Pac-12 Games Take Spotlight In Late September Games
The Prognosticator was spot-on with UCLA last weekend, the game coming down to practically the last play with the ball in the BYU quarterback’s hands and him rolling to the right…
But then he threw it to Jack Miles instead of one of his players in the end zone and the Bruins escaped with a win.
However, the Prognosticator is kicking himself for missing the mark with the other team in L.A. Normally I go with traditions and trends and Stanford has had USC’s number of late.
I ignored that fact, however, in favor of the Cardinal’s slide down the greased tree. Expect the trees to lose this week, tho (at Oregon State, Friday nite, 7 p.m., Fox Sports1).
Oh well. Now onto this week’s games. All times Pacific Time.
BOUSE STATE at VIRGINIA (Friday, 5 p.m., ESPN)
The Broncos are still bucking from that Hail Mary loss to BYU and now they get a bunch of players that were so Cavalier they nearly upset Notre Dame that same weekend. Boise certainly can’t take this one lying down or they will be hoofing it back to the blue turf. This is a key game for the program, this year and perhaps beyond it. Winner: Boise State.
UCLA at ARIZONA (Saturday, 5 p.m., ABC)
The Baby Bears are still wiping sweat from their brow after escaping BYU and now go from Cougars to Wildcats. There’s two schools of thought regarding the frosh QB, that he’s had his “freshman moment” and will play the way he did the first two games. Or a big “oh OH, this is the real guy.”
In reality he’s somewhere in between but like catching the right wave, will struggle until he settles into a groove. Hey, he’s a mere freshman! For its part, Arizona is as predictable as a wild Hermosa Beach girl at Sharkeez – you never know what she might do or when she might do it. Thus, the Prognosticator is going with stability. Plus, Rich Rod is not a very likable coach. Winner: UCLA.
USC at ARIZONA STATE (7:30 p.m. ABC)
The Toga boys host a bunch of wounded Troy soldiers whose march to the promise land was stopped at the Cardinal sea. This is a crucial game for USC and its coach, who may wind up living up to both his nicknames – Six-Pack Sark and Seven-Win Sark – this season. More troubling for Troy is the fact that the Trojans always struggle in the Sun (Devil Stadium).
ASU had a Devil of a time against Texas A&M but will rise from the ashes like a Phoenix, much to the dismay of Troy. Winner: Arizona State.
MISSISSIPPI STATE at AUBURN (4:30 p.m., ESPN2)
The Prayer at Jordan-Hare turned into the Scare at Jordan-Hare two weeks ago against Jacksonville State (yes, you ready that correctly, Jacksonville State). Then there was the the boo at LSU in which defenders acted as if they were afraid to hurt running back Leronard Fournette. Now the coach has bencehd his QB. It’s just four games into the season and Aubie is panicking.
Auburn’s fortunes always ride on early-season emotions and this is the key game of the season. Win it and it gains some confidence. Lose it and the whole thing collapses. The State Dogs are going to be wild dogs off the leash. Winner: Mississippi State.
UTAH at OREGON (5:30 p.m., Fox)
This is the ultimate contrast game, a sleep-inducing offense vs. stick-a-screwdriver-in-the-light-socket excitement. Utah – while barely above an above-average team – hangs around like that one night stand you can’t get rid of in the morning. The Utes are gum on the shoe.
The Ducks, of course, like to move around like giddy sophomores at a fraternity-sorority swap. The problem with that is they let down their guard, and giving up 28 to Georgia State last week shows troubling signs for its defense. But later in the season. Winner: Oregon
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