Pac 10 Football Week 8 Preview, Predictions, Odds & Picks – Saturday October 23, 2010
We are providing Pac 10 Football weekly matchup previews, predictions and odds for all Pac 10 football teams for the Week 8 games Thursday October 21 – Saturday October 23, 2010. And to gain a betting edge check our out NCAA Football Handicappers as they offer their free and expert pick. Use our comprehensive and insider information to bet successfully on College Football with our recommend sportsbooks.
There are four games on tap in the PAC-10 this week starting with a Thursday night battle between the No. 1 Oregon Ducks and a struggling ULCA Bruins, and ending with a newly rejuvenated Washington Huskies playing an Arizona team that were able to jump back on the rails with a win over Washington State on Sunday night. USC and Oregon State have the weekend off.
Before we jump into this week’s predictions, let’s look at where our PAC-10 Heisman candidates stand after eight weeks of action.
Oregon running back LaMichael James moved up to No. 2 on the ESPN.com “Heisman Predictor.” He leads the nation in rushing with 169.6 yards per game. Meanwhile, USC QB Matt Barkley knocked Arizona’s Nick Foles off the charts after the Pac-10′s leading passer suffered a knee injury at Washington State that will sideline him for at least a few weeks.
Finally, Stanford standout, QB Andrew Luck, who ranks ninth in the nation in passing efficiency, hovers at No. 8 on the ESPN.com “Heisman Predictor,” and will be expected to have a huge game against Washington State, especially coming off a week of rest.
Here are my predictions for all of this week’s PAC-10 action and don’t forget to check back every week right here at sportsbooklists.com, as I will continue to give my free picks for all the current week’s PAC-10 contests helping you make all of your college football wagers –winners. .
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Thursday, October 21, 2010
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UCLA (3-3, 1-2) at No. 2 Oregon (6-0, 3-0), ESPN, 9 P.M. ET
Being No. 1 has it shares of downfalls; just ask Alabama or Ohio State who after reaching No. 1 in the national polls feel from grace shortly thereafter. Will the Ducks fall victim to the “Curse of No. 1″?
It’s not likely to happen this week as they prepare to take on a struggling UCLA Bruins that will be minus its starting quarterback Kevin Prince, who is apt to be sidelined nursing a knee injury.
However, the last time the Bruins were given no chance on the road, they pounded a then-No.7 ranked Texas. However, what followed was an embarrassing 35-7 loss to Cal, where the Bruins were held to just 114 yards and completed just 15 of 37 passes –the passing attack is ranks 118th of 120 teams in the FBS — while the ground game gained an anemic 26 yards. Inconsistency at its finest.
The Ducks’ are coming off a rather dull 43-23 win over Washington State in Week 7—considering how bad the Cougars are — but they still gained 556 yards. Yards have come rather easily for the Ducks that have won six straight and lead the PAC-10 with a perfect 3-0 record.
UCLA will have to rely on its running machine that is averaging 223 yards per game. If the Bruins’ pistol attack doesn’t backfire, they could have a big day. If you remember, both Stanford and Arizona State managed more than 500 yards versus Oregon.
The Bruins’ last win at Autzen Stadium came in a 34-26 victory back in 2004, and if the fail to contain Oregon stud LaMichael James, it’s likely to be a blowout.
Prediction: Oregon – Bet Now
Odds: UCLA: +24.5 – Oregon: -24.5 – Over/Under: 61.5
Saturday, October 23, 2010
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Arizona State (3-3, 1-2) at California (3-3, 1-2), FSN, 3:30 P.M. ET
The Sun Devils will be on a mission as they use their momentum from Week 6’s, 24-12 win over Washington to try and avenge a 23-21 loss to Cal last season.
ASU is coming off a bye, and should be well-rested including QB Steven Threet who battled a soggy football, completing passes to nine different receivers for 288 yards and two touchdowns in that win that would end the Sun Devils’ three-game losing skid.
