Weekend Picks

Since the Pac-10 gets underway tomorrow I am posting my picks tonight. Before each week I will pick each of the Pac-10 games and keep a running tally of how much I actually know.

Thursday: Oregon State at Stanford- I think this is the year Stanford starts the uphill climb. They won't make it to a bowl but if they can beat a down OSU team at home in Week 1 it could build some positive momentum for them through the season. Pick: Stanford

Saturday: USC at Virginia- Virginia is coming off a New Year's Day Bowl but this isn't the same team as last year. USC is solid once again and will be in the mix for a national title. Pick: USC and then they have 2 weeks to prepare for Ohio State.

Michigan State at California- Cal is looking to their defense to carry them to a bowl game in 2008. Their LB core led by Sr. Zac Follett is solid and should contain the MSU running game. Too much Pac-10 speed in the end for MSU. Pick: Cal

Northern Arizona at Arizona State- No explanation needed. Pick: ASU big

Idaho at Arizona- Mike Stoops finally looks to have a bowl team in AZ. If he doesn't get to one, he is probably gone after this year. Pick: Arizona

Washington at Oregon- Tyrone Willingham's seat is on fire and he has a bunch of true freshman trying to save his job. His only playmaker is Jake Locker and speaking of Locker, his 47% passing last year was bottom of the barrel. Combine that with Oregon's dominant secondary, plus a night game at Autzen and you have a Duck win. Pick: Oregon

Oklahoma State at WSU- The Cougs are the mystery team of the Pac-10. New coach, new offense, new QB and some new faces on the field. Nobody really knows what to expect. With OSU we know what we are getting, lots of Zac Robinson and a sub-par defense. It should be a shootout but as a Coug fan, I have to pick the Cougs in Week 1. Pick: Cougs, barely

Monday: Tennessee at UCLA- Slick Rick doesn't have a solid QB. It is as simple as that. Pick: Tennessee