By Nick Bartlett, SuperWest Sports
October 1, 2021
In case you’re wondering, I don’t have a special method for making predictions. In fact, I don’t have a method at all.
I just go with my gut, and write what it tells me to write.
Now that we’ve got that straight, here are my Week 5 picks, with the final scores and just enough commentary to keep me from getting hungry.
USC 28, Colorado 14
Even with the Trojans losing two out of their last three games, Colorado’s Brendon Lewis doesn’t have enough on the ball to get it done.
As long as Lewis is CU’s quarterback, the Buffs won’t beat anyone in conference—with the exception of maybe Arizona.
Even USC can’t mess this up.
Trojans by 14
Oregon 34, Stanford 21
Stanford is just kinda confusing.
The Cardinal are capable of playing as poorly as they did against Kansas State, or well as they did against USC, or some combination of both, like they did against Vanderbilt and UCLA.
Oregon, on the other hand, is loaded with elite speed and talent, and they’re sizzling—most of the time—like some food reference that isn’t coming to me right now.
Ducks by 13.
[Nick breaks down the Stanford-Oregon Game in Episode 5 of the Nick Bartlett Show]
California 28, Washington State 21
Cal may have found some momentum last Saturday, nearly pulling off the come-from-behind victory against Washington.
That doesn’t necessarily mean they’re good. But the home-field advantage, Chase Garbers, and a sub-par opponent should prove favorable for the Golden Bears.
As for the Cougs, well, their program just feels unstable at all levels.
Cal wins comfortably-close.
Washington 20, Oregon State 17
The Beavers feel like a hot pick entering this contest, but Washington’s players are still better.
Even though the Huskies have been struggling, they probably understand that a loss to OSU would ruin their souls forever.
The Dawgs defense will finally find itself, and Oregon State will struggle to move the ball against a stout unit that hits hard enough to make running backs and receivers think twice.
Huskies win an ugly one.
Arizona State 35, UCLA 32
I want to believe in Dorian Thompson-Robinson, but I’m just not quite there yet. Maybe it’s a scandal.
I’m picking the scandal.
In all seriousness, UCLA hasn’t seen a team as loaded and talented at running back as the Sun Devils.
I don’t want to pick them, but Herm Edwards over Chip Kelly.
Sun Devils by three.
[Check out our other writers’ picks and read Dane Miller’s Week 5 Previews]
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