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This is the Pac-12's first weekend of the football season with a full schedule of conference games. And it starts Friday night with a big one: Stanford at Washington. The winner instantly will be in the conversation for the College Football Playoff, as the calendar turns to October. On to the picks:  Friday's game Stanford at Washington, 7 p.m. MDT, ESPN Stanford showed some toughness in rallying to beat UCLA at the Rose Bowl last Saturday, and then Washington had to go into overtime to beat Arizona on the road, after allowing a last-minute touchdown. That the was the first tough test for the Huskies, who had breezed through their nonconference schedule.  Washington's run defense has to be a concern against Stanford and Christian McCaffrey, after the Huskies allowed 300-plus yards to Arizona. Of course, that was a much different offensive scheme, with quarterback Brandon Dawkins accounting for 176 of those yards – including a 79-yard touchdown.  Stanford did a solid job against UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen, holding the Bruins to 13 points, but Washington's Jake Browning may be an upgrade. It should be a great battle at Husky Stadium. Stanford 24, Washington 21.  Saturday's games Oregon State at Colorado, 12:30 p.m. MDT, Pac-12 Networks I once suggested that Gary Andersen should feel fortunate to have turned down the Colorado job in December 2012, instead ending up at Wisconsin. Now, he can only wish his Oregon State rebuilding project was as far along as Mike MacIntyre's work in his fourth season in Boulder. The only issue about this game is Colorado's ability to deal with success, after an emotional win at Oregon last week. Colorado 38, Oregon State 27.  Utah at California, 4 p.m. MDT, Pac-12 Networks The Utes won 30-24 last October; it might be 30-24 by halftime in Berkeley. Utah should present by far the toughest defense the Bears have seen this season. The Utes allowed 466 total yards to USC last weekend, but only points (plus a kickoff-return touchdown). If the Utes can sustain long drives – and score touchdowns, which is the critical part – the way they did in the second half against USC, they should be able to get ahead and stay there. Utah 42, California 35. Arizona State at USC, 6:30 p.m. MDT, Fox If anything, I came away more impressed with USC, even in a losing effort at Rice-Eccles Stadium. And that's saying something, because I always overvalue the Trojans. USC quarterback Sam Darnold and his receivers should shred ASU's secondary, as Cal did last week in a 51-41 loss. The Trojans will give up some points, themselves, but I see their recovery starting at the Coliseum. USC 41, Arizona State 31.  Oregon at Washington State, 7:30 p.m. MDT, Pac-12 Networks This is a tough game to pick, with Washington State opening conference play. Oregon is being written off as a middle-tier team in the Pac-12, which seems weird. But the loss to Colorado is fairly strong evidence in that regard. Washington State 42, Oregon State 38.  Arizona at UCLA, 8:30 p.m. MDT, ESPN Dawkins has added a new dimension to Arizona's offense, and this will be an interesting game for Utah fans in multiple ways. Arizona is coming to town next weekend and the Utes are aiming for a 7-0 record when they visit UCLA on Oct. 22. The Bruins already have lost to Stanford and likely need a win to stay close to the Utes in the South division race. Their defense should be good enough to make it happen. UCLA 35, Arizona 24. – Kurt Kragthorpe