Pac-12 TV Guide week three: Stanford at USC the game of the week

1. Stanford at USC 5 PM ABC

AK: This game has gone down to the wire, what, five years in a row? I think you're guaranteed to have another close fought war in the trenches in the Coliseum.

JF: This game lost a lot of luster when Stanford lost to Northwestern, but it is still the best game of the week for a few reasons. 1. It's USC's first game against a real team. 2. Stanford's defense might be good enough to make it close. 3. This game will show just how much Stanford has or hasn't fallen.

2. Cal at Texas 4:30 PM FOX

AK: This is where we learn if the Golden Bears are for real or just going to be dawdling at .500. They should be able to beat a battered Longhorns squad.

JF: This is Cal's biggest game in a long time and they have a legit shot at getting a huge win in Austin. Texas doesn't look good this year, but they have enough talent at home and Cal is a big enough question mark that this one should be tight.

3. BYU at UCLA 7:30 PM  FOX Sports 1

AK: The Bruins face their only real non-conference test against the Stormin Mormons.

JF: It may have taken late-game magic in both games, but the Cougars have beaten Boise State and Nebraska already this season, so UCLA cannot take them the least bit lightly. This will also be freshman phenom Josh Rosen's first true challenge.

4. Colorado vs. Colorado State 4 PM CBS Sports Network

AK: Every year this feels like a highly competitive game. The Buffs will want to make it not so much to show they've taken that next step forward as a team.

JF: Almost always a good game, this one is huge for Colorado and Mike MacIntyre to show some improvement and get past that ugly loss to Hawaii.

5. Utah State at Washington 2 PM Pac-12 Networks

AK: The Huskies don't really get any breaks in their non-conference schedule.

JF: This is a sleeper game that Utah State could easily win, especially if Chuckie Keeton is 100% (but is he ever). This would should be low-scoring, but a close slugfest that both teams really need to win.

6. Utah at Fresno State 7:30 PM CBS Sports Network

AK: Fresno is no team's idea of a powerhouse, but they can definitely give the Utes a run for their money if they're not careful.

JF: Fresno State is not a good team anymore, but this is still a classic trap game, especially with Travis Wilson out and Utah's offense not being able to put up many points.

7. San Jose State at Oregon State 5 PM Pac-12 Networks

AK: Neither the Spartans or Beavers are expected to do all that much this season, so this actually could be an entertaining game if neither team has their house in order.

JF: San Jose State is not very good, but neither are the Beavers. The Beavers should still win by at least 20, but that is far from a guarantee.

8. Wyoming at Washington State 5:30 PM Pac-12 Networks

AK: Wyoming has a decent enough defense, but they have no offense whatsoever. The Cougars really need to be decisive here.

JF: The Cougars showed that they have a pulse last weekend, but they are still a team that lost to a bad Big Sky team two weeks ago. Wyoming is bad, bad, bad, but the Cougars are still far from trustworthy. This could be a close game.

9. New Mexico at Arizona State Friday 7 PM Pac-12 Networks

AK: The Lobos lost by 35 at home to practically this same Sun Devil squad last year. You can turn in early this Friday night.

JF: Arizona State has looked shaky so far this season, but I have a feeling that this is the game where they could put it all behind them, but then again it could be the game where it finally completely falls apart.

10. Georgia State at Oregon 11 AM Pac-12 Networks

AK: Potentially the worst team in the FBS faces one of the best. What could possibly happen.

JF: This could be a potential hangover game as the Ducks left it all on the field at Michigan State last week, but Georgia State doesn't have the potential to make that happen. The Ducks could probably show up still drunk and win by 30.

11. Northern Arizona at Arizona 8 PM Pac-12 Networks

AK: Do you enjoy watching scrimmages.

JF: Arizona hasn't looked great this year so far, but I think their offense should score 70 points against an FCS school.