Predicted Order of Finish
1. Utah- the Utes have played in 2 straight Rose Bowl games and with 13 returning starters including senior QB Cameron Rising (26 TD’s) there is no reason to believe they can’t make a third trip to Pasadena or beyond, Rising lost first round TE Dalton Kincade and is recovering from a torn ACL in the Rose Bowl loss OVER/UNDER Total Wins 8.5
2. Southern California- give HC Lincoln Riley a returning Heisman Trophy winning QB along with a deep and talented receiving corps and the Trojans can compete with any team in the nation, surrendering 40 plus points in 3 out of the final 4 games including 93 in back-to-back losses to end the year is a major concern on defense OVER/UNDER Total Wins 9.5
3. Oregon- the combo of senior QB Bo Nix and junior RB Bucky Irving produced 34 combined TD’s and over 5,000 yards of offense last year, offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham left to coach ASU and defensively there is plenty to fix after allowing 256.4 yards per game while registering only 18 sacks OVER/UNDER Total Wins 9.5
4. Washington- the Huskies have their sights set on a Pac-12 Championship and CFP appearance following an 11-2 mark in HC Kalen DeBoer’s first season, the O-line, which allowed just 7 sacks last year, must replace 3 starters and the schedule features November road matchups against USC and Oregon State OVER/UNDER Total Wins 9.5
5. Oregon State- 6th year HC Jonathan Smith has Oregon State back in the upper echelon of the conference coming off 2 straight bowl appearances and reaching double digit wins last year, the Beavers' stout defense from 2022 lost 3 starting linebackers including first team All-Pac 12 performer Omar Speights at LB OVER/UNDER Total Wins 8.5
6. UCLA- the offense has depth and talent at both running back and receiver while on defense junior DE Jay Toia returns after posting a team high 10.5 sacks in 2022, the school’s all-time passing leader Dorian Thompson-Robinson is gone and road trips to Utah, Oregon State, and USC await the Bruins OVER/UNDER Total Wins 8.5
7. Washington State- Ben Arbuckle takes over as offensive coordinator after helping guide WKU to a top 7 ranking in yards per game and will have junior QB Cameron Ward (3,231 yards, 23 TD’s) at his disposal, the receiving corps is unproven and the Cougars get both Oregon and Washington on the road OVER/UNDER Total Wins 6.5
8. Arizona- junior QB, and former Washington State transfer Jayden de Laura, is coming off banner year leading the Wildcats offense to a top 6 ranking in pass yards per game (318.4), the defense was dreadful last year allowing 36.5 points per game and will depend heavily on transfers to sure up its deficiencies OVER/UNDER Total Wins 4.5
9. California- sophomore RB Jaydn Ott was sensational last season rushing for 897 yards and 8 TD’s as a freshman while defensive line hopes to get a boost with the return of junior DE Brett Johnson who has missed the past 2 years with injuries, the O-line was a liability in 2022 allowing 31 sacks and remains a concern OVER/UNDER Total Wins 5.5
10. Arizona State- new HC Kenny Dillingham looks to put some pep back in Sun Devils' offense after helping Oregon finish in the top 10 in both points and yards per game in 2022, the offensive backfield took a hit losing Xazavian Valladay (1,192 yards, 16 TD’s) and there are glaring holes up front on both sides of the ball OVER/UNDER Total Wins 4.5
11. Stanford- All-Pac-12 TE Benjamin Yurosek (49 catches, 445 yards) returns on offense and the defensive line should show improvement from last year with the return of 3 starters, the combination of a new coaching staff and only 5 returning starters from last year all but assures 2023 will be a complete rebuild OVER/UNDER Total Wins 2.5
12. Colorado- junior QB Sheduer Sanders (son of new HC Deion Sanders) won the Jerry Rice award for top FCS freshman in 2021, the Buffaloes are basically starting over from scratch with nearly an entire roster full of new faces and there is nowhere to hide with road trips to TCU and Oregon in the first month OVER/UNDER Total Wins 3.5
Buy- None
Sell- Washington- Colorado and UCLA have been replaced on the schedule by USC and Utah and the Huskies won’t be sneaking up on anyone this time around
Washington State- new coordinators on both sides of the ball, an entirely new WR corps, and the loss of All-Pac-12 LB Daiyan Henley will be too much for the Cougars to overcome
Best Bet- Washington State- UNDER total wins