Weekend Picks

Cal -7 over Huskies - My pick might be a different story if the QB situation was sorted out, but with Jake Locker likely out Saturday I don't see how the Dawgs can pull this one out. With Locker I think they have a chance to win any game and Cal is certainly not the team they appeared to be at the start of the season. But you have to worry about a let up now that UW is officially going to miss a bowl game and have a losing record once again. In the end Cal is simply a more talented team and their offense should be quite the handful for UW's awful defense.

Huskies can win if: Jake Locker plays or if Bonnell can come up with some more big pass plays like he did in relief last week and the Huskies D can force some turnovers. They won't be able to stop them, but if they can get some easy points it will give them a chance. Cal 34, UW 24

Seahawks -5.5 over Bears - This game is not the marquee match up it was supposed to be (it even got bumped from prime time), but the Bears are still a team that can be good on any given day. Plus the Hawks have only won back to back games one time this season and lost to the Bears twice last season. But look for the Hawks' D to turn in another dominate performance and I wouldn't be surprised if the Bears have another QB decision to make after this game. The crowd should be extra pumped for this one, as should the players, after the two losses last season. Focusing on the pass seems to be working so far and it could get even better with the return of Deion Branch this week. The Hawks badly need to string some wins together and get some momentum going.

Seahawks can win if: They stop the run and force Rex Grossman to make plays to win the game. Also putting constant pressure on Grossman will be key and if they can do that they should be able to snag a couple turnovers. Seattle 27, Chicago 17