Pac-12 Rundown: UCLA, Oregon Clash in Top-10 Matchup
There’s no question about the Pac-12 Conference game that is going to attract the most attention this week.
No. 9 UCLA, the last Pac-12 team with an undefeated overall record, will travel to meet 10th-ranked Oregon.
This could be considered an elimination game when it comes to the college football playoff. No Pac-12 team has been a part of the four-team playoff field since the 2016 Washington squad lost to Alabama in the national semifinals.
UCLA and Oregon both moved up two spots in the two national polls. UCLA is ninth and Oregon 10th in the Associated Press poll while Oregon is ninth and UCLA 10th in the American Football Coaches Association ranking. USC dropped to 12th in both polls while Utah checks in at No. 15.
According to the sportsbook, both the Ducks and Bruins come in at +6000 in the odds to win the national title.
Those who bet online might be a little surprised when they look at the line for the Oregon-UCLA game.
Arizona, Southern California, Utah, and Washington State all have bye weeks so it is a little bit of a light schedule in the Pac-12, but here’s a look at the conference games in Week 8.
Let’s check the latest NCAAF picks, stats, injury reports, and NCAAF predictions. We’ve plenty of NCAAF expert picks for you to consider.
Game of the Week
UCLA vs Oregon
- Date, time (TV): Saturday, Oct. 22, 3:30 p.m. ET (FOX)
- Line: Oregon -6
The last two teams that are perfect in Pac-12 play will get together in Eugene.
The Bruins (6-0, 3-0 Pac-12) and Ducks (5-1, 3-0) are two of the three Pac-12 teams averaging more than 500 yards per game.
4⃣ Top 15 teams & a Top-🔟 matchup this week! 👀#Pac12FB pic.twitter.com/VSJNfARTM4
— Pac-12 Conference (@pac12) October 16, 2022
Dorian Thompson-Robinson is currently at +2000 in the odds to win the Heisman Trophy. He is completing 74.8% of his passes for 1,510 yards with 15 touchdown passes and just two interceptions for UCLA.
Oregon’s Bo Nix is completing 70.4% of his passes for 1,526 yards with 12 TDs and three interceptions. Nix has eight touchdown runs – five coming in the last two games – while Thompson-Robinson has run for four TDs.
UCLA leads the conference with 10 plays from scrimmage of 40 yards or longer. Oregon isn’t far behind with eight 40-yard plays. However, the defenses of the Bruins and Ducks have given up just seven offensive plays of at least 40 yards.
DJ Johnson had five tackles for loss with four sacks to lead the Oregon defense while UCLA’s Laiatu Latu has 6½ sacks.
Oregon has won nine of the last 10 meetings with UCLA. However, the Bruins have covered against the college football odds in four of those contests.
Rest of the schedule
Arizona State vs Stanford
- Date, time (TV): Saturday, Oct. 22, 4 p.m. ET (Pac-12 Network)
- Line: Stanford -3
Something will have to give in this matchup between Arizona State (2-4, 1-2 Pac-12) and Stanford (2-4, 0-4).
The Sun Devils and Cardinal rank ninth and 10th in the conference in total defense. However, each of the last four matchups between Arizona State and Stanford finished under the college football betting lines total.
Stanford has allowed nine plays from scrimmage of at least 40 yards and that is tied for the most in the Pac-12. Stanford is coming off a strong effort in an upset of Notre Dame last week.
Arizona State’s Xazavian Valladay is fourth in the conference with 566 rushing yards while Stanford’s Casey Filkins is fifth with 430 yards.
Colorado vs Oregon State
- Date, time (TV): Saturday, Oct. 22, 8 p.m. ET (Pac-12 Network)
- Line: Oregon State -24
Colorado (1-5, 1-2) is coming off its first win of the season against California, but are heavy underdogs on the road against Oregon State (5-2, 2-2).
The Beavers have thrown 11 interceptions but also intercepted eight passes.
Colorado has the most lost fumbles and Oregon State has thrown the most interceptions in the Pac-12 so keep an eye on these mistake-prone offenses. Colorado is the only team in the Pac-12 to average less than five yards per offensive play.
Five of the last six games between the Buffaloes and Beavers have been decided by seven points or less. Something to consider for those who bet online: The road team has won four of the last six games in this series.
Washington vs California
- Date, time (TV): Saturday, Oct. 22, 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
- Line: Washington -7½
California (3-3, 1-2) has given up the second-most passing yards per game in the Pac-12 and faces Michael Penix Jr., the conference leader with 2,560 passing yards and 20 TD passes for Washington (5-2, 2-2).
Penix and California’s Jack Plummer, who both came to the Pac-12 from the Big Ten, rank first and fourth in the conference in passes attempted per game.
Washington’s Rome Odunze leads the conference with 115.5 receiving yards per game. Washington’s Asa Turner has two interceptions, as does the California trio of Daniel Scott, Craig Woodson and Isaiah Young.
The Huskies have won nine of the last 12 games in the series. However, Cal has covered against the college football betting lines in each of the last three meetings.
