Pac-12 Predictions: Picks against the spread for Week 8

Oct 17, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Utes running back Devontae Booker (23) carries the ball past Arizona State Sun Devils linebacker Salamo Fiso (58) and linebacker Viliami Moeakiola (28) during the second half at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Utah won 34-18. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

Stanford and Utah are running away with their division, but both face tough tests this week, allowing those trailing to catch up should they falter.

We have five games this week on the Pac-12 slate, and everyone is just playing catch up to Stanford and Utah in their respective conferences.

The Pac-12 has been severely disappointing year for the Pac-12. We’ve seen UCLA drop two straight, USC is on the verge of having a below .500 record, Oregon is not nearly on the same level as last year, meanwhile both Arizona schools seemed primed for a Pac-12 South run, both now on the outside looking in.

We kickoff the Pac-12 slate with another Thursday game, which includes UCLA once again. They draw Cal, who is coming off a bye week, allowing that Utah loss to linger for another week. Meanwhile, UCLA is trying to avoid losing three games straight. With UCLA owning two losses, it’s going to be hard to get back into conversation. But however, California is still competing for the North, in a must win game if they wish to stay on Stanford’s tail.

Arizona squeaked out a win at Colorado, and need to regain their confidence. With the Cougars coming to town, they’re looking for their 5th win of the season, and their 3rd straight, hoping to soil the Homecoming parade in Tucson.

USC is the favorite in this showdown with Utah, and they have a chance to end Utah’s perfect season. The Trojans have their back against the wall, and it’s hard to imagine them having a losing record through eight weeks of the season. All Utah has done is win, and they’ll be facing a big road test this week.

Colorado and Oregon State give us the match up of two last place teams in their division. Colorado has a lot to look forward to, considering their tough battle with Arizona. But Oregon State is struggling to keep their head above the water and searching for their first conference win under Gary Anderson.

Stanford is running like a well-oiled machine, and they even got a few extra days of rest after playing last Thursday. Washington has played tough defense all season long, but Stanford has had one of the most powerful offenses thus far.

Next: California vs UCLA