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NCAA Football

2011 Washington St. Cougars Gambling Odds | Predictions

2011-2012 Football Previews – Pac 12 Conference – WSU Cougars

As weird as it sounds, more than two wins in 2011 will be an improvement for the Washington State Cougars who went just 2-10 overall and 1-5 in conference play last season. But it won’t get any easier with the newly realigned PAC-12 that puts them in the North with powerhouses Stanford and Oregon.

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NCAA Football

2011 Washington Huskies Gambling Odds | Predictions

2011-2012 Football Previews – Pac 12 Conference – UW Huskies

Despite a spectacular year from quarterback Jake Locker, the Washington Huskies managed to barely finish the 2010 season with a better than .500 after a 19-7 win over the Nebraska Cornhuskers in last year’s version of the Holiday Bowl.

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NCAA Football

2011 UCLA Bruins Gambling Odds | Predictions

2011-2012 Football Previews – Pac 12 Conference – UCLA Bruins

After losing its first two contests of the season, UCLA appeared to have turned a corner winning three straight., but then tragedy struck as the Bruins finished out the 2010 season winning just one of its final seven, a 17-13 win over Oregon State.

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NCAA Football

2011 USC Trojans Gambling Odds | Predictions

2011-2012 Football Previews – Pac 12 Conference – USC Trojans

Despite NCAA sanctions that prevented the team from participating in a bowl game in 2010, the University of Southern California Trojans burst out of the starting gate winning four straight and then suddenly faded, winning just one out of its next four to finish the season 8-5 overall under first year head coach Lane Kiffin.

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NCAA Football

2011 Oregon St. Beavers Gambling Odds | Predictions

2011-2012 Football Previews – Pac 12 – Oregon St. Beavers

The Beavers deserved a better record, but Mike Riley’s aggressive scheduling cost Oregon State a legitimate shot at a decent conference finish, and likely kept them out of a bowl game, finishing 5-7 overall in 2010.

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NCAA Football

2011 Oregon Ducks Gambling Odds | Predictions

2011-2012 Football Previews – Pac 12 – Oregon Ducks

After a monster 2010 season, the Oregon Ducks snatched their second straight PAC-10 Championship by going undefeated, but fell just shy of grabbing a National Title after they were beat out by the Auburn Tigers.

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NCAA Football

2011 Colorado Buffaloes Gambling Odds | Predictions

2011-2012 Football Previews –  Pac 12 – Colorado Buffaloes

The Colorado Buffaloes have struggled to compete in the Big-12 for the past five years, and have not having had a winning season since going 7-6 in 2006. Now they will get ready for their first season in the PAC-12 after a dismal 2-6 conference finish in 2010.

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NCAA Football

2011 California Golden Bears Gambling Odds | Predictions

2011-2012 Football Previews –  Pac 12 – California Golden Bears

After posting a 10-win season in 2006, the California Golden Bears have gone just 29-22 since, finishing the 2010 season 5-7 overall, and just 3-6 in conference play.

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NCAA Football

2011 Arizona State Sun Devils Gambling Odds | Predictions

2011-2012 Football Previews –  Pac 12 – Arizona St Sun Devils

Arizona State, despite a disappointing ending to the 2010 season, has the goods to make up for lackluster 6-6 record overall and 4-5 record in conference play.

2011-2012 PAC 12 | Arizona State Sun Devils Football Preview
Coach: Dennis Erickson
2010-11 Record: 6-6 (4-5)
Arizona State Gambling Odds from Bodog.com to win BCS: 75-1
ASU Team Page – Players Stats – Roster – 2011 Schedule –>

Although a loss is still as loss, the Devils have to take some solace in that four of their losses were by four points or less. Something the team can build on.

Now with 15 returning starters in the lineup, including the best linebacker in the country– Vontaze Burfict, ASU coach Dennis Erickson better get the job done this year, or he may need to file for unemployment in 2012. With USC being the only team to really pose a challenge in the newly aligned PAC-12 South, the Sun Devils appear to be poised for a monster year.

So let’s take a look at who ASU will go with on the field as they try to win the first edition of the newly formed Pac-12.

Offense:

Losing starting quarterback Stephen Threet to a concussion he suffered late last year has left a major hole in the Devils’ offense. However, junior Brock Osweiler, who had his share of ups and downs in his limited action in 2010, stepped in for the injured Threet and led Arizona State to back-to-back wins to end the season, rallying past UCLA by 21 points and then winning in double overtime against in-state rival Arizona in the season finale. Osweiler tossed for 797 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions, and was the team’s third leading rusher with 124 yards.

He will get a lot of help from a much-improved running attack led by 2010 leading rusher Cameron Marshall (787 yards, 9 touchdowns) and sophomore change of pace back Deantre Lewis (539 yards, 4 touchdowns). Combined with Osweiler’s penchant for running, this three-pronged attack should be one of the best in the PAC-12 this season.

Helping to further improve their running game, sophomore Evan Finkenberg will help anchor an offensive line that returns all five starters and has one of the top centers in the country in senior Garth Gerhart.

The biggest concern for ASU offensively, is at the wide receiver position. Losing leading wide out Kerry Taylor, who caught 54 passes for 699 yards and three TDs, has not been a void easily filled. Especially, since second leading receiver T.J. Simpson went down in March with a tear in his ACL, leaving the job wide open for seniors Mike Willie, Gerell Robinson, and Aaron Pflugrad.

Defense:

This is the side of the ball the Devils will count on most, and with sophomore Junior Onyeali and senior Jamaar Jarrett bookending the D-line, they should be able to put pressure on the opposing team’s quarterback. The duo combined for 11 sacks last year, but will also have the challenge of working with two new starters–senior Bo Moos and sophomore William Sutton—at the defensive tackle positions. [soliloquy id=”82219″]

Backing up the line, is the core of the ASU defense, as Burfict, who led the team with 90 tackles and 8.5 tackles for loss, once again teams up with fellow Centennial High classmate Brandon Magee as two of three starters returning from last year.

Lastly, in 2010 the Sun Devils allowed 245 yards per game through the air, and despite returns from junior starting corner Deveron Carr and senior free safety Eddie Elder, the secondary will big a big concern for the Sun Devils heading into 2011.

2011-2012 Arizona Football Prediction: 1st PAC-12 South

With 15 starters back for the 2011 season, Arizona State will likely come into year as the favorites to win the South. While the defense will shoulder most of the load, combined with Osweiler’s gained experience at the end of last season, the Sun Devils should posses enough grab their first conference title in four years.

2011 ASU Sun Devils Schedule

9/1/11 10:00 PM ET UCDAV
9/9/11 10:30 PM ET MISOU
9/17/11 7:00 PM ET @ILL
9/24/11 10:15 PM ET USC
10/1/11 12:00 PM ET OREST
10/8/11 12:00 PM ET @UTAH
10/15/11 12:00 PM ET @ORE
10/29/11 12:00 PM ET COL
11/5/11 12:00 PM ET @UCLA
11/12/11 12:00 PM ET @WSHST
11/19/11 12:00 PM ET ARZ
11/25/11 10:15 PM ET CAL

Click here to check out MORE 2011 college football previews for the 2011-2012 NCAA Football Season!

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NCAA Football

2011 Arizona Wildcats Gambling Odds | Predictions

2011-2012 Football Previews –  Pac 12 – Arizona Wildcats

Arizona began the 2010-11 season with a bang, speeding out to a 7-1 overall record, going 4-1 in conference play before losing its last five games straight, including a 30-29 overtime heartbreaker to Arizona State in Week 12.