No. 23 USC (3-0) at Arizona State (2-1) (7:15 p.m. Saturday, ESPN)
The marquee game of this week’s Pac-12 slate features possibly the two top teams in the conference’s Southern Division. USC, fresh off their best performance of the young season, a 38-17 win over Syracuse, will battle an Arizona State team in the opposite situation. Coming off an emotional overtime victory over Missouri a few weeks back, the Sun Devils were topped 17-14 at Illinois last Saturday. Nonetheless, most expect this to be an even matchup. USC should have the passing edge with Matt Barkley and Robert Woods leading the way, while Arizona State’s veteran offensive line should provide an edge for the Sun Devils on the ground.
Colorado (1-2) at Ohio State (2-1) (12:30 p.m. Saturday, ABC)
Neither Ohio State nor Colorado have started the 2011 season the way they had hoped. The Buffaloes opened the year with losses to Hawaii and Cal before topping Colorado State, while Ohio State fell 24-6 to Miami last weekend, a big blow to the Buckeyes’ hopes of making a BCS bowl for the seventh straight year. Nonetheless, Ohio State will be a favorite against the talent-light Buffaloes. Freshman Braxton Miller and senior Joe Bauserman comprise a talented, if statistically unremarkable, quarterback combination, and the Buckeyes have several playmakers that could give Colorado’s below-average defense trouble. The Buffaloes’ best chance for an upset is in their potent passing attack. Led by quarterback Tyler Hansen and star receiver Paul Richardson, Colorado is ranked No. 22 in the nation in passing yards per game.@@http://bleacherreport.com/articles/855166-ohio-state-football-previewing-the-colorado-game@@
UCLA (1-2) at Oregon State (0-2) (12:30 p.m. Saturday)
After losing big at home to a mediocre Texas squad, UCLA will visit Corvallis this weekend to take on perhaps the sole Pac-12 team in worse shape than itself – Oregon State. The Beavers opened their season by losing to Football Championship Subdivision Sacramento State — at home, no less — before getting thrashed by Wisconsin 35-0. There is some good news for Oregon State, however. Star wide receiver James Rodgers is expected to make his long-awaited season debut this weekend. UCLA, which will turn to quarterback Richard Brehaut to start, has been only marginally more impressive than Oregon State. Their only victory was a narrow 27-17 home victory over San Jose State, one of the worst teams at the FBS level.
California (3-0) at Washington (2-1) (12:30 p.m., Saturday, FSN)
Somewhat surprisingly, despite the departure of Jake Locker to the NFL, Washington’s offense has actually been better in 2011 than it was in 2010. New quarterback Keith Price has completed 64 percent of his passes and has thrown 11 touchdowns against three interceptions, while running back Chris Polk exceeded the 100-yard rushing mark in each of his team’s three games. Washington’s defense, on the other hand, has struggled. The Huskies are 107th in the nation in points allowed. New Cal quarterback Zach Maynard is a big reason for Cal’s early-season success. He’s tossed nine touchdowns against three interceptions, while also making plays with his feet. The Bears are a well-rounded squad too — they rank top-50 nationally in pass offense, rushing offense, scoring offense and scoring defense.