Throughout the 2026 college football season, I’ll be giving you my just-for-fun picks for contests involving the best teams in the West across five conferences.
I start the season, like the teams we cover, with a perfect record.
This week, I am making picks for the following three games:
San Jose State at USC
Hawaii at Stanford
Memphis at UNLV
Let’s get on to my picks!
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San Jose State at No. 14 USC
Saturday, August 29th
12:00 PM PT, NBC
USC has a chance to fine-tune a few things against San Jose State. The Trojans are a borderline College Football Playoff team, and the Spartans are projected to be near the bottom of the Mountain West.
Jayden Maiava will look to form connections with new playmakers Terrell Anderson and Trent Mosley. Maiava finished second in the nation in QBR in 2025.
Flipping the state, SC’s new defensive coordinator Gary Patterson should make light work of SJSU. The Spartans have the second-lowest returning production in the nation, and their offense ranked 113th in points scored per game last year.
They’ll also be breaking in a new quarterback in Luke Weaver. Guys like Luke Wafle and Jontez Williams could capitalize. The only returners on SJSU’s offense are two starting linemen.
Lincoln Riley has made a habit of destroying non-Power Four teams in the opener, and he’ll continue this trend against the Spartans.
USC eviscerates San Jose State.
USC 49, SJSU 14 (USC doesn’t cover)
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Hawai’i at Stanford
Saturday, August 29th
4:00 PM PT, ACC Network
From a talent standpoint, this should prove a good matchup. Stanford enters this contest needing a win. Losing to Hawaii two years in a row would hurt the brand.
The Rainbow Warriors are talented this year, but it’s a cold world.
The key to a Cardinal victory is finding consistency on offense. Quarterback Davis Warren transferred in from Michigan, and he has plenty of experience leading a high-level program; he’s already attempted over 200 passes at the collegiate level.
Complementing him is Micah Ford at halfback. If Ford can get going early, it will take some pressure off the Tree offensively.
Hawaii is hoping Micah Alejado can lead the Bows to a third-straight victory over a Bay Area school. Alejado, who balled while beat up last year, should be able to exploit Stanford’s pass defense, which was last in the nation in 2025.
UH also gets back running back Cam Barfield, who had 80 touches a year ago. Rounding out the trio is Pofele Ashlock in the slot. The offensive line also returns three seniors, making this a complete unit.
The Bows’ defense is a bit sketchy, though they do have at least one proven player at every level.
Hawai’i might be the better team, but Stanford skrrtt’s by.
Stanford 28, Hawai’i 24 (Stanford covers)
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Memphis at UNLV
Saturday, August 29th
7:00 PM PT, FOX
UNLV is playing Memphis at a clutch time. The Tigers have a streak of 12 straight .500+ seasons, but their offense is completely new. Their only returning starter is right guard Parker Mitchell; everyone else is gone.
The Rebels’ biggest defensive concern should be stopping Dallan Hayden, a Colorado transfer. UNLV’s defensive line is the soft spot of their unit, but U of M’s line is unproven, which will likely help them in this matchup.
Memphis also isn’t revealing who their starting quarterback will be.
Flipping the script, the Rebels should be able to run the ball against the Tigers. UNLV returns halfback Jai’Den Thomas, a shifty runner who averaged 7.0 yards per carry in 2025, second-most among 1,000-yard rushers.
But UNLV’s key will likely be Jackson Arnold, a solid quarterback who occasionally lacks awareness in the pocket, having been sacked 30 times a year ago.
The Rebels also return a starting center and left tackle, which should help him adjust.
Memphis could be decent this year, but it feels unlikely a team relying on transfers from Southern Mississippi will have the stuff to beat the Rebels.
UNLV glows in the spotlight.
UNLV 35, Memphis 20 (UNLV covers)
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