Week 6 in the Pac-12 is almost more exciting for who is not playing than who is.

Come to think of it, watching Oregon and Washington square off against their respective practice squads might be more compelling than anything else the league has in store for Saturday.

The only game with a scintilla of real intrigue is the first matchup of the day, as surging Washington State heads to UCLA.

When that’s the game of the week, you know something is off.

Here’s a look at my final thoughts and predictions from Week 6 in the Pac-12 …

No. 13 Washington State at UCLA, noon, Pac-12 Network

The Cougars haven’t gotten a ton out of dynamic edge-rushing duo Ron Stone Jr. and Brennan Jackson. But that might very well change this weekend against a UCLA squad that was absolutely eaten alive by the Utah defense 2 weeks ago. The Bruins gave up 7 sacks and 11 tackles-for-loss — including 3.5 sacks and 5 TFL by Jonah Elliss alone.

Washington State, meanwhile, was last seen polishing off then-No. 14 Oregon State in a Week 4 38-35 win, as Cam Ward threw for 400 yards and 4 touchdowns.

“I don’t think he’s taken off, I thought he was a really good quarterback last year,” Bruins coach Chip Kelly said. “I have a tremendous amount of respect for him. I think he should be in the conversation with the top quarterbacks in the country. He’s athletic, he’s sharp, he throws an extremely accurate ball … It seems like he’s doing a great job decision-making this year. He can obviously beat you with his legs.”

Ward may have a major experience advantage over UCLA freshman Dante Moore, but Moore can sure sling it, too.

Whichever team comes out firing coming off a bye week will be the team that wins this one.

Prediction: Washington State 25, UCLA 17

Colorado at Arizona State, 3:30 p.m., Pac-12 Network

Trenton Bourguet and the Arizona State passing game had its best performance of the Kenny Dillingham in a narrow 24-21 loss at Cal last week.

If they can keep it up, Colorado might be in trouble.

The Buffaloes are still banged up in the secondary, which contributed to 6 touchdown passes by USC quarterback Caleb Williams and an early 34-7 lead last week. The Buffs tightened up in the 2nd half, outscoring the Trojans, 34-14. But the loss of Travis Hunter continues to haunt Colorado, though they may get Shilo Sanders back in the fold for this one.

Shedeur Sanders came alive in the 2nd half, finishing with 371 passing yards and 4 touchdowns. Sanders has 15 TD passes in 5 games. He should have a field day against the Sun Devils, especially if he continues to mine a fertile relationship with true freshman Omarion Miller, who caught 7 passes for 196 yards and a score in the final 23 minutes last Saturday against the Trojans.

Prediction: Colorado 41, Arizona State 31

No. 15 Oregon State at Cal, 7 p.m., Pac-12 Network

After falling in a near-comeback to Washington State in Week 4, 38-35, the Beavers bounced back in a big way against Utah last Saturday.

Oregon State outmuscled the Utes in a 21-7 Week 5 win, winning the yardage battle, 358-198, while holding them to just 2 successful 3rd-down conversions.

Now the Beavers get to feast on another failing passing game in the Bears’ mediocre attack. Cal beat Arizona State 24-21 in Week 5 despite just 12-of-28 passing for 130 yards by Sam Jackson V, a bottom 2 QB in the conference.

Luckily for the Bears, they’ve got one of the league’s best ground games, and in Oregon State, they face another.

The 1-on-1 RB battle between OSU’s Damien Martinez and Cal’s Jaydn Ott will be a thrill to watch.

Prediction: Oregon State 32, Cal 17

Arizona at No. 9 USC, 7:30 p.m., ESPN

It’s a bit ironic that it is Trojan Family Weekend this weekend, as USC welcomes Arizona to the Los Angeles Coliseum.

After all, 3 new members of the Trojans family are former Wildcats.

Wideout Dorian Singer, defensive lineman Kyon Barrs and cornerback Christian Roland-Wallace are the familiar faces for Jedd Fisch and Co., who head to Heritage Hall looking to put another scare into a top-10 team. Last week, the Wildcats made Washington sweat just a bit more than expected in a 31-24 loss. Michael Penix Jr. topped 350 passing yards again but had zero touchdowns, something Arizona can rest it’s hat on.

“They did a really good job of preventing Washington from throwing the ball over their head, which, that’s something Washington’s obviously done a good job of this year,” USC coach Lincoln Riley said Tuesday. “And they really weren’t able to do that, kind of forced them to be more patient and made a few plays. And honestly, they were probably a couple of 3rd-and-extra-long conversions away from, you know, from having – and they had a great shot to win it as it is, but an even better shot to win it. So, they played well, and I mean, it’s a good football team that came up there and had a chance to win.”

But don’t expect Caleb Williams to go down that easy.

The returning Heisman winner re-staked his claim as this year’s favorite, throwing for 400 yards and 6 touchdowns in the win over Colorado.

Arizona’s defense is improved, but not enough to shut another Heisman contenders out from the end zone.

Prediction: USC 55, Arizona 30