This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Going into New Year's Day, the Pac-12 is second in the Bowl Challenge Cup standings at 5-2, trailing the SEC (4-1). Personally, I'm 4-3, having missed the last three picks of UCLA (lost), California (won) and USC (lost). Three games remain, including two Saturday. Friday's game Stanford vs. Iowa, Rose Bowl, 3 p.m. MST, ABC This is a year for a traditional Rose Bowl, with other bowls having hosted the College Football Playoff semifinals. The Big Ten sent Michigan State to the CFP, so the Pac-12 will match champion Stanford vs. Iowa, the Big Ten runner-up. For the Cardinal, this is an opportunity to finish better than they started, having lost 16-6 at Northwestern of the Big Ten in September. Stanford overwhelmed USC in the Pac-12 title game and its offense has performed very well ever since the season opener. Iowa's defense will present a good challenge, but Christian McCaffrey, Kevin Hogan and the rest of the Cardinal offense should generate enough points to win. Stanford 27, Iowa 17. – Kurt Kragthorpe