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In what is becoming a traditional Pac-12 opener, conference play begins this weekend as Stanford visits USC. There's also a rivalry game, plus a meeting a Top 25 teams. First, Arizona State will get the weekend started Friday night. A look at the 11-game schedule: Friday's game New Mexico at Arizona State, 8 p.m. MDT, Pac-12 Networks The Sun Devils had some trouble stopping Cal Poly's option attack last week. Then again, running is about all the Mustangs do, so allowing 284 rushing yards was a reasonable performance for ASU's defense. New Mexico also presents an all-out rusing emphasis, so ASU should be prepared for the Lobos' visit. Arizona State 35, New Mexico 21. Saturday's games Georgia State at Oregon, noon MDT, Pac-12 Networks After a tough loss at Michigan State, where Oregon failed to complete a late drive, the Ducks will have a tuneup for next week's conference opener vs. Utah. Georgia State is an FBS school from the Sun Belt Conference, but shouldn't be as tough as FCS member Eastern Washington, Oregon's season-opening opponent. The big question is how much Oregon will try to use quarterback Vernon Adams, whose index finger reportedly is broken. Oregon 48, Georgia State 24. Utah State at Washington, 3 p.m. MDT, Pac-12 Networks This is an intriguing game, because Utah State competed favorably with Utah in s 24-14 loss last week and nobody's sure what to think of the Huskies at this point. They blasted Sacramento State 49-0 last week, producing 544 total yards after being held to 179 yards in a loss at Boise State. USU will field a better team than it did the past two weeks, with some suspended players returning, and that gives the Aggies a shot at an upset. Utah State 24, Washington 21. Colorado vs. Colorado State (Denver), 5 p.m. MDT, CBS Sports Network The future of this game is in question, but it certainly has been competitive lately. Beginning in 2006, no school has won more than two games in a row. Colorado looked good in routing UMass last week, while CSU's overtime loss to Minnesota was certainly respectable. Quarterback play should make the difference for the Buffaloes. Colorado 27, Colorado State 24. California at Texas, 5:30 p.m. MDT, Fox This is a big opportunity for the Bears. Cal's 35-7 thumping of San Diego State last week was significant, but beating Texas would really elevate coach Sonny Dykes' program. Texas is one of those programs that has a brand name, but lacks substance at the moment. The Longhorns showed improvement in a 42-28 win over Rice after being hammered at Notre Dame, but Cal is capable of outscoring them. California 38, Texas 31. San Jose State at Oregon State, 6 p.m. MDT, Pac-12 Networks Oregon State has done nothing to play its way out of a bottom-three overall projection in the Pac-12, but this is a chance for the Beavers to pick up a second win as they complete nonconference play. San Jose State is coming off a 37-16 loss at Air Force, although the Spartans trailed only 17-16 at one point. OSU scored on its opening drive at Michigan, and then did nothing offensively the rest of the day in a 35-7 defeat. The Beavers should do just enough to win Saturday. Oregon State 24, San Jose State 20. Stanford at USC, 6 p.m. MDT, ABC USC outplayed the Cardinal last September, only to lose in a goofy game during which coach Steve Sarkisian summoned athletic director Pat Haden to the sideline ostensibly to yell at the referees. If the Trojans can do a better job of converting scoring opportunities this year, they should win convincingly. USC 28, Stanford 17. Wyoming at Washington State, 6:30 p.m. MDT, Pac-12 Washington This game will be shown to a limited audience, as Oregon State-San Jose State gets the primary Pac-12 Networks slot. That's a commentary on Wyoming's struggles this season (besides SJSU being the Pac-12 footprint). In any case, WSU is feeling much better about itself after rallying to beat Rutgers on the road last week and should produce a better result for the home fans after losing to Portland State in the season opener. Washington State 42, Wyoming 21. BYU at UCLA, 8:30 p.m. MDT, Fox Sports 1 The wild finishes of BYU's first two games are either the reason the Cougars will keep winning, or the reason that playing good opponents eventually will catch up to them. I'll go with the second theory, as BYU's offense will have a tough time matching the Bruins' production. UCLA 31, BYU 21. Utah at Fresno State, 8:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network Utah's two-year goal vs. Fresno State should be a minimum of 1,000 total yards and 100 points, following the Utes' 59-27 victory in 2014. Utah 48, Fresno State 24. Northern Arizona at Arizona, 9 p.m. MDT, Pac-12 Networks The Wildcats got their offense rolling in the second half of a 44-20 win at Nevada, finishing with 570 total yards. They should wrap up the Pac-12's weakest nonconference schedule in solid fashion. Arizona 45, Northern Arizona 17. – Kurt Kragthorpe