Ducks off this weekend, but PAC-12 slate features telling matchups

Tonight #11 UCLA travels to #15 Arizona State for a Thursday night matchup. ASU quarterback Taylor Kelly is out, and backup Mike Bercovici will start. Brett Hundley of the Bruins is probably even with a banged-up elbow.

Like Oregon, UCLA’s offensive line has suffered some injuries and struggled over their first three game. The Sun Devils are relatively untested defensively after three easy wins to start the season, Weber State, New Mexico, and Colorado.

This game identifies a frontrunner in the PAC-12 South. The Bruins looked vulnerable in their wins over Virginia, Memphis and a decimated Texas squad, but they’ve had a bye week to readjust.

Surprising Utah (3-0) hosts Washington State. It will be interesting if the Cougs have anything left after their all-out effort versus the Ducks, a draining kind of loss that often produces a hangover.

#16 Stanford travels to 4-0 Washington, the first serious test for the Huskies, who have been getting dominating defensive line play from nose tackle Danny Shelton, with 7 sacks, and Hau’oli Kikaha with 6. UW ranks 106th in passing yards, unless Cyler Miles can provide some balance through the air, Stanford’s physical defense will smother Chris Petersen’s offense.

Oregon State visits #18 USC.

The UCLA-ASU tilt is on Fox Sports 1 at 7:00 p.m. Pacific.

 

Arrow to top