Pac-12 Football: Week 9 Preview

Get ready. Week 8 was certainly a fun one, but this week is bound to bring us even more drama as the Pac-12 begins to shape itself out. Below, we take a look at each of the matchups and what to expect in Week 9.

Oregon Ducks (4-3, 2-2 in Pac-12) @ Arizona State Sun Devils (4-3, 2-2)

Another midweek Pac-12 bout pits two teams that have underperformed in 2015. Both teams enter coming off of a bye week they needed for different reasons. For ASU, the question will be whether or not they were able to use the time to correct their stagnant offense. Meanwhile, Oregon will be hoping the off week was used to get healthy. Which team will be able to prove it's fixed its issues on Thursday?

Prediction: Oregon 38, ASU 34 (Result: Oregon 61, ASU 55 3 OT)

USC Trojans (4-3, 2-2) @ California Golden Bears (5-2, 2-2)

The Trojans looked very dominant in their blowout win over then-No. 3 Utah last weekend. On the other hand, the Golden Bears find themselves reeling on a two-game losing streak following their defeat at the hands of UCLA. An in-form team meets one that's out of sync? Despite the venue, it's difficult to figure the result doesn't go the visitor's way.

Prediction: USC 41, Cal 24

Colorado Buffaloes (4-4, 1-3) @ No. 24 UCLA Bruins (5-2, 2-2)

The Buffaloes have notched four wins in 2015. It's not the position the team imagined facing entering this point in the season, but should be content with the result. The problem is that now Colorado enters the bulk of its tough scheduling in conference play. UCLA has bounced back nicely from losses to Stanford and ASU with a commanding win over Cal. We don't see Colorado getting lucky here.

Prediction: Colorado 28, UCLA 45

Oregon State Beavers (2-5, 0-4) @ No. 13 Utah Utes

Utah was finally exposed against USC, but now the Utes find themselves in position to keep everything in order in their pursuit of the Pac-12 South title, despite dashed College Football Playoff hopes. Oregon State fell to Colorado last weekend. If they pull this out, Utah would have to be in some kind of really bad funk.

Prediction: Utah 42, Oregon State 20

No. 8 Stanford Cardinal (6-1, 5-0) @ Washington State Cougars (5-2, 3-1)

Not many really considered Washington State a legitimate threat to challenge for the Pac-12 North crown entering the 2015 season, yet here we are. The Cougars pose as Stanford's biggest and, arguably, the best conference opponent the Cardinal have faced. Wazzu's potent offense should expected to be rivaled by Stanford's in this contest. Without a doubt, is the game to watch in Week 9, solely because of the conference implications it has.

Prediction: Stanford 38, Washington State 35

Arizona Wildcats (5-3, 2-3) @ Washington Huskies (3-4, 1-3)

The Wildcats have had to work to get to this point in the season, overcoming injuries along the way to a 5-3 start. The Arizona rushing game involves one of the deepest groups in the country, and in a matchup against one of the more dominant defenses in the country, it should make for entertaining football.

Prediction: Arizona 20, Washington 24