Pac-12 Predictions: Picks every game against the spread for Week 3

Sep 12, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans players celebrate after the game against the Idaho Vandals at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Stanford Cardinal At USC Trojans

Los Angeles, California

The Line: USC -8

This is the Pac-12 conference opener, and a huge game for the west coast. USC has looked great so far, but they have played cupcakes in Arkansas State and Idaho. On the other sideline, Stanford coach David Shaw, once considered a top NFL coaching candidate, is feeling the seat underneath him get warmer and warmer with every preposterous punt and ignominious defeat.

Nevertheless, if Shaw and the Cardinal come out and hand USC, the darling of Pac-12 media members, a loss in their conference opener, then that seat suddenly gets a bucket of ice thrown on it. This game will be featured on ABC at 4:00PM, pacific time, Saturday.

Keys To The Game:

Stanford’s defense led the Pac-12 the last two years, and they look good on that side of the ball again this year. However, on offense the Cardinal have been bad, scoring just six points against Northwestern and then 31 against a pathetic UCF team in week 2. Worse, the conservative coaching of Shaw has cost them possible points in both games. Shaw needs to stop punting past mid-field and put some faith in his offense. USC, meanwhile, is looking good on both sides of the ball, and they just need to prove that their hot start was not just due to the inferior competition.

The Prediction:

USC comes out and proves that they are for real, while the conservative coaching of Shaw hurts his Cardinal in a season-defining game for both squads. The Trojans get the passing game going, while Stanford quarterback Kevin Hogan makes critical mistakes. Shaw is forced to answer questions after the game about his job status, and he bristles when someone brings up Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan Wolverines having a better record than the Cardinal. The final score? USC 38, Stanford 10.

Next: San Jose State At Oregon State