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Colorado is off this week, so the only Pac-12 football game that really affects Utah – other than Washington's visit to Rice-Eccles Stadium, of course – comes Thursday night, when USC hosts California. The Trojans are trying to stay in the Pac-12 South race. On to the picks:  Thursday's game California at USC, 8:30 p.m. MDT, ESPN The Trojans are revived and have a scheduling advantage here, having been off last week. Cal endured a double-overtime game vs. Oregon last Friday. BYU once beat TCU under even more difficult circumstances (having played the previous Saturday), so Cal is not fully excused in advance. But an upset by the Bears would be remarkable. USC 42, California 28. Saturday's games Washington at Utah, 1:30 p.m. MDT, Fox Sports 1 There's a lot to process with this matchup and I'll have more to say about it in a column posted Friday. It's a fascinating game in so many ways, with each team having so much to prove. The most critical aspect appears to be Washington's pass protection. If Jake Browning has time to throw, he'll carve up Utah's secondary. If not, it could get interesting. Either way, it's hard to imagine Utah being routed at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Washington 28, Utah 24. Arizona State at Oregon, 3 p.m. MDT, Pac-12 Networks Could you picture the Sun Devils going from 5-1 to 5-7? That's in play, if ASU loses in Eugene. Oregon remains the Pac-12's wild card, having shown some resilience in a double-overtime loss at California. This should be another of the Ducks' usually wild adventures. Oregon 45, Arizona State 42.  Washington State at Oregon State, 8:45 p.m. MDT, ESPN2 Coug quarterback Luke Falk shredded OSU's secondary with six touchdown passes in the first half last season. The Beavers keep battling, but they can't keep up with WSU's offensive production. Washington State 38, Oregon State 21.  Stanford at Arizona, 9 p.m. MDT, Fox Sports 1 Arizona is worth watching, even at 0-4 in Pac-12 play, because the Wildcats are getting more healthy and have Colorado at home Nov. 12 in a game that could affect the Pac-12 South standings. Stanford is turning to quarterback Kellen Chryst, while Anu Solomon and Brandon Hawkins are both available for Arizona. Stanford's defense allowed only 10 points in a loss to Colorado and should make the difference in Tucson. Stanford 28, Arizona 21.  Kurt Kragthorpe