seattle Pacific (and lost) in October?
November 9:
Duquesne at Arizona (Wildcats win)
November 11:
Oregon at Vanderbilt (Commodores win)
Loyola Marymount at UCLA (Bruins win)
UC Irvine at California (Golden Bears win)
Montana State at Arizona State (Sun Devils win)- note: I would not be shocked if the Bobcats pull off the upset
Central Arkansas at Stanford (Cardinals win)- I didn’t even know the Bears played DI basketball. They finished 1-15 in the Southland conference last year apparently.
Cal St. Northridge at USC (Matadors win)- Yeah, I am picking the upset here, despite CSN’s 14-18 record last year. Gotta have one upset right?
Fort Lewis at Colorado (Buffaloes win)- I don’t think this game really counts since it is not a DI opponent. I did not know the our local Army base had a team…joke…hahaha
November 12:
Cal St. Bakersfield at Oregon State (Beavers win)- I have trouble imagining the 9-19 Roadrunners of last year, who are an independent, beating Oregon State. On the otherhand, who expect Oregon State to lose to Texas A&M at Corpus Christi or to Seattle U by 51 points?
Georgia State at Washington (Huskies win)- see my game day preview for more on this one.
November 13:
Ball State at Arizona (Wildcats win)- I say Arizona wins because it is in Tucson. But, Ball State is a pretty good basketball team and an upset is quite conceivable in this one.
George Washington at California (Cal wins)-Tough one. But, I’ll go with Cal in a squeaker
Florida Atlantic at Washington (Huskies win)- see my game day preview for more on this one.