Welcome to the Homecoming edition of the Under The Rim Pac-12 picks.
I’d like to predict a 1990-style victory for the Buffs, who notched their first win on the road to a national championship with a memorable 21-17 triumph over Stanford on Sept. 6, 1990, in Boulder.
More likely, the throwback Cardinal will party like it’s 1904 (Stanford beat CU 33-0 that season in Denver).
Before we get to the picks, a quick rewind of last week’s disappointing 4-2 mark:
Arizona State vs. UCLA
My prediction: Sun Devils bounce back, 26-20. Actual outcome: Sun Devils bounced with late field goal, 45-43.
Arizona vs. USC
My prediction: Wildcats catch Trojans looking ahead and win, 48-44. Actual outcome: Wildcats caught Trojans looking ahead and won, 39-36.
Stanford vs. Washington State
My prediction: Cardinal tunes up for Buffs with 38-14 win. Actual outcome: Cardinal tunes out and barely beats the Cougars, 24-17.
Utah vs. Cal
My prediction: Utes beat Bears, 27-24. Actual outcome: Utes blow out Bears, 49-27.
Washington vs. Oregon State
My prediction: Beavers avoid upset, 30-28. Actual outcome: Beavers unable to avoid upset, 20-17.
Oregon vs. Colorado
My prediction: Chip Kelly decides to beat the Buffs 63-14. Actual outcome: Chip Kelly decided to beat the Buffs 70-14.
And moving on …
TONIGHT’S GAME
Washington (4-4, 2-3) at Cal (3-6, 2-4) at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, Calif. (7 p.m., ESPN2)
Huskies are too inconsistent for my taste. I think Jeff Tedford gets one more win as the Cal head coach. Bears win 23-20.
SATURDAY’S GAME
Washington State (2-6, 0-5) at Utah (3-5, 1-4) at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City (1 p.m., Pac-12 Networks)
Kyle Whittingham is starting to get the Utes back on track. Utah wins 30-20.
No. 25 Arizona (5-3, 2-3) at No. 24 UCLA (6-2, 3-2) at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. (8:30 p.m., Pac-12 Networks)
Don’t look now, but the Bruins still have a chance to defend their South Division title. UCLA wins 41-38.
Arizona State (5-3, 3-2) at No. 13 Oregon State (6-1, 4-1) at Reser Stadium in Corvallis, Ore. (8:30 p.m., ESPN2)
Both teams coming off difficult losses. I like the home team to bounce back. Beavers win 28-24.
No. 2 Oregon (8-0, 5-0) at No. 18 USC (6-2, 4-2) at the L.A. Coliseum in Los Angeles (5 p.m., Fox)
Chip Kelly will finally have to play his starters for four quarters as the Ducks escape with a 42-37 win in a classic regular-season game.
No. 15 Stanford (6-2, 4-1) at Colorado (1-7, 1-4) at Folsom Field in Boulder (noon, FX)
The Cardinal defense doesn’t care who CU’s starting quarterback is. Stanford wins 34-6.
Idle: None.
My season record: 47-18 (.723)
