2012 Pac 12 Football Conference Odds and Predictions: Favorites and Sleepers – The Pac-12 has been a top heavy conference in recent years. USC, Oregon and Stanford have all emerged as national powers, but the rest of teams have faded. Heck, a 6-6 UCLA team played in the conference title game last year because of a postseason ban for the Trojans. Fortunately for the Pac-12, the conference as a whole appears to be on the rebound. Washington and Washington State are trending in the right direction, and Utah was a quality addition from outside of the conference. Time will tell if the Pac-12 will become one of the top power conferences in the country once again, but in the meantime, a competitive year could be on tap. Here is a look at how the teams stack up for the upcoming college football season.
2012 PAC 12 Football Championship Odds and Predictions
The Favorites – 2012 PAC 12 Football Conference Vegas Odds and Predictions
With their postseason probation over and their Heisman Trophy candidate back under center, the USC Trojans are ready to become a national power once again. Quarterback Matt Barkley will likely be the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft next April, and he is the best pocket passer in the country. Having two of the five best receivers in the country and a proven 1,000-yard rusher doesn’t hurt either. The Trojans have plenty of excellent athletes on defense, as well. Barkley will be firing touchdown passes to Robert Woods and Marqise Lee all season, and USC’s offense should be downright unstoppable. The Trojans are legitimate contenders for the national title and the clear frontrunners in the Pac-12 South.
Chip Kelly has been coaching the Oregon Ducks for three seasons, and he has three Pac-12 titles and three Rose Bowl appearances to show for it. Kelly’s spread-option system has produced more than 43 points per game in his three seasons with the Ducks, and this year’s team is again loaded with ridiculous speed at the skill positions. Running back Kenjon Barner and all-purpose back De’Anthony Thomas are always one play away from six points, and nobody outside of the SEC has really been able to slow down the Ducks. Oregon is without question the favorite in the Pac-12 North, and there is a good chance a pair of showdowns with USC will decide whether or not the Ducks win the conference for a fourth straight year and play for the BCS title for the second time in three years.
The Dark Horses – 2012 PAC 12 Football Conference Vegas Odds and Predictions
Anyone that thought the Utah Utes would collapse in their first year in the Pac-12 certainly underestimated this program. Utah more than held its own in its new conference, making and winning a bowl game. The program should only be better with a year to get adjusted to the new level of play, especially with 16 starters back from last year’s team. The defense was actually the top unit in the Pac-12 in terms of points allowed last year, and nose tackle Star Lotulelei is back as the leader of what should be another stingy unit. More importantly, the offense that struggled at times last year returns workhorse running back John White and gets quarterback Jordan Wynn back from injury. Wynn is a proven playmaker, especially in crunch time, and White topped 1,500 yards on the ground last season. The Utes will need a miracle to get by USC, but dodging Oregon on the schedule should allow Utah to pile up a lot of wins and be in the mix if the Trojans slip up.
Even though Andrew Luck is gone, the Stanford Cardinal aren’t going to fall off the map completely. A recruiting class that ranked in the top five nationally will retool the offensive line, and running back Stepfan Taylor is back after a topping 1,300 yards last year. More importantly, all four linebackers are back from a group that gave up the third-fewest rushing yards in the country a season ago. Missing Luck will take its toll, but Stanford can still pound opponents with their run game and shut down the ground game of the opposition. That has always been a recipe for success, and the Cardinal are still dangerous.
The Sleeper – 2012 PAC 12 Football Conference Vegas Odds and Predictions
Mike Leach left Texas Tech two years because he believed he has taken the program as far as it could go, and in 2012-13, he will start to get an idea of just how far he can take the Washington State Cougars. Leach’s spread passing attack gave Pac-12 defenses fits last season, and the Cougars finished in the top 10 nationally in passing yards per game despite injuries to multiple starting quarterbacks. Receiver Marquess Wilson is a legitimate star and will once again be the focal point of the offense, coming off a year when he had 1,388 yards receiving and 12 touchdowns. Despite a noticeable gap in talent, Leach’s high-powered offense allowed the Cougars to hang with just about any team in the conference. With the gap slowly closing through improved recruiting, Washington State is on its way back. The defense isn’t where it needs to be to challenge the likes of USC and Oregon, but don’t be shocked if the Cougars score their way near the top of the Pac-12 standings.
Odds to win the PAC 12 Conference
7681 Arizona +3000
7682 Arizona State +4000
7683 California +1500
7684 Colorado +8800
7685 Oregon +200
7686 Oregon State +5500
7687 Southern Cal -200
7688 Stanford +2000
7689 UCLA +4000
7690 Utah +3200
7691 Washington +1000
7692 Washington State +4000
Odds to Win the PAC 12 North Division
7701 California +450
7702 Oregon -250
7703 Oregon State +1000
7704 Stanford +1000
7705 Washington +500
7706 Washington State +1200
Odds to Win the PAC 12 South Division
7711 Arizona +500
7712 Arizona State +800
7713 Colorado +1500
7714 UCLA +800
7715 Southern Cal -500
7716 Utah +800
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