2016 Pac 12 Season Football Preview
Looking for Pac 12 Conference 2016 predictions? Last season, the PAC 12 was shutout out of the playoffs and the expectation is that may happen again this year. It is not because there are not teams good enough but the league and nonconference schedules are very challenging.
NCAA Football Gambling Lines
Pac 12 Handicapping
The PAC 12 will be a very strong league once again, perhaps too strong to have that one team that can break through.
As you can see by the odds it looks like are at least a couple of strong contenders for the title in each of the divisions.
Stanford finished last season ranked third in the final AP Poll and has the top odds but they are breaking in a new QB and you never know how that will go.
USC, the program with the strongest tradition has only the fourth best odds, that is a pretty good value proposition to me.
Also, don’t sleep on Oregon. Their odds are the same as USC’s and they are flying below the radar in all of the runup to the season.
They are one of the top programs in America and could easily rip off an undefeated campaign.
There is a lot to choose from here. The following is a look at the top contenders in the PAC 12 and their odds to win the league title.
Pac 12 Conference 2016 Odds: Stanford Cardinal +300
There is no doubting that the Cardinal are currently one of the top programs in America.
They have established themselves as one of the most physical teams in the country and are able to recruit to that style to have success.
David Shaw is probably one of the more underrated coaches in America because he has added to what Jim Harbaugh started instead of starting it himself. That is not easy.
Nor will it be easy to repeat as conference champs with a new quarterback under center.
Thankfully, whoever that will be will share the backfield with RB Christian McCaffrey, the best all purpose player in America.
Stanford should be able to survive any growing pains they have in the pivot thanks to their strength and depth along both lines.
Pac 12 Conference 2016 Odds: UCLA Bruins +350
The Bruins seem to always fall just a little bit short. They have taken advantage of the fact that USC has been in a down cycle but have not been able to breakthrough with a conference title – something they have not accomplished since 1998.
Even though we have heard it before this could be the year.
In sophomore Josh Rosen they have a clearly defined quarterback who looks like he is on the path to the NFL.
Add nine starters returning on defense and it looks like this team should be very good on both sides of the ball.
They also get their toughest conference games – USC, Stanford and Utah – all at home this season. If it doesn’t happen this season then when Bruins fans?
Pac 12 Conference 2016 Odds: Washington Huskies +450
The Huskies are definitely a benefactor of the offseason hype train. This program has not delivered a conference title since 2000 but many think they have the right coach and quarterback in place to reach that height.
In terms of coaching, Chris Peterson has not turned the program from rags to riches but he is bringing in talent and there is a lot to like about QB Jake Browning who got his feet wet last season.
The same goes for RB Myles Gaskin who rushed for more than 1300 yards as a frosh.
A total of 15 starters return and their schedule is not too bad, Oregon on the road looks like a key one if they are going to win the division to advance to the title game.
I think they are a contender for sure but a preseason top 15 team. I am not there yet.
Pac 12 Conference 2016 Odds: USC Trojans +550
It has been almost a decade since the Trojans last were crowned the conference king. Now their reasons for things being a bit fallow are well documented but it seems like they might be ready to rise up, doesn’t it.
In terms of talent, the program is sitting on a lot of it.
The thing that might hold them back is that no matter which direction they turn they will be staring at a quarterback who has not led the team in the past.
Still, it is hard to argue that there is another team in the conference that has better playmakers on offense so they don’t need that guy to do too much.
For USC to really breakthrough this season they will have to play much better on defense though. They are replacing their entire defensive line. The first month of the schedule is a monster including date with Alabama.
Pac 12 Conference 2016 Odds
- Stanford +300
- UCLA +350
- Washington +450
- USC +550
- Oregon +550
- Utah +1200
- Washington State +1400
- Arizona +2000
- Arizona State +2000
- California +2200
- Colorado +5000
- Oregon State +5000
Pac 12 Conference: 2016 Prediction
USC +550. Tons of talent there on both sides of the ball still. Great value at that price.
What do you think about our Pac 12 Conference 2016 Predictions? Please leave us a comment below telling us how you think they’ll do in 2016!
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