The Pac-12 has taken a ton of heat as being the worst of the Power 5 conferences in recent years. Going by the most recent results, it’s hard to argue with that assumption. Only two teams tallied double-digit win totals a season ago with both schools coming out of the state of Washington. The Huskies went on to win 10 games and fell in the Rose Bowl to Ohio State, while the Cougars won 11 after squeaking past Iowa State in the Alamo Bowl. U-Dub ( +250 ) is once again one of the listed favorites per the current college football betting lines to win the conference this upcoming season, while the Mad Scientist’s Cougars ( +1600 ) would need Anthony Gordon to pick up where Gardner Minshew left off to once again be in the mix. However, Chris Petersen’s troops are expected to be challenged by Mario Cristobal’s Oregon Ducks ( +350 ) who have Heisman hopeful Justin Herbert under center for his senior campaign. Though five teams currently rank out amongst the Top 25 in the land, none of them look worthy of becoming only the third Pac-12 entrant in the history of the College Football Playoff. But that’s why they play the games folks!
ODDS TO WIN PAC-12
Washington +250
Utah +250
Oregon +350
USC +900
Stanford +1600
Washington State +1600
Arizona +2500
Arizona State +2500
UCLA +2500
California +5000
Colorado +12500
Oregon State +25000
FAVORITE TO BACK: Oregon +350
The Quack Attack hasn’t won the Pac-12 since 2014. As well off the program seemed back then, it dropped off a cliff once Chip Kelly bolted for the NFL. But that was then, and this is now. Cristobal’s kids were a couple late-game blowups and a few laid eggs away from winning the Pac-12 North with ease last season. I still can’t get over that overtime loss to Stanford in Week 4. Maybe it’s because I held onto the ticket and framed it as a reminder to myself that it’s never over until the clock reads double-zeros. Moving forward, you can’t help but think the Ducks learned a ton from that defeat as well as a number of others. The thickening of the skin should have this veteran group ready, willing and able to take the next step forward under the Cristobal regime.
The schedule is daunting to say the least. The season opener on a neutral field versus Auburn will be a major litmus test, and road trips to Stanford, Washington, USC and Arizona State won’t be walks in the park either. That said, Herbert is in the Heisman discussion for a reason and he’s backed by arguably one of the best offensive rosters in the country. With his front wall returning nearly intact and pair of running backs that combined for over 2,000 all-purpose yards at his disposal, Oregon is going to hang some crooked numbers on the board. All that production will be backed up by a ferocious and veteran defensive front that now boasts stud Kayvon Thibodeaux. Things certainly look to be heading in the right direction for the folks in Eugene.
UNDERDOG TO BACK: Stanford +1600
Though the Cardinal only returns nine starters from last year’s squad with only four coming on the defensive side of the ball, I believe that to be a good thing. Stanford simply didn’t look or play like a David Shaw coached team last season. The defense surrendered 416 yards and nearly 24 points per game, while the offense looked to the air much more than team’s from year’s past. While most of that had to do with K.J. Costello being one of the better quarterbacks in the conference and JJ Arcega-Whiteside simply just too good not to utilize in the passing game, multiple injuries to Bryce Love made it nearly impossible for the running attack to consistently get going.
Having never won fewer than seven games in the regular season since making his home in Palo Alto, it comes as quite the surprise to see the Cardinal owners of 6.5-game season win total odds at top rated sportsbooks. Though it’s been lean the last few seasons, I’m banking on past production and expect Shaw to not only find a way to eclipse that number but also throw his hat in the ring as a possible entrant into the Pac-12 title game. The schedule sets up nicely for that to occur with Oregon, Washington, UCLA, Arizona, Cal and Notre Dame all paying Stanford Stadium a visit.
LONGSHOT TO BACK: UCLA +2500
I don’t foresee the South Division being all that close once it’s said and done. USC and Utah are getting all the preseason pub, and rightly so. Kyle Whittingham returns a veteran group that represented the division in the title game last season. USC is always loaded with talent and will be playing with a major chip on its shoulder retaking the field off last year’s 5-7 debacle. That said, I’m not a believer in Utah’s offense – even with Tyler Huntley back under center – and Clay Helton’s seat is currently hotter than Kate Upton when strutting her stuff down the runway. Cal has a heck of a defense and that 50-1 return looks awfully attractive, but the Golden Bears’ offense stinks out loud!
That brings me to Chip Kelly’s UCLA Bruins who enter 2019-20 off a three win campaign. However, the team really started to discover its true abilities at the tail end of last season when it defeated USC and gave both Arizona State and Stanford all they could handle before ultimately losing both games by a total of 10 points. With a year’s worth of getting a handle of the new schemes and Kelly now being able to utilize his own recruits, I’m expecting much improvement for the Bruins. Washington State and Arizona State were the surprise teams in the conference a year ago - there’s no reason why UCLA can’t be one this time around.
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