09-26-2017, 04:51 PM
Some very good games this week end to keep an eye out for:
1) USC at WSU. (USC favored by 4 points). This will be interesting for two reasons. The first is that this is arguably USC's first tough match-up, so it may answer the question of whether USC is overrated or if they really are as good as they looked against us. The second is that this is definitely WSU's first tough matchup. They have played 1-2 Montana State, Boise State (who is 2-2 with a loss to a Virginia team that has lost to Indiana), 1-3 Oregon State, and 0-4 Nevada (that is, no team with a winning record). Since the success of our season may at the margins be determined by our game against WSU, I will look at this one as a possible early gauge of our prospects. I'm still not sold on WSU, but they may well give SC a game.
2) Cal at Oregon (Oregon is favored by 13.5 points!). This will be an important measuring stick for two programs on an upward trajectory. Oregon was being talked of as being "back" until they went to ASU last week and lost. Cal is without question improved from the Sonny Dykes era and managed to keep up with USC for three quarters before the wheels fell apart. The shocker for me is the spread. I get that the game is being played at Oregon, but I wouldn't give much more than a touchdown. Oregon got beaten by ASU who was supposed to not be that good this year (like us, lost to SAn Diego State). Regardless, the winner of this game will likely challenge the upper half of the division, while the loser might have to settle for fifth place in a much improved P12N (I think OSU seems destined for 6th).
3) Colorado at UCLA (UCLA is favored by 7!). This is another game where the line makes no sense. Colorado was beating UW at halftime, while UCLA looks like they can't stop anyone. A UCLA win (especially if they show some spine on D) might reassure us that our win against them wasn't meaningless and that our offense was not buoyed by playing bad teams. A Colorado win means it's (probably) good by Jim Mora. Not sure I see a UCLA win, let alone a 7-pt margin.
BC
1) USC at WSU. (USC favored by 4 points). This will be interesting for two reasons. The first is that this is arguably USC's first tough match-up, so it may answer the question of whether USC is overrated or if they really are as good as they looked against us. The second is that this is definitely WSU's first tough matchup. They have played 1-2 Montana State, Boise State (who is 2-2 with a loss to a Virginia team that has lost to Indiana), 1-3 Oregon State, and 0-4 Nevada (that is, no team with a winning record). Since the success of our season may at the margins be determined by our game against WSU, I will look at this one as a possible early gauge of our prospects. I'm still not sold on WSU, but they may well give SC a game.
2) Cal at Oregon (Oregon is favored by 13.5 points!). This will be an important measuring stick for two programs on an upward trajectory. Oregon was being talked of as being "back" until they went to ASU last week and lost. Cal is without question improved from the Sonny Dykes era and managed to keep up with USC for three quarters before the wheels fell apart. The shocker for me is the spread. I get that the game is being played at Oregon, but I wouldn't give much more than a touchdown. Oregon got beaten by ASU who was supposed to not be that good this year (like us, lost to SAn Diego State). Regardless, the winner of this game will likely challenge the upper half of the division, while the loser might have to settle for fifth place in a much improved P12N (I think OSU seems destined for 6th).
3) Colorado at UCLA (UCLA is favored by 7!). This is another game where the line makes no sense. Colorado was beating UW at halftime, while UCLA looks like they can't stop anyone. A UCLA win (especially if they show some spine on D) might reassure us that our win against them wasn't meaningless and that our offense was not buoyed by playing bad teams. A Colorado win means it's (probably) good by Jim Mora. Not sure I see a UCLA win, let alone a 7-pt margin.
BC