On Saturday night, the Bruins ensured that BYU wasn’t going to escape with a dramatic win for the third consecutive week. This game, however, could be appealing to those of you that love bad things.
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UCLA suffered a huge blow Tuesday when its star linebacker, Myles Jack, suffered a torn meniscus, ending his season.
September 19, 2015; Pasadena, CA, United States; UCLA Bruins quarterback Josh Rosen (3) sets to pass in the second quarter of the game against the Brigham Young Cougars at the Rose Bowl.
Arizona has looked progressively better each week, although skeptics could point to a puffy-soft non-conference schedule of UTSA, at Nevada and vs. lower-division Northern Arizona. That said, both of these offenses can light it up. Offensively, Arizona has the sophomore tandem of QB Anu Solomon and running back Nick Wilson doing the leg (and arm) work.
With two games matching ranked teams against each other and three others with down-to-the-wire potential, this shapes up as one of the best weekends of the conference season (and a perfectly treacherous opportunity for the Hotline s Pac-12 football picks of the week to rekindle some early-season magic).
No. 18 Utah at No. 13 Oregon (-12.5) – 8:30 p.m., Fox: I just can’t help but feel like the Ducks are more vulnerable this season than they’ve been in a long time. Jordan Payton and Thomas Duarte have combined for 286 receiving yards and three touchdowns while Paul Perkins has seven receptions.
However, the Ducks’ defense has been atrocious ranking 105th in the nation with 456.3 yards allowed per game.
Pittsburgh Pirates at Chicago Cubs (11:20 a.m., MLBN (314)): Las Vegan Kris Bryant, the leading National League Rookie of the Year candidate, and the Cubs host the Pirates at Wrigley Field in a preview of the NL wild-card playoff game, which probably will be played in Pittsburgh unless Chicago can sweep this series.
Also check out… UCLA just edged No. 22 BYU 24-23.
Perkins answers to a head coach, an offensive coordinator, a running backs coach and, above all, his mother.
Arizona’s nonconference schedule has been ridiculed, but what about Colorado’s?
It is important to watch how Oklahoma State handles this game, because they are K-State’s opponent after the Wildcats bye week. With UCLA being battle tested and Arizona not so much, the Bruins will grind out a solid win.
With everything that has gone on in Austin, Texas the last few weeks, this matchup could show what Texas is made of. Florida has been winning, but it hasn’t been pretty. Also, in that time frame, an LA school has only beaten the conference’s best program (Oregon) one time. Both teams will be looking to open up the offense a little more, while trying keep there defenses performing at a high level. TCU has lost a lot of starters on defense, which has placed pressure on the offense to perform. “I don’t know if he can play a whole game, but he won’t have to”. This one should be fun.
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No. 14 Texas A&M at Arkansas (+7) – 7 p.m., ESPN: Speaking of Kingsbury, Kevin Sumlin must be thrilled that Kliff is writing those checks for him to cash. TCU can silence these critics with a victory over Texas Tech. Will his prediction come true or will the Razorbacks get off the schneid?
