Pac-12 Football Bowl Game Picks: How Many of 8 Conference Teams Will Prevail?

Washington is the Pac-12 headliner with its New Year's Day CFP semifinal matchup vs. Texas at the Sugar Bowl.

The final Pac-12 football season as we know it — the best we’ve seen in years — closes with eight teams participating in bowl games. That includes undefeated Washington representing the conference in the College Football Playoff.

Bowl game outcomes these days are impacted by a team’s interest level, which also involves players opting out to prepare for the NFL draft. As a result, the matchups can be diminished, but that’s the college football world we live in today.

There’s a fair amount of that going on with Pac-12 teams but there are also teams genuinely excited to still be playing.

Washington, which faces Texas in the CFP semifinals at the Sugar Bowl, certainly will be all in for its game.

And Cal should feel the same commitment to facing Texas Tech at the Independence Bowl after winning its final three regular-season games to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2019.

Our bowl picks:

Last week: Jake 0-1, Jeff 0-1,

Season: Jake 48-43, Jeff 47-44

All picks against the spread

Betting line from sisportsbook.com

— LA BOWL - Dec. 16

UCLA (minus-2.5) vs. Boise State, 4:30 p.m., ABC

Jake: Boise State played better that UCLA late in the season, but the Broncos will start either a true freshman or a walk-on at quarterback after Taylen Green transferred to Arkansas and backup Maddox Madsen is out with a knee injury. Pick: UCLA

Jeff: Based on what we saw when the Bruins played Cal in the regular-sesaon finale, wondering if they will be going through the motions in this one. Given Boise’s quarterback issues, it may not even matter. Pick: UCLA

— INDEPENDENCE BOWL - Dec. 16

Cal (plus-2.5) vs. Texas Tech, 6:15 p.m., ESPN

Jake: Texas Tech was playing pretty well until it got smoked by Texas in its regular-season finale. Cal QB Fernando Mendoza keeps getting better. Pick: Cal

Jeff: My sense is the Bears will be fired up to close their season with a fourth consecutive victory. And Jaydn Ott will be motivated to outplay his counterpart, Tahj Brooks. Pick: Cal

— LAS VEGAS BOWL - Dec. 23

Utah (minus-6.5) vs. Northwestern, 4:30 p.m., ABC

Jake: Utah QB Bryson Barnes has entered the transfer portal, but will stick around to play in the bowl. That and the Utes’ defense should be enough. Pick: Utah

Jeff: Northwestern enters on a three-game win streak. Utah has lost two of its past three and squeaked past Colorado in the regular-season finale. The Wildcats cover. At least. Pick: Northwestern

— HOLIDAY BOWL - Dec. 27

USC (plus-7.5) vs Louisville, 5 p.m., FOX

Jake: Louisville was hoping for an Orange Bowl berth, and disappointed teams seldom play well in a lesser bowl. But at least the Cardinals have their quarterback; USC will be without Caleb Williams. Pick: Louisville

Jeff: The Trojans are another team I expect will only sort of be paying attention. Caleb Williams has opted out so could Jack Plummer - the one-time Cal Golden Bear - match the 406 passing yards and three touchdowns he had last year against the Trojans? And yet, I don’t love this point spread. Pick: USC

— ALAMO BOWL - Dec. 28

Arizona (minus-2.5) vs. Oklahoma, 6:15 p.m., ESPN

Jake: With QB Dillon Gabriel gone (transferring to Oregon), Oklahoma will start freshman Jackson Arnold at quarterback. He was highly touted in high school, but we believe in Wildcats QB Noah Fifita. Pick: Arizona

Jeff: QB Noah Fifita closes out a magical freshman season with a big victory. Pick: Arizona

— SUN BOWL - Dec. 29

Oregon State (minus-8.5) vs. Notre Dame, 11 a.m., CBS

Jake: Neither team will have its regular starting quarterback (DJ Uiagalelei and Sam Hartman won’t be playing), but the Beavers will also be without second-string QB Aidan Chiles. Ben Gulbranson will be Oregon State’s quarterback. It also makes picking difficult, so run with the points. Pick: Notre Dame

Jeff: Both of these teams will be without their starting quarterbacks, opt-outs for the bowl. Notre Dame’s Joe Alt, perhaps the top offensive tackle prospect in the NFL draft, also chose not to play. The Beavers might win this game, but once again the spread is too big for me. Pick: Notre Dame

— FIESTA BOWL - Jan. 1

Oregon (minus-16.5) vs. Liberty, 10 am., ESPN

Jake: Bo Nix will play for Oregon, which may have difficulty getting excited after failing to reach the College Football Playoff. Liberty has an outstanding offense, but the Flames didn’t play anyone of note. Oregon will win, but will the Ducks sleepwalk through it and keep it close? Pick: Oregon

Jeff: Quarterback Bo Nix is playing. That’s enough for me. Pick: Oregon

— SUGAR BOWL - Jan. 1

(National CFP semifinals)

No. 2 Washington (plus-4.5) vs. No. 3 Texas, 5:45 p.m., ESPN

Jake: Washinton may be the least impressive undefeated, No. 2-ranked team in history. The Huskies didn’t win any of their last nine games by more than 10 points, and they won their final three games by a combined margin of eight points. This looks like a Texas blowout victory, but Washington somehow gets it done every week. Pick: Washington

Jeff: The Huskies have played a lot of close games this season. Not sure they can take down the Longhorns, but they’ll be in it to the finish. Pick: Washington

Cover photo of Washington coach Kalen DeBoer congratulating quarterback Michael Penix after the Pac-12 championship game by Kirby Lee, USA Today

Follow Jeff Faraudo of Cal Sports Report on Twitter: @jefffaraudo