Here's the schedule rundown, with keys to winning each week:

@NORW (Sept 5): A middling B1G. They RUN first. Strong DL, weak DBs. Hogan THROWS to TEs, mix it up to McCaff. Chicago in Sept, lovely.

UCF: They RUN mostly; a 9-4 AAC team that played nobody last year. We force lots of 3-and-outs. Hogan throws to 8 different guys. Stanford by 2-3 TDs.

@USC: Sets up rest of season. They PASS often, and play keep away. GREAT NFL caliber O-Line. Very fast team both ways. Get to Kessler and force cough ups. We must convert on 3rd down, and use "more cowbell": TEs.

@ORST: Weak Offense with rookie QB. Snuff early. Dominate with ball control.

ZONA: Balanced SPREAD with superb WRs, Wilson a solid RB. All-Am LB Scoobie, but untested DBs. Throw it to setup the run. Keep Cats off balance.

UCLA: Another pivot game. Bruins RUN'N'GUN with potent RB Perkins, excellent WRs and sharpshooting QB. Need TOs to win vs a very solid Defense. ESPN in PA for a Thurs niter. Could go OT.

WASH: Disorganized Dawgy Offense without a decent QB. We run up score with balanced attack.

@WSU: Cougs PASS all the time. Blitz, sack, intercept -- repeat. Worst Defense in Pac12.

@ COLO: Buffs PASS first. Double team all-conf WR Spruce. We blitz 'n' snuff. Poor Defense. Cardinal run it to triumph. Stomp the yard.

OREG: Best RUN game we face all year. But Ducks lost some important talent on D. Keep the ball to win; force fumbles (like 2013). Red zone execution. No room for miscues.

CAL: Bears PASS 90% of time. Lasko a decent RB. Outstanding WRs. We plattoon DBs; need big game from our DL. Play Nickel-D whole game. Get to Goff. Hogan should throw first; Cal sucks on Defense. Starve the Bears.

NDAM: Irish use balanced attack, with no superstar at QB. Stop WR Fuller. We need to run ball, mix in pass against a Domer Defense with holes. Special teams could decide this game; possible Fiesta Bowl berth if both teams meet with two losses or less. Revenge game for Hail Mary they got in South Bend slop last year.

We will be underdogs to both LA schools and vs Ducks, but not by much. We can win every game on this schedule with a boffo home slate. A 12-1 Pac12 Champ makes the Final 4 Playoff.