Pac-12 Football TV Guide Week 5: Huskies and Wildcats Face Off in Tempo War

Game of the Week - Arizona at Washington - Saturday, 4 pm FOX

JF - These two teams ideally want to run near 100 plays a game and have big offenses led by the conference's two best pure running backs. Expect a lot of yards racked up on the ground in this one, a fun atmosphere in Husky Stadium and an outcome that should determine a lot about where these two kind of unknown teams will be within the conference in 2013.

AK - Arizona and Washington are the Pac-12's two big unbeaten mysteries. And Arizona whipped Washington heavily last year in Tucson. Can the Wildcats translate their game on the road, or will there be more struggles outside their home state?

#2 USC at Arizona State - Saturday, 7:30 pm ESPN2

JF - This is an early showdown of two teams that, regardless of some early-season disappointment, should be in the hunt for the Pac-12 South crown. The Trojans have struggled to score on offense, but the Sun Devils defense struggles against the run, which is the only the Trojans can really do effectively on offense, so they should be able to keep it close.

AK - ASU is back home and their offense seems to have no trouble humming in the desert, so you have to imagine USC is in great danger with the way their offense is bumbling around. The Trojan defense will have to try and make a statement that they're the best unit in the Pac-12, or USC is staring 0-2 in the Pac-12 for the first time since...when?

#3 Stanford vs. Washington State (In Seattle) - Saturday, 7 pm ESPN

JF - This one is on upset watch, as the Cardinal seem to be hanging onto their habit of letting teams hang around and the Cougars have an offense that can spread out their hulking defense and keep it close if their much-improved front seven can battle the Cardinal's vaunted offensive line. It might only require a few big plays from the Cougars to make this one very interesting.

AK - Forgotten fact: Stanford and Washington State had a really close matchup on the Farm last year (although to be fair it was Josh Nunes), and the Cougars offense seems to give Stanford's defense trouble. Is this a dangerous trap game for the Cardinal?

#4 Colorado at Oregon State - Saturday, 12 pm Pac-12 Network

JF - This might seem like a snoozer at first glance, but remember, the Beavers might have the worst defense in the conference, and the Buffs have an improved passing game. The Buffs might not be able to stop Sean Mannion, Brandin Cooks and the Beaver passing game, but the Beavers probably can't stop Connor Wood and Paul Richardson so it should be a high-scoring affair.

AK - Colorado probably could get blown out, but then you realize Oregon State has to guard Paul Richardson, and they're not very big on this whole guarding wide receivers thing yet.

#5 Cal at Oregon - Saturday, 7:30 pm Pac-12 Network

JF - The Bear defense under Jeff Tedford seemed to usually do a little bit better against the Duck run game than other teams in the conference, but those days are over and the Bear run defense has looked putrid thus far under Sonny Dykes. This should be one of those typical Oregon night games against a weaker Pac-12 opponent where you watch the first quarter or so to see some highlight reel plays and then focus on the better games going on at the same time.

AK - This will be fun in terms of betting the over. But just envision Oregon's offense vs. Cal's defense for 60 minutes, and it's hard to envision this one being competitive for more than a quarter.