Welcome the Hotline’s weekly picks against the point spread, published Thursdays throughout the regular season with a focus on the top games nationally and the most intriguing matchups across the West. Last week, we were 3-7 (yikes). Lines are courtesy of vegasinsider.com. Picks are for entertainment purposes only … unless they aren’t.

It’s a bit early in the season for must-win games, and it’s ridiculously early for must-win games within a conference that won’t exist for 10 months.

But Washington State and Oregon State are facing exactly that situation Saturday against San Diego State and Fresno State, respectively: The Pac-12 holdovers host the Pac-12 newcomers with multiple layers of implications in both matchups.

On an immediate level, the Cougars and Beavers must provide their fans

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