The Ducks and Utes have taken charge of their divisions:
1. Oregon (8-1, 5-1)
Last week: 1. Result: Won at Washington 26-16
Next up: vs. Washington State (7:30 p.m., ESPN). Line: Oregon -14
Comment: The way things are going, the showdown in Salt Lake City will mean everything for the College Football Playoff and nothing for the Pac-12 divisions. The Ducks and Utes will have multi-game leads if they win this week.
2. Utah (6-3, 5-1)
Last week: 2. Result: Won at Stanford 52-7
Next up: at Arizona (noon., Pac-12 Networks). Line: Utah -25
Comment: If you’re curious: Tavion Thomas was a three-star recruit out of Dayton; he had scholarship offers from Ohio State and Oklahoma but picked Cincinnati; he played in four games for UC, then went the junior college route and landed at Utah, where he joins the list of high-impact reclamation projects during the Kyle Whittingham era.
3. Washington State (5-4, 4-2)
Last week: 3. Result: DNP
Next up: at Oregon (8:30 p.m., ESPN). Line: WSU +14
Comment: Talk about results that make zero sense given what we know currently: USC’s 45-14 win in Pullman, even with Jayden de Laura’s injury factored into the assessment.
4. Arizona State (6-3, 4-2)
Last week: 6. Result: Beat USC 31-16
Next up: at Washington (5 p.m., FS1). Line: ASU -5
Comment: To win the division, the Sun Devils must sweep their Pacific Northwest double-dip (Seattle and Corvallis) and beat Arizona, and they need Utah to lose to Oregon and either Colorado or Arizona. The Hotline supercomputer determined the likelihood of that scenario unfolding is 8.63%. So we’re saying there’s a chance.
5. UCLA (5-4, 3-3)
Last week: 4. Result: DNP
Next up: vs. Colorado (7 p.m., Pac-12 Networks). Line: UCLA -15
Comment: Two Pac-12 coordinators were fired on Sunday. Much to the chagrin of UCLA fans, neither was named Jerry Azzinaro.
6. Oregon State (5-4, 3-3)
Last week: 5. Result: Lost at Colorado 37-34 (2OT)
Next up: vs. Stanford (1:30 p.m., Pac-12 Networks). Line: Oregon State -10
Comment: This is the game for the Beavers, who need one victory for bowl eligibility and are heavily favored at home against a reeling opponent that cannot stop the run. Lose, and a postseason path that once appeared wide open turns treacherous. ASU and Oregon await.
7. USC (4-5, 3-4)
Last week: 7. Result: Lost at Arizona State 31-16
Next up: at Cal (1:30 p.m., FS1). Line: USC -1.5
Comment: If the Trojans use the same inane quarterback rotation again this week, the administration should find an interim coach to replace the interim coach.
USC quarterback Jaxson Dart got to celebrate this touchdown against ASU on Saturday, but the Trojans ended up losing 31-16 and are now just 4-5.
8. Washington (4-5, 3-3)
Last week: 8. Result: Lost to Oregon 26-16
Next up: vs. Arizona State (5 p.m., FS1). Line: Washington +5
Comment: We have no idea if receivers coach Junior Adams will prove adept at calling plays, but it can’t get any worse. What we’ve witnessed for two months is as bad as it gets, folks, and it sure seems like everyone knew that except the head coach.
9. Cal (3-6, 2-4)
Last week: 9. Result: Lost at Arizona 10-3
Next up: vs. USC (1:30 p.m., FS1). Line: Cal +1.5
Comment: More than a few times over the past 53 weeks, we have wondered why Justin Wilcox bothers to stick around. Maybe this insanity will be the final straw.
10. Colorado (3-6, 2-4)
Last week: 11. Result: Beat Oregon State 37-34 (2OT)
Next up: at UCLA (7 p.m., Pac-12 Networks). Line: Colorado +15
Comment: Welcome to the top 10, CU. Welcome to the top 10.
11. Stanford (3-6, 2-5)
Last week: 10. Result: Lost to Utah 52-7
Next up: at Oregon State (1:30 p.m., Pac-12 Networks). Line: Stanford +10
Comment: In case you’re wondering: David Shaw has never believed that firing coordinators and assistants is a valid response to underperformance.
12. Arizona (1-8, 1-5)
Last week: 12. Result: Beat Cal 10-3
Next up: vs. Utah (noon, Pac-12 Networks). Line: Arizona +25
Comment: Can a 25-point underdog be vulnerable to a letdown? Also, look for a spike in COVID cases across the university after all the partying from the past 36 hours.
