The Oregon Ducks have opened as the favorite to win the Pac-12 conference. - Ducks opens as +240 favorite to win Pac-12 at BetOnline
- Four other teams are between +400 and +500
- Could soft schedule lead USC to a Pac-12 crown?
The Pac-12 Conference had a shortened season last year due to the pandemic. Overall, it was all very strange with Washington dealing with COVID-19 issues leading up to the Championship Game and then Oregon filling in and then beating USC.
With things going back to normal this year, Oregon has opened as the favorite to win the conference at BetOnline. However, the odds are tight at the top of the board. Which team is the best bet to win what appears to be a very tight Pac-12?
| Team | Odds To Win Pac-12 (BetOnline) |
|---|---|
| Oregon Ducks | +240 |
| Washington Huskies | +400 |
| USC Trojans | +400 |
| Arizona State Sun Devils | +475 |
| Utah Utes | +500 |
| UCLA Bruins | +1200 |
| Stanford Cardinal | +2500 |
| Colorado Buffalos | +2500 |
| California Golden Bears | +2500 |
| Washington State Cougars | +2800 |
| Oregon State Beavers | +5000 |
| Arizona Wildcats | +6600 |
Huskies Defense Will Have To Lead
The Huskies suffered a big loss in the offseason when Zion Tupuola-Fetui, their best linebacker and one of their most productive defensive players, suffered an injury which is likely to knock him out for at least eight games, maybe 10. That’s a huge absence on what was supposed to be a very good defense.
Washington’s defense will still be solid, but there’s a difference between solid and overwhelming. The Huskies had a chance to be especially strong on defense, but now they will probably be slightly above average, and little more. Washington struggles to throw the ball under quarterback Dylan Morris. This team needed a very stingy defense to offset the offense’s limitations. The Tupuola-Fetui injury makes it a lot harder to think that will happen.
Trojans Schedule Could Pave The Way In Pac-12
The Trojans have a soft schedule: No Oregon, no Washington, no short-week games played on a weeknight, and only one two-game road trip. They couldn’t have asked for more from their schedule. The problem is that they have a very weak offensive line.
It will be hard for USC to run the ball this year, so the Trojans will need to lean on their passing game and quarterback Kedon Slovis, but there are legitimate fears that USC is too soft and imbalanced on offense. A physical defense can take the Trojans out of their game. USC’s games against Utah and Arizona State will likely shape the direction of the season.
Sun Devils Worth A Flier?
The Sun Devils and head coach Herm Edwards are immersed in a recruiting scandal. If the Sun Devils aren’t punished by the NCAA, though, they have assembled the pieces of a roster which is as talented as any in the Pac-12 South Division. Yet, a lot like USC, Arizona State has failed to maximize talent in most years over the past decade. If the Sun Devils are eligible to play for the Pac-12 title, they will have a puncher’s chance to reach the Pac-12 Championship Game.
Ducks Are The Team To Beat
The Ducks have questions at quarterback, but they are strong everywhere else on their roster. They have a deep group of wide receivers. Their offensive line is solid. They are very fast in the secondary and have some bruisers on their defensive line. As long as the Ducks limit turnovers and don’t create additional problems with their offense, they should be fine.
This is the best program in the Pac-12 right now and probably the best bet for the NCAAF Championship odds from this conference. Oregon should have every expectation of winning the Pac-12 championship this December in Las Vegas, in what will be the first Pac-12 Championship Game played inside Allegiant Stadium, the Vegas-based home of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders.
Pick: Ducks +240
