Every Pac-12 Team's Biggest Obstacle on the Remaining Schedule

The Pac-12 is a BCS automatic qualifier for a reason. Last year, it just didn't show it.

Sure, Oregon and Stanford may have made the BCS. Stanford took home the coveted bowl of oranges, while the Ducks fell inches short of the title game Chip Kelly's squad craved so much.

Now, you have teams such as Washington and Arizona State in the mix. The Sun Devils should be booking flights to either Seattle, Eugene, or Palo Alto, because they look like the sure Pac-12 South Division champions.

Stanford and Oregon lead the charge to another BCS game, while others in each division trail behind, steadily trying to keep pace. But each team has to hurdle some obstacle on the remaining schedule.

Here they are...

Arizona: November 19 at Arizona State

Nick Foles is struggling. The defense is struggling. Mike Stoops is gone. Any answers?

Not really. The Wildcats have gotten blown out by the likes of Oklahoma State, Stanford, Oregon, and lost to USC and Oregon State. Right now, a late charge is all that can even send the Wildcats to a bowl game.

With two challenging road tests in the way, that isn't likely to happen. The most challenging is a game in Tempe, where the pitchforks come out, with Brock Osweiler's team ready to strike.

With these two teams going in completely different directions, Arizona needs the ball to bounce completely in their favor if they can pull off the upset.

Prediction: Arizona 17, Arizona State 42

Arizona State: November 5 at UCLA

The Sun Devils have all of the real blocks out of the way. They beat Missouri and USC, and while the Devils lost to Oregon and Illinois, winning out, which appears to be a manageable task, would guarantee them a birth in the Pac-12 championship game.

Right now, the Sun Devils stand a half-game in front of UCLA, but they have to visit the Rose Bowl, as UCLA hopes to make ends meet. If Brock Osweiler makes the passes he's been making (from any spot on the field, including on the run) and Cameron Marshall keeps finding holes, this team will be hard to beat.

This is why the UCLA game is not a real challenge. Sure, Johnathan Franklin will balanced attack and fight, but I just don't see the Arizona State D cramping and the offense limping.

Prediction: Arizona State 38, UCLA 21

California: November 19 at Stanford

Throughout the first three games of the season, the Cal Bears showed promise. Then, they became nobodies.

After Washington, Oregon and USC fed on the Bears, Cal has four winnable games against Utah, UCLA, Washington State and Oregon State before their first real challenge since USC.

Going to Stanford—although it is only 45 minutes away from Berkeley—is a tough task, especially with Andrew Luck on board. Luck has led the Cardinal to a 6-0 start, and the defense hasn't allowed more than 19 points once this year.

It looks like an easy secondary for Andrew Luck to pick apart and a very tough day for Zach Maynard.

Prediction: California 16, Stanford 49

Colorado: October 22 vs. Oregon

Looking at Colorado's 1-6 start leaves people wondering why they left the Big 12 in the first place.

The Buffaloes couldn't handle Washington State, Washington or Cal, and now Oregon and Arizona State stand in the way of Tyler Hansen and the Buffs, who seem to be growing weaker every week.

Losing at home to Washington State and Cal and getting blown out by Washington and Stanford was hardly a good introduction to the Pac-12. And with Bryan Bennett (or Darron Thomas, if he is healthy) and Kenjon Barner lead an explosive Ducks attack ready for another blowout.

Colorado fought hard against Cal. They haven't fought like that since. Now, with Oregon in the way, Colorado has many questions to answer before they reach the status of elite in their new conference.

Prediction: Oregon 56, Colorado 10

Oregon: November 12 at Stanford

This is the showdown that every Pac-12 and college football fan has been looking for: the game that will likely lead to the Rose Bowl.

Darron Thomas (an explosive quarterback) against Andrew Luck (a talented, accurate quarterback). Stepfan Taylor against LaMichael James. The Stanford D against the Oregon D.

Andrew Luck has been performing, while the Ducks have looked sloppy. James and Thomas are hurt (but should be back by this day) and the Ducks have a lot to patch up.

But if this is Thomas' or James' first game back, can they patch anything up? It could be especially difficult against this Stanford defense, one that makes you pay for every mistake.

I think this game comes down to Luck, and while he struggled against the Ducks in last year's loss, I see him torching the secondary at Stanford Stadium, lighting up all of Palo Alto.

Prediction: Oregon 28, Stanford 38

Oregon State: November 26 at Oregon

A couple of years ago, Oregon State was that team that always caught you napping. Looking ahead. They got Oregon, USC, Arizona (2010), and California, all BCS contenders.

Now, the Beavers are scrambling to find individual wins. They lost to Sacramento State, and their only win was a close one at home against Arizona, who is also 1-5.

Ryan Katz and Sean Mannion have been rotating at quarterback, but nobody has gotten anything going. They will have to by the Civil War, however, if they want a shot at pulling an upset against powerhouse Oregon.

