That deserves a separate post. We're here to capsule-preview Pac-12 football, so that's what's up.
Thursday:
Michigan Wolverines at Utah Utes, 6:30pm Mountain, Fox Sports 1
Are there any good storylines for this game? Look, the Wolverines won't make the Final Four, but they'll be out to prove something in Captain Harbaugh's first season. Michigan is the story coming into this game, but Utah will be the story coming out of it. They're better than you think.
Texas San-Antonio Roadrunners at #22 Arizona Wildcats, 7pm Pacific, Pac-12 Network
The Wildcats get no love. Only team to beat Oregon in the regular season? Got an at-large Big Six bowl bid? Returning plenty of guys and they're ranked lower than a Stanford team that disappointed everybody last year? I don't get it.
Colorado Buffaloes at Hawaii Rainbows, 7pm Hawaiian, CBS Sports Network
These teams were terrible last year and the game they played was no different. I don't expect Colorado to be great before President Kanye takes office, if at all, but it would be nice if they showed signs of not being a doormat.
Friday:
Weber State Wildcats at Oregon State Beavers, 5pm PT, Pac-12 Network
Oregon State lost the best QB in conference history (Sean Mannion's record for passing yards might not last very long, but he has it) and the nicest head coach in college football (Mike Riley to Nebraska, and I'm not kidding). And even with that last year, they were terrible. New head coach Gary Andersen has already announced he's going with a two-quarterback platoon to start the year. This is not a good sign.
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| I'm excited... to be hung in effigy in two cities! |
Washington Huskies at #23 Boise State Broncos, 8:15pm MT, ESPN
Just another small game on the schedule for the guy who made Boise State relevant nationally. Chris Petersen was the man in Idaho, now he's trying to make the Dawgs do the same. He wishes he could go back in time and not schedule this game. I don't. Boise State might win this by 30.
Saturday:
#21 Stanford Cardinal at Northwestern Wildcats, 11am Central, ESPN
Nerd Bowl alert! I'm not buying Stanford until Kevin Hogan is gone, but there's no way they should lose to Northwestern. Also if you are excited to be indoors watching this game on Labor Day Weekend you better be a graduate of both schools.
Portland State Vikings at Washington State Cougars, 11am PT, Pac-12 Network
Any excuse is a good excuse to watch Mike Leach's quarterbacks throw for 500 yards. Unless there's a kickoff before noon against a questionable I-AA team on Labor Day Weekend. So maybe next week this Wazzu will be worth watching.
Virginia Cavaliers at #13 UCLA Bruins, 12:30pm PT, Fox
The Bruins should have lost to Virgina last year and their QB situation is murky. They might be the worst 10-game winning team around. The first upset alert of the year.
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| High-stepping awesomeness. |
Grambling Tigers at Cal Bears, 2pm PT, Pac-12 Network
There are few better places to be than Strawberry Canyon on a September weekend. The Grambling band will perform at halftime, that's worth the price of admission alone.
#15 Arizona State Sun Devils vs Texas A&M Aggies in Houston, 6pm Central, ESPN
The Pac-12 marquee game of the weekend. The Aggies have the home crowd advantage but the Sun Devils are good. I see a close game and ASU doing something stupid to lose it at the end.
Eastern Washington Eagles at #7 Oregon Ducks, 5pm PT, Pac-12 Network
For complete Oregon coverage throughout the year, visit AutzenZoo.com, of which I am a featured contributor (aka, I write stuff there too).
Arkansas State Fighting Clintons at #8 USC Trojans, 8pm PT, Pac-12 Network
The Trojans should be pretty good this season. But we won't learn anything about them this week.
Overall impressions:
Eight wins by conference is very likely, ten would be great. Best chances to lose: Washington, Arizona State, UCLA, Stanford, Colorado, Wazzu (just because) and Oregon State. That's right, I don't think Utah will lose.
photos courtesy: Pac-12.com, mynorthwest.com, chron.com
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