The balance in the Pac-12 is killing the conference in the eyes of the College Football Playoff committee.
With no teams with one loss, the conference is staring at missing the playoff altogether, unless complete chaos happens.
Part of the reason for the problems is the competition. But the conference also has teams that have been inconsistent, hindering the efforts to be included in the season’s final party.
Here are two games we’ll keep an eye on this weekend. Last week’s betting guide for each major college football conference went 3-7 and was 1-1 in the Pac-12. Overall for the season, the betting guides have been 14-8 in the Pac-12 and 56-50 overall in the power-five conferences.
Arizona at Arizona State (-6.5)
We have several concerns with Arizona’s health entering this week’s contest with the Sun Devils.
Starting quarterback Anu Solomon is questionable and the Wildcats have other injury issues that have continued to creep up during the season. That has taken a toll on the Wildcats, and we see that as another problem in this rivalry game.
We talked about the Sun Devils last week not being near as bad as their record may have people believe. They proceeded to make us nervous by starting slow against Washington, but eventually won and covered against the Huskies.
And while the Wildcats did have a major victory last week against Utah, we’re putting that more in the category of major upset than seeing a team getting much better. The Utes are a bad favorite and were entering last week’s game on back-to-back road trips.
That was a prime opportunity for a letdown and that’s what we saw.
The Sun Devils are playing better, so we’re giving away the touchdown in this one. — Go chalk with Arizona State
UCLA at Utah (-3)
Remember what we said about Utah being a bad favorite. Well…we’re going with the Utes.
Utah had a bad matchup last week against the Wildcats. It was back-to-back road games and Utah was facing a team with talent, but that had underachieved. That win also last week put Arizona with six wins, good enough to be bowl eligible.
So, although we’re not completely dismissing that loss…we’re not going to overreact.
Utah is still one of the most consistent teams in the conference, and the betting public is in agreement.
The Bruins actually opened as favorites in this game, but we believe oddsmakers are still too enamored with UCLA’s perceived talent, instead of its on-field play. The Bruins have been wildly inconsistent this season, and we just don’t see UCLA being at top shape against a physical Utah defense.
The Utes will bounce back this week with a big win. — Go chalk with UCLA
Other Pac-12 games
California at Stanford (-11.5)
USC at Oregon (-5)
Washington (-15.5) at Oregon State
Colorado at Washington State (-15)
