Pac-12 Games to Watch: Week 12

With the Utah Utes on the road in an early game (11:30 a.m. MT) at the Colorado, Buffaloes, there will be plenty of opportunity for Utah fans to tune into some other important Pac-12 games. Utah, along with the Arizona State Sun Devils and Arizona Wildcats, is in the thick of the Pac-12 South race. To win the South though, Utah will need some help, namely Arizona State losing one of their last two conference games.

Arizona State at Oregon Ducks - 8:30 p.m. MT Pac-12 Network

If Utah beats Colorado, all eyes will be on this game for the Utes. If the Sun Devils drop this game, Utah wins the South. If ASU wins, Utah will still be in the race, but they will need the Sun Devils to fall on the road to the rival Wildcats. Arizona State has only won once on the road this year, beating the USC Trojans. Oregon has only lost once this year at Autzen Stadium, when they blew a 24-7 halftime lead to the Stanford Cardinal. Oregon is banged up though, missing starters on both sides of the ball. They struggled to stop the run in their 32-25 loss at Utah last week. Now they have to try to try contain Eno Benjamin, the leading rusher in the Pac-12. Arizona State could clinch the South today with a win over Oregon and losses by Arizona and Utah. If Utah loses, and Arizona wins, Utah is eliminated from the South, and the Territorial Cup decides the Pac-12 South Champion. Root for ASU to lose this one because it helps Utah.

Arizona Wildcats at No. 8 Washington State Cougars - 8:30 p.m. MT ESPN

This game only matters to Utah if the Utes fall to the Buffs. If Utah wins their early game, Arizona is eliminated from the South before they take the field at Martin Stadium. If Utah loses though, they need Arizona to lose to WSU or they are eliminated from the South (regardless of the outcome of the Arizona State-Oregon game). Wazzu is playing for the Pac-12 North, though a win or a loss in this game does not change their standing in the Pac-12 North. They need to beat the Washington Huskies in the Apple Cup to claim the North (unless the Huskies lose at home to the Oregon State Beavers and WSU beats Arizona). This is one that Utah fans only need to worry about if Utah loses, but since we do not yet know the outcome of the Rumble in the Rockies, I included the game. If Utah does lose, Utah needs an Arizona loss here.