PAC 12 Preview – Week 8 | NFL and College Football | NFL and College Football Previews, Predictions, and Recaps

#25 Washington (5-1, 3-0) v. #8 Stanford (6-0, 4-0)

In this game of the week, Washington comes in ranked for the first time in over a decade. Stanford has been under the radar all season and this is the first time that they will play in prime time on national TV. The nation will see Keith Price for the first time all season. Sporting a 21-4 TD to Int ratio, Price is one of the most efficient quaterbacks in the nation. Washington has been able to put up points all season, but this is the first time they will face a defense like Stanford. Steve Sarkisian has brought the Huskies a long way during his tenure, but not enough to overcome Stanford. Expect a showdown in Palo Alto for a Rose Bowl bid after Stanford handles the Huskies.

Stanford 31 Washington 24

#10 Oregon (5-1, 3-0) v. Colorado (1-6, 0-3)

Lingering questions over the health of LaMichael James and Darron Thomas remain coming into this matchup with Colorado. Bryan Bennett was stellar in the second half against Arizona St. but the Ducks are eyeing a likely PAC 12 title championship game with Stanford in two weeks. After a promising offensive start, Colorado has faltered in its inaugural season. Expect Oregon to roll with Kenjon Barner and De’Anthony Thomas moving the Oregon offense.

Oregon 48 Colorado 21

Oregon State (1-5, 1-2) v. Washington State (3-3, 1-2)

After a meteoric offense start, Washington State has come back to earth, dropping conference games to UCLA and Stanford. Aside from a victory against Arizona, there has been little to be positive about in Corvallis this season. Washington State has the offensive capability with Marshall Lobbestael to handle the struggling Oregon State defense. Expect this to be another ugly one in a long season for Mike Riley and the Beavers

Washington State 35 Oregon State 14

UCLA (3-3, 2-1) v. Arizona (1-5, 0-4)

Rick Neuheisel bought his tenure some time with two conference wins while an embarrassing defeat against winless Oregon State was the last straw for Mike Stoops. Rich Brehaut has brought some stability to the Bruins offense while Jonathan Franklin and Derrick Coleman have formed a veritable duo in the backfield. Nick Foles has continued to have success in the air, but the Arizona defense looks incapable of stopping anyone. Arizona’s anemic rushing attack will allow the Bruins to get after Foles. Things won’t get any easier in Tucson after Stoop’s departure.

UCLA 28 Arizona 24

Utah (3-3, 0-3) v. Cal (3-3, 0-3)

This is a must win conference game for both teams looking to become bowl eligible. Utah managed a solid out of conference win last week, while Cal looked sloppy against USC in a Thursday night game in San Francisco. Cal will need to cut down on the turnovers that doomed them against USC. Utah’s defense will look to follow up on the success it had against Pitt’s Ray Graham last week. If Cal can give Zach Maynard time, he’ll be able to pick apart a porous Utah pass defense

Cal 24 Utah 14

USC (5-1, 3-1) v. Notre Dame (4-2)

USC faces a resurgent Notre Dame team in this modern rivalry game. USC will need to establish a run game early in order to give Matt Barkley and Robert Woods a chance to connect. Notre Dame features a balanced attack with Cierre Wood in the backfield and Michael Floyd and Dane Crist through the air. USC’s defense looked suspect in its loss against Arizona State and is facing one of the better offenses it will this season. Expect Barkley to be too much in a shootout until the end.

USC 38 Notre Dame 35