ASU Football: Pac-12 against the spread for Week 5

A week ago, only eight Pac-12 teams played, but for Week 5, every team is in action with ASU football set to host Oregon State.

Though four Pac-12 teams had byes a week ago, Pac-12 after dark didn’t disappoint.

Arizona blew out Oregon State, but the other three games, Washington State-USC, Stanford-Oregon and ASU-Washington were all thrillers.

This week, there are seven total games with Pac-12 teams, and every member school plays.

UCLA at Colorado

Line: Colorado -9.5

Even though Colorado’s Week 2 win over Nebraska looks less impressive by the week, the Buffaloes have looked a lot better than UCLA to start the year.

Colorado is 3-0 entering this week, while UCLA hasn’t won a game. UCLA and Colorado were both off in Week 4, so this is both teams’ conference opener.

Through three games, UCLA’s defense hasn’t been able to stop anything, and that could be a problem with Steven Montez, one of the Pac-12’s best offensive players, coming to town.

It’s puzzling how the spread is this low. Colorado will cover easily at home.

Utah at Washington State

Line: Utah -1.5

After falling to Washington two weeks ago, Utah was off in Week 4. But this week, the Utes hit the road to face one of the nation’s best quarterbacks in Gardner Minshew.

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Washington State is coming fresh off a close and controversial loss to USC in which the officials missed a targeting call on the USC defense.

WSU will come into this game with a chip on its shoulder, and though Utah has likely the best defense in the Pac-12 South, Minshew and the offense will help them narrowly edge the Utes.

Stanford at Notre Dame

Line: -5.5

Stanford-Notre Dame is one of the most intriguing non-conference games this year, in part because the teams have both shown flashes of greatness among inconsistencies.

Against Oregon, Stanford struggled in the first half but bounced back well enough to force overtime and eventually take down the Ducks.

Notre Dame, on the other hand, routed an opponent for the first time this year in Week 4. After close calls against Michigan, Ball State and Vanderbilt, the Fighting Irish took care of business, defeating Wake Forest 56-27.

A lot of this game comes down to if Notre Dame’s defense can stop Stanford’s offensive weapons in Bryce Love and JJ Arcega-Whiteside. Assuming Notre Dame can put up at least 25 points, the Fighting Irish will win, but I don’t expect them to cover.

BYU at Washington

Line: Washington -17.5

Of all the teams that have surprised in 2018, BYU may be the most shocking. After a measly 4-9 season a year ago, BYU has returned to its status of a solid program with an elite defense.

Despite falling to Cal in Week 2, the most points the unit has allowed this year is 23, which came against Arizona.

While Washington will ultimately win the game by double digits, the Huskies won’t cover because of BYU’s stingy defense.

Oregon State at Arizona State

Line: Arizona State -21.5

After a 2-0 start, ASU has lost two consecutive games. Most recently, the Sun Devils fell to Washington on the road, but the loss showed ASU is headed in the right direction.

Oregon State, on the other hand, struggled in its Pac-12 opener vs. Arizona. The Beavers lost 35-14 at home to an Arizona team that was also toward the bottom of the conference, and not even the offense was productive in the loss.

If Manny Wilkins can find his stride in the passing game again, then ASU shouldn’t have a problem winning or covering the spread against OSU.

Oregon at California

Line: Oregon -1.5

Cal is another team that has played better than expected to start the year, but a lot of their 3-0 record is the result on an easy schedule. Sure, defeating BYU on the road is never easy, but that doesn’t really prove how good or bad they are.

Week 5 will prove the legitimacy of Cal when the Golden Bears take on Oregon.

The Ducks collapsed against Stanford a week ago, but they still have one of the best offenses in the country led by Justin Herbert. Oregon will steamroll the Golden Bears on the road, easy cover.

USC at Arizona

Line: USC -3.5

After a 2-0 start to the season, Arizona is back to .500. In Weeks 3 and 4, the Wildcats took down low-caliber opponents in Southern Utah and Oregon State, but nevertheless, Arizona is 1-0 in Pac-12 play.

Their first true Pac-12 is Saturday when Arizona hosts USC. The Trojans escaped by the skin of their teeth a week ago, but their second-half fight showed promise despite the slow start.

Next. ASU Football: Sun Devils not taking Oregon State lightly. dark

Although Arizona is riding a winning streak, the Wildcats, and even Khalil Tate, haven’t been impressive this year. USC wins by double digits and covers in Tucson.

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