Playing at Autzen Stadium is always a deafening task. Playing with a 1-5 team is a lot worse, especially when the Ducks are fighting for a BCS bid. This won't even be a real game.

Prediction: Oregon State 7, Oregon 52

Stanford: November 12 vs. Oregon

Stanford has made the jump from 1-11 to 11-1, and now they are in contention for a BCS Title. 

With Andrew Luck at the helm and a powerful defense backing him, the Cardinal are not a team anyone wants to play. But last year, the Ducks beat the Cardinal 52-31 at Autzen Stadium.

That was at Autzen, however, and Luck's club is very much improved. Stepfan Taylor has been key, the defense hasn't allowed more than 19 points once this year, and of course, the Heisman front-runner is under center.

The Ducks will come in hungry, but with LaMichael James and/or Darron Thomas returning from injury, the Ducks will have to pick everything up quickly to survive. But will the rocking city of Palo Alto let the Ducks take home the win?

Prediction: Oregon 28, Stanford 38

UCLA: November 26 at USC

The Bruins have a lot of winnable games ahead. Arizona State is at home. Stanford is out of the way. Oregon and Washington are not on the schedule. However, this doesn't mean they will win the Pac-12 South.

Arizona State seems like a lock, but UCLA is coming on strong. Johnathan Franklin and Derrick Coleman are great running backs, and Richard Brehaut was getting better every game before breaking his leg against Washington State.

However, the Bruins have struggled with weaker teams like Washington State, and that will not be good in the long run.

Right now, even though UCLA is 3-3, a Pac-12 South title is in sight. Unfortunately, games like this one (at USC) are standing in the way of that dream, preventing it from becoming a reality.

Prediction: UCLA 16, USC 34

USC: November 19 at Oregon

Right now, the USC Trojans have nothing to play for.

Matt Barkley could just rest, because 6+ wins won't do much for the Trojans, thanks to NCAA violations that prohibit USC from playing in a bowl game. But Lane Kiffin's team doesn't want to stop. They are going to play the role of spoiler.

Stanford, Oregon, UCLA and Washington, four teams alive for the Rose Bowl hunt, remain on USC's schedule, and Oregon is the only one on the road. No one fears the date they play the Trojans much anymore, but USC wants that reputation.

Now, with Oregon on the road, USC would really need a win to get that reputation back for the 2012 season, when bowl games are in sight again for the Trojans. Still, a win at Autzen hasn't been accomplished since 2008, when Boise State held on to beat the Ducks.

Prediction: USC 27, Oregon 45

Utah: October 22 at California

Utah has by far the easiest remaining schedule, with USC, Washington and Arizona State the toughest opponents (Washington and ASU were at home). Oregon and Stanford are not on their schedule. Now, a bunch of unranked teams remain.

Both Utah and Cal had higher expectations for the year, but the Utes faded from the spotlight after losing a tough one at USC and blowing home games against Arizona State and Washington late.

So while Utah rolled through the Mountain West Conference (excluding BYU and TCU), their sudden failure in the Pac-12 leaves questions. But with Cal, Oregon State, Arizona, UCLA, Washington State and Colorado being all on the schedule, a bowl season seems highly possible.

That starts this Saturday against the Cal Bears, who are also 3-3 and 0-3 in Pac-12 play. Zach Maynard is struggling for Cal, while Jon Hayes needs work for Utah. Although this is actually the toughest game left for Utah, it is easily winnable. If the Utes have one goal, it should be to finish 9-3.

Prediction: Utah 20, California 17

Washington: October 22 at Stanford

Jake Locker's gone, Washington will surely go with him.

Those are the words people repeatedly uttered, overlooking Keith Price and his Huskies squad. The team set out to show the naysayers that Washington football was about more than Locker, and by beating five teams and hanging tough with Nebraska, they showed that.

While cupcakes such as Arizona (home), Oregon State (road) and Washington State (home) still remain, Stanford, Oregon and USC are still lurking on the schedule.

Washington and Stanford both have a lot to prove. Both teams are ranked, although neither have beaten a quality team (Stanford is still 6-0, however). But the Huskies are underdogs, as Andrew Luck looks to lead the Cardinal to victory.

Washington must play their best game all year to win.

Prediction: Washington 24, Stanford 42

Washington State: October 29 at Oregon

Cellar-dwellar was a commonly used word to describe the Cougars of Washington State for three years.

Now, Marshall Lobbestael has a chance to turn Washington State around. The Cougars beat Colorado and still have cupcakes such as Oregon State on the schedule.

But Oregon is lurking on the schedule, and playing at Autzen Stadium isn't very fun. If Washington State somehow does it, 9-3 is in sight.

A home game against weak Oregon State should leave the Cougars at 4-3, but they need a mighty effort to take down the Ducks.

Prediction: Washington State 17, Oregon 45