Block U Pac-12 Picks: Bowl Edition

Here are our picks for the Pac-12 teams, plus if Oregon advances in the playoff the championship game pick:

	ASU vs Duke	Nebraska vs USC	Stanford vs Maryland	Arizona vs BSU	UCLA vs K-State	Washington vs Ok State	Oregon vs FSU	Oregon vs 'Bama/OSU
Shane	ASU	USC	Stanford	Arizona	K-State	Washington	Oregon	Oregon
Steven	Duke	USC	Stanford	Arizona	K-State	OK State	Oregon	Oregon
Adia	ASU	Nebraska	Stanford	Arizona	UCLA	Washington	Oregon	Oregon
Alex	ASU	USC	Stanford	Arizona	UCLA	Washington	Oregon	Oregon
Daniel	ASU	USC	Stanford	Arizona	K-State	Ok State	Oregon	Oregon
Joseph	ASU	USC	Stanford	BSU	UCLA	Ok State	Oregon	Oregon
Adam	ASU	USC	Stanford	Arizona	UCLA	Ok State	Oregon	Alabama

Utah vs CSU Pick + Staff In-depth Explanation

Joseph

Utah over CSU

FPI favors the Utes, while F/+ thinks the Rams are the better team. Ultimately for me, it boils down to what the Utes do well: get to the QB and run the ball. What are CSU's weaknesses? Protecting the QB and defending the run. Utes win.

ASU over Duke
USC over Nebraska
STANFORD over Maryland
BOISE STATE over Arizona
UCLA over Kansas State
OKLAHOMA STATE over Washington

OREGON over Florida State
OREGON over Ohio State

I think Ohio State is going to shock Alabama, but I think Oregon will beat either team.

Daniel

Utah over CSU

Utah beats CSU handily for a few reasons. CSU has not played against a defense that is the caliber of Utah. I understand the numbers they've put up thus far, but that will be a moot point on Saturday.

ASU beats DUKE
USC beats NEB
STAN beats MARY
ZONA beasts BSU
KSTATE beats UCLA
OK State beats WAS

OREGON runs the table. Beats FSU and the BAMA.

Adam

Utah over Colorado State

A couple reasons for this pick: The Utes are the most talented team Colorado State will have faced this year. Colorado State is without their head coach who left for Florida. Nate Orchard and co. will be able to get into the backfield enough to disrupt the rhythm of the CSU offense. Lastly, Utah hasn't been bowling in two years, so you know the guys will be fired up to be out there. Often times in games like these, the Power 5 schools aren't excited to be there. Won't be the case in this one.

ASU over Duke
USC over Nebraska
Stanford over Maryland
Arizona over Boise State
UCLA over Kansas St.
OK State over UW

Oregon over Florida State
Alabama over Oregon

Alex

Utah over CSU

Utah has Pac-12 athletes across the board CSU does not. The CSU offense has put up some great numbers against the Mountain West, but their defense is poor and has not faced many decent offenses. Players like Booker, Clay, Scott, and Tonga will give the CSU defense fits. I think Wilson will have plenty of time to throw as well. The defense, especially Orchard will rattle CSU, and I think the secondary will do all they can to shut down Higgins and force someone else to beat Utah. The senior leadership will make sure the team is motivated to get the win.

ASU over Duke
USC over Nebraska
Stanford over Maryland
Arizona over Boise State
UCLA over Kansas State
UW over Oklahoma State

Oregon over Florida State
Oregon over Alabama

I'm going for the Pac-12 sweep

Steven

UTAH over Colorado State

I already predicted this game on this week's The U Fan Cast, so I can't really go back on it now. For me, the greatest difference between the two teams is that Utah still has its coaching staff intact. With Kyle Whittingham on the sideline, the defense and special teams will be good. With Kalani Sitake on the Utah's side, the defense will be solid. Utah has not played well against teams that can really throw the ball; however, CSU has not seen a defense that can take away a Rashard Higgins the way Eric Rowe and the Utes can. Neither has CSU seen a defensive front that can get as many as 10 sacks in a single game. CSU hasn't faced a team where the Special Teams actually are a game-winning factor. It's really up to Utah's offense to win this game. Travis Wilson and Devontae Booker need to manufacture touchdowns, not field goals.

Bold Prediction: If Utah goes three and out on their first series, the Utes lose. If the Utes score a touchdown on their first series, they win.

Duke over ASU
USC over Nebraska
STANFORD over Maryland
ARIZONA over Boise State
Kansas State over UCLA
OKLAHOMA STATE over Washington

OREGON over Florida State
OREGON over Ohio State

It's difficult to pick against Urban Meyer, but the guy isn't infallible. Just... mostly so.

Adia

Utah over CSU

Utah will beat CSU because of the Waldburger Babes factor. Mom and I will be present and accounted for in Sin City and with that kind of luck present there is no way the Utes lose. Other less important factors include, that the Ram's offense, albeit a high scoring one all season, isn't ready for how good the Ute defense is. Also, I think the Utes are damn excited to be back bowling and ready to come out firing on Saturday. There is no way they will sleepwalk through this one. They are ready to aim and fire.

ASU over Duke
Neb over USC
Stanford over Maryland
Arizona over BSU
UCLA over KState
Wash over Oklahoma Sate

Oregon over Florida State
Alabama over Ohio State
Oregon wins the National Championship

Shane

Utah over CSU

I hate to sound like a "Power-5 honk" now, especially since we were once on the outside looking in. But I've been hearing for days now how explosive CSU's offense is, well, I think Utah has played much more explosive offenses in the Pac-12, and held many of them in check. I see Utah winning this one in the 4th quarter, by about a 10-14 point margin. I think Utah's defense will get to CSU's QB Grayson, especially considering that USU was able to do the same - and I know Utah's defense will be by far the best CSU has seen.

I also think Utah's offense will have success in this game, given the amount of game planning they've had. CSU has a "bend, but don't break" defense, but I think with a running back like Devontae Booker, and a speedster like Kaelin Clay, the Utes will be able to get the ball into the end zone.

I'm taking Oregon to win it all, but without Ifo Ekpre-Olomu I'm nervous with that pick. I think Nick Saban will scheme for Ohio State, and Urban Meyer's 3rd string QB, and shut them down. I'm giving the Ducks the edge over 'Bama for one reason - Marcus Mariota.