Unlike some other major conferences, the Pac-12 features a slate of games worth watching.
Four of the 12 teams are playing FCS schools, thus eliminating the spread, which in week 1 is actually a lower percentage than other major conferences. And the games that do matter in terms of handicapping are worth the price of admission.
Two games feature spreads of three points or less, and one of the flagship schools, USC, plays against the defending national champion Alabama Crimson Tide in a game that oddsmakers expect to be a struggle for the Trojans. Regardless of the spread of 10.5 points, it’s still a marquee game.
Add in a rivalry game between Colorado and Colorado State and the Pac-12 is welcoming college football fans to the 2016 season in style.
Here’s one game inside the conference that’s worth watching as a handicapper.
UCLA (+2.5) at Texas A&M
The only reason why I’m getting points is that this game is at Kyle Field. That’s usually a pretty solid reason for the Aggies being favorite, but in this case, I get a superior team that has one of the best quarterbacks in the nation and has had weeks to prepare.
I’ll take the Bruins…and it won’t be in single digits.
UCLA is the better team. The Aggies get that SEC bias boost, but the Aggies are breaking in a new quarterback and just haven’t proven enough to me in the past few years of being that special offensive team that many believed when the Aggies joined the SEC.
UCLA, on the other hand, returns 12 starters off last year’s unit, including Josh Rosen, who should be in contention to be one of the premier passers in the nation. There’s a lot of talent on both sides of the ball and UCLA usually starts off the season in a positive way.
Giving Jim Mora that much time to prepare will overshadow the advantage of Kyle Field. I can’t believe I’m getting points in this game, so I’m backing the Bruins. – Go Against the Chalk with UCLA
Other Pac-12 lines
Picks in bold
Hawaii vs. California (-20.5)
Oregon State at Minnesota (-13)
Colorado State vs. Colorado (-8)
Kansas State at Stanford (-16)
Rutgers at Washington (-26)
USC vs. Alabama (-10.5)
Arizona (-1) vs. BYU
