Edward AschoffKyle Bonagura 6y

Pac-12 Week 11 picks: Washington is conference's last playoff hope

As we near the end of a cannibalistic season in the Pac-12, we do so wondering if all that carnage was worth it.

While it has been a joy to watch this league eat itself from within, the conference now sits on the outside of the College Football Playoff, as No. 9 Washington is the lone team with only one loss.

However, that loss came to 5-4 Arizona State, so who knows how much that will count against the Huskies if they were to run the rest of the table and win the Pac-12.

It's a week-by-week process, and the Huskies just have to keep taking care of business if the Pac-12 is going to get back into the conversation for the nation's elite four.

Visit our college football PickCenter page for additional information on these games and many more.

Friday

No. 9 Washington (8-1, 5-1 Pac-12) at Stanford (6-3, 5-2)

Edward Aschoff: Speak of the devil, and he shall appear! We were just talking about how all the Pac-12's hopes and dreams rest on Washington's shoulders. The good news is that this is easily the conference's most balanced team, and even with some injuries, the Huskies are still playing the best ball on this side of the country. Stanford's defense will puff out its chest at home, but so will the Huskies' on the road. Washington 30, Stanford 17

Kyle Bonagura: Stanford's offense the past two games hasn't looked like a unit that will be very productive against a defense like Washington's, but running back Bryce Love missed one of those and didn't look like himself in the snow last week at Washington State. If he plays to his potential, this could be interesting, but Washington is the pick. Washington 31, Stanford 24

Saturday

No. 11 USC (8-2, 6-1) at Colorado (5-5, 2-5)

Aschoff: The Trojans have finally found a groove, and while it might be too late for the playoff, it's perfect timing for the Pac-12 championship game. With USC's offense clicking and its defense surviving a tough test against Khalil Tate last week, the Trojans will cruise in this one to clinch the Pac-12 South Division. USC 31, Colorado 17

Bonagura: Colorado has never beaten USC. It has lost all 11 times the teams have played, a streak that doesn't figure to end Saturday. If it does, it probably will be because another streak has continued: USC quarterback Sam Darnold has turned the ball over in 11 straight games, which is the most by a Power 5 player since 2013. USC 38, Colorado 24

No. 19 Washington State (8-2, 5-2) at Utah (5-4, 2-4)

Aschoff: Washington State is 1-2 on the road compared to 7-0 at home this season. The Cougars have lost their past two road games, by a combined 95-40 at California and Arizona. Utah has lost three consecutive games against AP-ranked opponents, by a combined 13 points. Something will give, and it'll break Wazzu's way. Washington State 34, Utah 24

Bonagura: The Utes turned in their best performance of the season against UCLA last week, but this week they're up against a team that plays defense. The Cougs stay in contention in the North with a win on the road. Washington State 34, Utah 30

Arizona State (5-4, 4-2) at UCLA (4-5, 2-4)

Aschoff: The Bruins are in must-win territory when it comes to a bowl berth, and Arizona State is looking to regain some of the magic that powered it to victories over Oregon, Washington and Utah. The advantage UCLA will have is that star quarterback Josh Rosen should be back, giving the Bruins just enough offense to get a crucial win at home. UCLA 41, Arizona State 35

Bonagura: Rosen is expected to play after missing last week’s game because of a concussion, but will it matter? At this rate, the Bruins look as though they'll miss out on a bowl for a second consecutive season. Arizona State 40, UCLA 37

Oregon State (1-8, 0-6) at Arizona (6-3, 4-2)

Aschoff: Khalil Tate might not have hit 200 rushing yards against USC, but you still couldn't take your eyes off him in that game. He'll get plenty of revenge against an Oregon State team that is surrendering 188.7 rushing yards per game. Arizona 51, Oregon State 27

Bonagura: Tate against the Oregon State defense is borderline unfair. Arizona 45, Oregon State 17

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