Applying to schools as backup

<p>I've decided to stay in California. I've applied to the UC's. I am planning on applying to USC, University of the Pacific, and Pepperdine (UoP and Pepperdine mainly as backup). Ideally, I'd like to go to UCLA, UCB, or USC. Do you think it's worth applying to UoP and Pepperdine because I'd rather go to any of the UC's I applied to. If it's not worth it then it would save me a lot of time because I wouldn't have to do Common Apps.</p>