Pac-12 football: Early betting lines for Week Three

The Huskies and Ducks host Michigan State and BYU, respectively, in crucial Week Three games.

Two weeks into the season, we have identified the best team in the Pac-12.

It’s the favorite.

Betting favorites have covered in 11 of the 15 games (a whopping 73.3 percent) against major college competition through the first fortnight — a mark that includes the one conference duel thus far but excludes all matchups with FCS opponents.

There are nine games on the board in Week Three, all of them non-conference affairs.

The Pac-12 is favored in seven of the nine.

Now, an early look …

Games against FCS opponents not included (Oregon State, Arizona).

South Alabama at UCLALine: UCLA -13.5 (total: 59.5)Comment: The Bruins have covered their past four games against FBS competition … South Alabama quarterback Carter Bradley played for Toledo last year and threw for more than 200 yards at Notre Dame; he won’t be rattled in the Rose Bowl … The Jaguars are in the same conference, the Sun Belt, that produced upsets of the Fighting Irish (by Marshall), Nebraska (Georgia Southern) and Texas A&M (Appalachian State) last weekend.

Cal at Notre DameLine: Cal +10.5 (43.5)Comment: The Bears are playing in South Bend for the first time since 1967 and accepting $1.9 million for the appearance (per USA Today); there is no return game in Berkeley in future years … Seven of Cal’s last 10 games have gone Under the total … Bears quarterback Jack Plummer faced the Irish last year when he was with Purdue, completing 25-of-36 passes for 187 yards and one touchdown in a 27-13 loss.

Colorado at MinnesotaLine: Colorado +27.5 (46.5)Comment: CU has scored 23 points in two games; the Golden Gophers have scored 100 points in two games … Buffaloes offensive coordinator Mike Sanford held the same post with Minnesota in 2020-21 … The Gophers have covered the spread in five consecutive games but face a potential look-ahead situation here as the heavy favorite against a team they thumped last year (30-0) — and with the Big Ten opener next week against Michigan State.

Brigham Young at OregonLine: Oregon -3.5 (57.5)Comment: One of the most anticipated non-conference games of the Pac-12 season given that BYU was 5-0 straight up against the league in 2021 … The Ducks have lost four of their past five against FBS opponents while being outscored by a combined score of 154-58 … Fresh off a 26-20 overtime victory over Baylor, the Cougars are No. 12 in the AP poll this week … Oregon has won 20 consecutive home games, the second-longest streak in the Power Five behind Clemson.

Colorado State at Washington StateLine: WSU -15.5 (52.5)Comment: How will Washington State respond following its massive upset of No. 19 Wisconsin? … Colorado State was blown out at Michigan in the opener, then lost at home to Middle Tennessee State (by two touchdowns) … The Cougars have covered the spread in nine of their past 12 overall and four of their past five at home … The Rams, who hired coach Jay Norvell away from Nevada last winter, have failed to cover in their past eight.

Michigan State at WashingtonLine: Washington -2.5 (54.5)Comment: Huge opportunity for the Huskies to legitimize their strong start and give Kalen DeBoer a signature win … UW opened as a one-point favorite, but the line has steadily moved toward the home team … The Spartans have covered the spread in just two of their past 13 games against Pac-12 teams … Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. threw for 606 yards and five touchdowns in two games against MSU during his career at Indiana.

San Diego State at UtahLine: Utah -20.5 (49)Comment: Rematch of SDSU’s triple-overtime victory last year, the game which cleared the way for Cameron Rising to become Utah’s starting quarterback … The Aztecs lost their opener 38-20 to Arizona, then whacked Idaho State last weekend … The Utes have covered the spread in five of the last six head-to-head meetings with SDSU (the exception: last year) … The Over has been the right call in nine of Utah’s last 12 games.

Fresno State at USCLine: USC -12.5 (71.5)Comment: The total is huge, and for good reason: This prime-time matchup on FOX features two of the nation’s most prolific quarterbacks in Caleb Williams and Jake Haener … The Bulldogs have covered the spread in five of their past six road games and typically play well in Los Angeles, home to so many of their players … The Trojans are No. 2 in the nation in yards-per-play (8.62 average) … The line opened with USC as a 16-point favorite but is as low as 11.5 on some sites.

Eastern Michigan at Arizona StateLine: ASU -19.5 (57.5)Comment: Letdown situation for ASU, which lost at Oklahoma State last weekend, is a huge favorite here and opens the conference season next week against Utah — with USC on deck … The Sun Devils have failed to cover the spread in five consecutive non-conference games … EMU won seven games last year but has faced only Eastern Kentucky and Louisiana this season … The Under has covered in four of ASU’s last five.

*** Lines taken from BetMGM. Statistics and trends taken from Odds Shark.

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