Here we go once again with our mostly tongue-in-cheek look at the conference slate of games. Here at OoPac it is recognized that gambling is illegal and those who do partake should recognize the point spreads offered aren't for such purposes.

That said, last year's 58-17 regular season mark will be tough to match - conference expansion exponentially complicates the process. Utah and Colorado aren't as familiar as the other 10 and the dynamics of division play may or may not end up influencing the week by week results. But all that is yet to be seen and all we can do is start with week one.

Thursday, September 1

Montana State @ Utah

Quite the matchup to inaugurate the Utes into the Pac-12 era, doncha think? Utah rolls 34-7

UC Davis @ Arizona State

The Sun Devils are considered by many the trendy choice to win the southern division crown. While ASU and head coach Dennis Erickson have fallen short of expectations in the past - and may again this season - UC Davis is just so much cannon fodder.  ASU 55-10

Saturday, September 3

UCLA @ Houston

If anyone's seat is hotter than Erickson's it's UCLA head coach Rick Neuheisal, the 2011 season is widely considered to be a make or break season for the fourth year mentor. UCLA beat the Cougars in last year's match-up but the game took a significant turn in UCLA's favor when Houston quarterback Case Keenum tore his ACL and was lost for the season. Keenum is healthy and the Cougars get a measure of revenge - and Neuheisal's seat gets hotter. Houston 28-14

Minnesota @ USC

Once upon a time the Minnesota Golden Gophers were a respectable Big 10 football team. Then they fired head coach Glen Mason and took a torpedo below the waterline. USC isn't the USC of old but they will have no trouble here, Trojans by a bunch - 42-17

Sacramento State @ Oregon State

If you have to go to Madison to face Wisconsin in week two you might as well schedule Sacramento State in week one. The Beavers have a lot of question marks to fill on both sides of the ball. And while head coach Mike Riley not yet have all the answers, he will get a chance to get a good look at everyone - Benny's 32-13

Idaho State @ Washington State

Word out of Pullman is that the Cougars are ready to move out of the cellar they have been living in for the past few years. Quarterback Jeff Tuel has more options at receiver and running back than he had last year and the defense - while still suspect - will be better. So this becomes a high stakes game for Wazzu - win big or the grumbling on the Palouse could get an early start. No worries - yet, WSU 37-10

San Jose State @ Stanford

The suspicion is this year's Cardinal team hasn't the firepower of last year's Orange Bowl champions - but there is still plenty beyond quarterback Andrew Luck. But the big guy will single-handedly shred the Spartans, giving new head coach David Shaw a successful debut.  Trees 55-10

Eastern Washington @ Washington

Eastern Washington finished second in the FCS playoffs last season and start the 2011 season ranked #3. The Eagles could very well upset the Huskies if Sark's guys are inconsistent or turn the ball over. But Chris Polk will be more than a handful and while the upset pick is tempting the call is the Huskies by 10, 31-21.

Oregon vs. LSU

After Ohio State beat the Ducks in the 2010 Rose Bowl and Auburn dropped them in the national championship last January, it was common to hear how head coach Chip Kelly's offense could be solved if the opposition had more than a week to prepare. While there may be an element of truth, in a way it is a backhanded compliment because NOBODY is beating him with only seven days to prepare and that's the regular season. But the larger truth is that you don't get to the big games without winning big games and by the time Kelly's body of work reaches 8-10 years of evidence, he will have won plenty of those marquis match-ups. Starting with this one. Injuries notwithstanding, Darron Thomas and LaMichael James are both a year better, a year smarter and a year stronger and they pave the way to a 37-21 Oregon win.

Northern Arizona @ Arizona

In Tucson, the pattern has been pretty consistent. The Wildcats beat up on a couple of cupcakes to open the season, take advantage of a conference schedule that has them playing the weaker teams early, then implode as they hit the heavyweights in the stretch run. The Lumberjacks have frequently been an early season opponent on Arizona's schedule, and as a member of the FCS Big Sky conference meet the definition of a "cupcake." Wildcats 36-17

Colorado @ Hawaii

As a honeymoon location, the Islands are tough to beat. Unless you happen to be the Buffalo's first year head coach John Embree. The charm of that tropical paradise will wear off quickly if the Rainbow Warriors offense tees off on the Colorado defense to the extent they are capable. While the Hawaii defense isn't going to win many games, Colorado's offense is a mess and it is unlikely they will be able to keep this one close. Hawaii 37-14.

Fresno State @ California

Head coach Jeff Tedford's Golden Bears haven't been in the first division since Aaron Rogers graduated and last year didn't qualify for a post season bowl berth. Fresno State prides itself on its "play anyone anywhere" mentality, but particularly so when they face one of their fellow California schools. Last year the Bears lost every road game except in Pullman and with Memorial Stadium undergoing extensive renovations (California will play at AT&T Park - home of the baseball Giants) this year in truth EVERY game will be a road game. Yikes. Fresno State 28 - California 24.