Over in City of Angeles the Trojans blasted the Golden Bears from the opening kickoff to the final whistle, rolling up 589 total yards, while holding Cal scoreless until RB Shane Vereen scored on a 31-yard screen pass late in the third quarter to avoid the shutout.
USC came into the game ranked 100th in the FBS after giving up 69 points in its past two games, but held Cal to just 245 total yards.
QB Kevin Riley passed for 193 yards and threw two interceptions in the Bears’ seventh straight loss to USC.
Meanwhile, the Sun Devils defense led by linebacker Vontaze Burfict, who sat out the entire first quarter after being benched by the Arizona State coaching staff for reckless play against Oregon State last week, held the Huskies’ Locker to just 209 yards and a single TD, while picking him off once and limiting his connection to favorite target Jermaine Kearse to six with zero scores.
The Devils have not won at Cal since a 28-21 victory back in 1997, but his may be their best shot.
Prediction: Arizona State- Bet Now
Odds: Arizona State: +3.5 – California: -3.5 – Over/Under: 53
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Washington State (1-6, 0-4) at No. 12 Stanford (5-1, 2-1), FCS, 5:00 P.M. ET
Despite losing their fifth in a row since a 23-22 win over FCS opponent Montana State, and being outscored 116-44 in their six losses, the Cougars do look like they are getting better.
But they will now face Heisman hopeful, QB Andrew Luck, and a Stanford Cardinal team who are coming off a bye and looking to build on a dramatic last-second 37-35 home win over USC on Oct. 9.
Luck went 20 of 24 for 285 yards and three TDs and led Stanford on a 51-yard drive that set up Nate Whitaker’s 30-yard field goal as time expired.
Now Luck will look to demoralize a Cougars defense that’s yielding an FBS-worst 493.9 yards per game, but did have one of its best defensive performances of the season in a 24-7 home loss to then-No. 17 Arizona on Saturday. The Cougars held the Wildcats to 352 yards of offense, their lowest total allowed in two seasons.
Offensively, Wazzou’ s ground game ranks among the worst in the nation with 80.1 yards per game, so a lot of the Cougs’ ability to move the ball rests squarely on sophomore quarterback Jeff Tuel, who has 1,735 yards and 10 TDs on the year, but managed a season-low 297 yards in the teams loss to the Wildcats.
In the teams’ last meeting at Stanford Stadium, the Cardinal won 58-0 on Nov. 1, 2008.
I am afraid the Cardinal might be too physical on both lines for the young Cougs, who’s lost 13 straight in Pac-10 play.
Prediction: Stanford – Bet Now
Odds: Washington State: +35 – Stanford: -35 – Over/Under: OFF
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Washington (3-3, 2-1) at No. 18 Arizona (5-1, 2-1), ESPN, 10:15 P.M. ET
Arizona’s top 10 defense combined with its PAC-10 leading passer Nick Foles have earned the Wildcats a No. 18 ranking.
However, even more will be expected of the defense as starting quarterback Nick Foles will watch from the sideline nursing a knee injury suffered in Saturday’s 24-7 victory at Washington State.
Arizona’s defenders will have their hands full containing Huskies’ QB Jake Locker who threw for a career-best five touchdowns in last Saturday’s 35-34 double overtime win over then-No. 24 Oregon State. They rank 10th in the nation in total defense at 284.3 yards per game and seventh in scoring defense at 13.3 points a contest.
The Wildcats will count on back up QB Matt Scott to get the job done offensively. The junior is played just one game in 2009 and is known more for his running ability than his throwing.
This will no doubt put some added pressure on the ‘Cats ground attack that has had its share of trouble try to find its footing in last week’s win over the Beavers, and is ranked 90th overall for the 2010 campaign.
Regardless, the Wildcats should still be able to move the ball against a Washington team that ranks 98th in the FBS in total defense, permitting an average of 416.8 yards.
Prediction: Arizona – Bet Now
Odds: Washington: +6.5 – Arizona: -6.5 – Over/Under: 54
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