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Pac-12 Game of the Week - USC at UCLA 5 p.m. ABC
AK: Winner doesn't clinch the South (and USC needs plenty of help), but the Bruins are starting to look like a well-oiled machine just in time for the finish of the season. USC has one great half and one bad half in them, so it's really up to whether USC's defensive line can own the line of scrimmage and whether Hundley can make the big plays. UCLA's defense should be able to get pressure on Kessler, but they still have their ups and downs. Lots of intriguing matchups to watch Saturday night.
JF: I love this match-up. The only thing that these teams are more than talented is inconsistent and they really don't like each other, especially considering UCLA has won the past two and Jim Mora and Steve Sarkisian appear to have some kind of quiet feud boiling behind the scenes. There is a ton at stake in the South in this game and I am sure both teams want a win here much more than any other game on their schedule so it should be competitive and chippy.
2. Arizona at Utah - 12:30 p.m. ESPN
AK: Oh man, this is one of those games. The Utes defense is perfectly built to grind down the Arizona aerial attack, and Utah's offense should be able to get some traction against a very questionable Arizona defense. This amounts to a Pac-12 South eliminator; both sides will be fired up to go.
JF: The showdown between the fringe candidates in the South that should be very hard-fought considering that the loser will be out of the race. Regardless of the race, I also love the match-up - big offense versus powerful defense - who will emerge still a contender?
3. Stanford at Cal - 1 p.m. FOX Sports 1
AK: The worst offense in the Pac-12 meets one of the worst defenses in the Pac-12. The best defense in the Pac-12 meets one of the best offenses in the Pac-12. Something has to give. Cal is definitely the happier team right now and Stanford can't believe how far they've fallen, and both teams need a win to get that bowl eligibility. Everything is at stake and the winner will feel really good going into the offseason.
JF: Who would have thought that this would be a battle of 5-5 teams going into the season? Expectations considered, this game is more important for Stanford than Cal, but Cal should have the advantage of playing loose at home against an opponent that seems to be falling apart at the seams. Tune into this one to see what should be a close affair and the rebirth of a rivalry no longer being horribly lopsided.
4. Oregon State at Washington - 7:30 p.m. Pac-12 Network
Stream on Pac-12 Networks Live
AK: It seemed like a foregone conclusion that with their schedule, the Huskies would make a bowl game. They'll have two of their easier tests this year to finish the season and accomplish this goal, but both are acting mighty feisty down the stretch. The Beavers aren't likely to run on the Huskies though, so it'll be up to Sean Mannion to find his weapons downfield.
JF: This game got a lot better after both teams probably played their best games of the season last week. The Huskies have the defense to lock up the Beavers, but their offense has a very hard time scoring and both teams really need a win here to guarantee bowl eligibility. Expect a cold one that goes down to the wire late in the night in Seattle with the team that makes the least mistakes winning.
5. Colorado at Oregon - 1:30 p.m. Pac-12 Network
Stream on Pac-12 Networks Live
AK: Slight trap game if the Ducks get caught peeking ahead like the Sun Devils. Colorado's offense is good and can hang with the best of them, and Oregon is banged up and just trying to get their way to Santa Clara. Also, Oregon is breaking in a new center with Grasu down. This could be closer than people expect, and by closer I mean three touchdowns.
JF: I agree that this game could sneak up on the Ducks with how injured Oregon is and Colorado actually decent on offense with a lot of luck due to come their way, but being competitive here in Autzen could not be a taller task, especially with the Ducks coming off a bye week. Maybe, if Sefo Liufau and Nelson Spruce get red hot and the Buffs find a way to slow Royce Freeman, Byron Marshall, Thomas Tyner and some guy named Marcus Mariota, they have a shot at pulling off a Stanford over USC 2007-level upset, but that is a big if.
6. Washington State at Arizona State - 10 a.m. Pac-12 Network
Stream on Pac-12 Networks Live
AK: Poor Cougs. They might have had a shot if ASU was coming in flush with victory and looking ahead to the Territorial Cup. Now they're likely to get the full brunt of a Sun Devils team in must-win mode. Still, watch out for Luke Falk to try and make an impact on this game through the air.
JF: I don't know what to think of either of these teams right now, so I am going with my gut that a frustrated Arizona State team should control a Washington State team that looked good the last time they were on the field, but not as much as one might expect.