The Pac-12 reporters weigh in on this week's games:
Why Utah will win: Utah’s road woes -- and the fact that the Utes have won only one game outside the state in the past two years -- give me pause. What doesn’t give me pause is the way the offense has been clicking through the first two games. Travis Wilson has completed 63.2 percent of his throws, with six touchdowns and no interceptions. Devontae Booker has been as advertised and, along with Bubba Poole and Troy McCormick, the Utes have a balanced ground attack that complements their talented receivers. With a third-down completion percentage of 51.6, the Utes have been moving the ball well. Defensive end Nate Orchard (2.5 sacks, three tackles for loss) has been phenomenal so far. And if this game comes down to kicking, there is no player in the country I’d trust more than “automatic” Andy Phillips. The fact that the Utes are coming off a bye doesn’t hurt, either. -- Kevin Gemmell
Why Michigan will win: Michigan isn't as bad as Utah fans might hope it is. Four turnovers were primarily responsible for the Wolverines' 31-0 loss at Notre Dame, a game in which they actually outgained the Irish 289-280. Michigan's defense plays at a different level than overmatched opening opponents Idaho State and Fresno State: They've allowed only 2.6 yards per rush and 4.1 yards per play. This is a new challenge for Utah and it comes on the road, where the Utes have gone a measly 2-9 in the past two seasons. That being said, Wilson is leading a confident Utes offense that is enjoying success in both the running and passing phases of the game. I think Utah has enough weapons to break its four-game road losing streak in the Big House, but I need to see it happen before I truly believe. Look for the Wolverines to win a close one. -- David Lombardi
Why Arizona will win: Through two games, Cal obviously has proved it’s on the right track. To this point, the Bears are without question the most improved team in the conference -- and maybe the country. The fact that rational people can come up with solid reasoning for why Cal will win speaks volumes. I’m just not there yet. Arizona’s offense presents a set of challenges the Bears haven’t yet proved they are capable of stopping. Wildcats quarterback Anu Solomon took a big step last week against Nevada, from an accuracy standpoint, though running back Nick Wilson continues to impress. Arizona wins, but it’s a much more intriguing game than it figured to be just four weeks ago. -- Kyle Bonagura
Why Oregon will win: Marcus Mariota was too much for Michigan State's defense to handle, and putting Washington State's defense in the same category as the Spartans' defense is just not really possible right now. The Heisman Trophy front-runner is going to do what he does, meaning he's going to pick apart a young Cougars secondary, and Oregon's three-headed monster at running back will keep pounding Wazzu's front seven. The Cougars will be able to put points on the board, considering how many big plays the Ducks' defense has given up this season already and how much Connor Halliday throws the ball, but expect a result pretty similar to the Ducks' previous three games. A big victory with second- and third-string guys playing the final quarter. -- Chantel Jennings
More consensus picks: Colorado over Hawaii; Oregon State over San Diego State; Washington over Georgia State.