It should be a time of pride, an occasion to boast, an opportunity to mock its many detractors.
It has been seven years since a Pac-12 team qualified for the College Football Playoff, relegating the conference to an outcast among the Power 5. Now, it is the best in the country. It currently has seven teams among the nation’s top 19, including three unbeatens.
But the success cannot be celebrated. The Pac-12 is on its deathbed. Arrangements have been made. It can only enjoy the time it has left.
This season, there will be few more enjoyable matchups than No. 7 Washington (5-0) vs. No. 8 Oregon (5-0). It is the 103rd meeting of the programs, but the first as top-10 teams. It is a matchup of the only Pac-12 teams to make the playoff, the schools that ensured — but did not trigger — the demise of the league by bolting for the Big Ten.
It is a battle between two of the top four offenses in the nation, led by a pair of Heisman candidates who have combined for 31 passing touchdowns and three interceptions.
Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. is the current front-runner, the only player in the past two decades to throw for at least 300 yards and complete at least 70 percent of his passes in each of his first five games of the season. Oregon’s Bo Nix has the best completion percentage (80.4) in the nation, on pace to break the all-time record.
In their only meeting, the seniors who transferred west combined for 688 passing yards, 75 rushing yards and five total touchdowns in a shootout last season won by Washington, 37-34. Of Oregon’s past 15 losses, it was the only one to occur at home. The Ducks’ drop-off on the road will again be noticeable at Husky Stadium, where Washington (-3) hasn’t lost since 2021, where the Huskies haven’t lost since Penix arrived.
PURDUE (+19.5) over OHIO STATE
Preparations for Penn State have started — and there may be no opponent more dangerous for the Buckeyes to look past this week. The Boilermakers have won four of the past 10 meetings despite fielding rosters that had a combined .500 record.
FLORIDA STATE (-17.5) over Syracuse
After last week’s 40-7 loss at North Carolina, the Orange are 5-18 against ranked opponents under Dino Babers. The school’s past 12 losses to ranked teams — including a 38-3 home loss to Florida State last season — have come by an average of nearly 23 points per game.
VANDERBILT (+31.5) over Georgia
After one blowout of an overmatched opponent, the country is jumping back on the Bulldogs bandwagon. I’m happy to stand on the side and go against a team whose reputation has been built upon past successes and recruiting rankings. Book the win streak to end in November, when the hardest segment of Georgia’s soft regular-season schedule arrives with three top-20 offenses (Missouri, Tennessee, Ole Miss).
Arkansas (+19.5) over ALABAMA
The Hogs rarely go down without a fight. In addition to covering two of three games as underdogs this season, Arkansas has lost its past seven games by an average of 5.1 points.
MICHIGAN (-33.5) over Indiana
In back-to-back Big Ten road games, Michigan has had its two highest-scoring performances of the season (97 total points). Through five games, the nation’s top-ranked defense hasn’t allowed more than 10 points this season.
UMass (+41.5) over PENN STATE
The Nittany Lions paid $1.6 million for the right to play this bye week before a season-defining battle against Ohio State. The first-string shouldn’t see the field in the second half.
Texas A&M (+3.5) over TENNESSEE
The Vols’ lone matchup with a top-90 defense (Florida) resulted in their only loss of the season and just their second sub-20-point output since 2021. The Aggies’ sixth-ranked defense will add another.
PITTSBURGH (+7.5) over Louisville
The Cardinals are 6-0 for the first time in a decade and coming off their biggest win (over Notre Dame) in seven years. Expect a letdown from Louisville, which has won by an average of 32.3 points at home and by just five points on the road.
Auburn (+11.5) over LSU
Just nine teams in the nation are allowing more yards per game than the Tigers. Heisman candidate Jayden Daniels is used to playing with such little help. He spent his first three seasons with Herm Edwards.
NORTH CAROLINA (-3.5) over Miami
Lost in the uproar of Mario Cristobal’s moronic decision not to take a knee — regards, from Joe Pisarcik — was the Hurricanes being in the position (leading by three as a 20-point home favorite) to then surrender 74 passing yards on two plays. Put Drake Maye down for 350, as the Tar Heels claim their fifth straight win in the series.
NOTRE DAME (-3) over USC
The Trojans haven’t won in South Bend since 2011. They haven’t beaten the Irish in consecutive years since 2008-09. They haven’t played defense since their freshmen were in middle school. After allowing 501 yards and 41 points to a quarterback making his second start, USC will turn sixth-year senior Sam Hartman into Caleb Williams.
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Ucla (+3.5) over OREGON STATE
Chip Kelly’s defense ranks first in the nation in turnovers forced (2.8 per game), fifth in total yards allowed (259.8), eighth in points allowed (13.5) and 13th in sacks (3.5). Yes, that Chip Kelly.
DUKE (-3.5) over N.C. State
The Blue Devils don’t need quarterback Riley Leonard to rush back from injury. A Duke defense that allows the fourth-fewest yards per completion (9.2) and ninth-lowest completion percentage (54.2) in the nation will force MJ Morris — who threw three interceptions in his first career start — into many mistakes.
Best bets: Washington, Pittsburgh, Notre Dame
This season: 42-46-2 (6-12)
2014-22 record: 1,150-1,082-25
