Each Thursday I'll post my picks for the week in college hoops as well as my power rankings.
Last week I went 7-5 on the week. That gives me a total of 27-17 and with Washington State sweeping Cal and Stanford it just shows you how up and down this league really is and how any week a team can beat any other team in this league.
Thursday Games
Washington at Arizona State
Washington suffered a tough loss to Cal at home and it was one of their few chances the rest of the season to make a case against a good team to get into the NCAA Tournament. Now the Dawgs must win almost every game from here on out to make their case reasonable enough to get the invite. ASU might get junior Trent Lockett, their best player, back from injury.
Washington 77 Arizona State 65
Colorado at USC
Colorado hasn't won in the Pac-12 when they hit the road. Will it end against injury depleted USC? Can USC get any kind of recovery and put up a good fight against Colorado and keep their losing streak in tact? I think it's close but Colorado gets that first road win.
Colorado 69 USC 60
Utah at UCLA
UCLA and maybe even head coach Ben Howland get to take out their frustrations of getting swept by the Oregon schools the week before against Utah. Utah has no chance in this game with the Bruins having the clear size and athletic advantages.
UCLA 77 Utah 53
Washington State at Arizona
The Cougars have life after beating both Cal and Stanford last week but can they keep that streak going when they head down to Arizona? The Wildcats are coming off a split in the Mountains of Colorado and Utah but that is viewed in a bad light.
Arizona 72 WSU 70
Saturday Games
Colorado at UCLA
The Buffs got their split Thursday at USC but a sweep of the L.A. schools would be a big boost for the Buffs in the Pac-12. Can UCLA get their own sweep and try and stay as best as they can in the Pac-12 race?
Colorado 69 UCLA 66
Washington State at Arizona State
The Cougars lose a tough one in my books on Thursday against Arizona and get that big and much needed road win to still climb the Pac-12 chopping block.
WSU 69 ASU 60
Washington at Arizona
This looked to be an epic showdown on paper heading into the season considering how last season's game came on a buzzer-beating swat by former Wildcat Derrick Williams. Can the Dawgs get that big win on the road and make a statement that they are in the Pac-12 race? Will Arizona survive the rest of the season if they lose?
Washington 79 Arizona 72
Utah at USC
This is an ugly game as both teams are in the bottom of the Pac-12. Do I really have to pick a winner? Can there be just two losers?
USC 59 Utah 54
Sunday Games
Oregon State at Oregon
This is a very big game for both the Ducks and the Beavers. Oregon is looking to stay at No. 1 in the Pac-12 while the Beavers have a chance to make a serious run at getting back into the top three of the league the next few weeks. OSU is more athletic and bigger than the Ducks which should bode well for the Beavers.
Oregon 77 Oregon State 76
Stanford at Cal
This is a huge game just like Oregon State at Oregon before them. Cal stands tied with Oregon for first place and the Cardinal are nipping at their heels. If Cal wins they could own the No. 1 spot in the league all by themselves where as Stanford could join the mix.
Stanford 77 Cal 74
Pac-12 Power Rankings
1. Cal 16-5 (6-2)
2. Oregon 15-5 (6-2)
3. Colorado 13-6 (5-2)
4. Stanford 15-4 (5-3)
5. Washington 12-7 (5-2)
6. Washington State 11-8 (3-4)
7. Arizona 13-7 (4-3)
8. Oregon State 13-7 (3-5)
9. UCLA 10-9 (3-5)
10. Arizona State 6-13 (2-5)
11. Utah 5-14 (2-5)
12. 5-15 (0-7)
- Matt Prehm
- Oregon Insider - DuckTerritory