A reboot, a reconfiguration, a reprise.
Those are the synonyms that new USC Trojans (+220) football coach Lincoln Riley will implement within his restructuring of Trojans football. Riley’s mastery is such that USC has the fifth best odds (+1400) to win the national championship.
The Trojans lost their last four games and six out of their last seven in retreating to a 4-8 record which was their fewest wins since going 3-8 in 1991. The oddsmakers have underrated Utah Utes who has Pac-12 odds at (+250) and they have (+6600) odds to win the national title after they were on USC’s heels with a (+250) to win the Pac-12. College football betting sites followed Utah with Oregon (+275) and UCLA (+850) and this could move into a four-team race for the Pac-12 championship.
Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams (+550) transferred to LA to join Riley and as of now, he has the third best odds to win the Heisman Trophy. USC wide receiver Jordan Addison (+8000) as he and Utah quarterback Cameron Rising sit with Heisman Trophy odds at (+8000).
Pac 12 Betting Odds
Team
Odds
USC
+220
Utah
+250
Oregon
+275
UCLA
+850
Washington
+1400
Arizona State
+2000
Oregon State
+2500
Washington State
+4500
Cal
+5000
Stanford
+9000
Colorado
+20000
Arizona
+40000
Trojans Look for Pac-12 Championship in Lincoln Riley’s First Season
The transfer portal edition of USC Trojans football feels productive as Riley settles in for his first year as the head coach. Eight players come into LA from the transfer portal and all eight feel like difference makers from the Trojans. While USC struggled so much defensively in 2021, the Trojans led the Pac-12 in offense with 444 yards per game. Quarterback Caleb Williams (+400) had the best notoriety as he was Riley’s starter at Oklahoma before an injured hand forced him to the sideline last November.
He has now moved ahead of Bryce Young (+500) with the second-best Heisman Trophy odds as of now. Williams is joined in the offensive backfield by former Oregon Duck Travis Dye (+10000) who averaged 6.0 yards per carry with 1,271 yards while he scored 16 touchdowns in 2021. Stanford transfer Austin Jones joins him at running back as Jones had 107 carries for the Cardinal and was the go-to runner for a team that struggled running the football. Wide receiver Mario Williams should be a go-to receiver, who like Caleb Williams, transferred from Oklahoma. Defensively, USC gave up 408.9 yards per game while opponents scored 31.8 points per contest. Transfers made themselves relevant as well on defense as former Alabama linebacker Shane Lee and former Auburn Tiger Romeo Height joined the Trojans from the transfer portal.
All-Pac 12 first-teamer Tuli Tuipuloto was USC’s fourth-leading tackler with 48 and he posted 5.5 sacks. Linebacker Ralen Goforth was second with 60 tackles and safety Xavian Alford is back after leading with three interceptions. Oddsmakers place the Trojans with 9.5 wins and (-135) to go UNDER as (+105) is the OVER. Southern Cal already has alternate regular season wins sitting at 10.5 with (-390) as the UNDER and (+270) on the OVER.
sweet sounds of football 🎧🏈✌️ pic.twitter.com/FgTycZMr7h
— USC Football ✌️ (@USC_FB) August 10, 2022
Utes Look Like League Winner if Trojans Falter
Utah (+250) took its first Pac-12 title last season as quarterback Cameron Rising completed 63.8 percent of his passes with 20 touchdowns and only five picks. Tavion Thomas joins him in the backfield after 1,108 yards and 21 touchdowns. He will be the focal point of the offense that returns five of its top receivers, led by tight ends Brant Kuithe and Dalton Kincaid.
The Utes will show more of a remake than a rebuild on defense with Pac-12 Freshman of the Year Junior Tafuna up front where he posted 4.5 sacks. Florida transfer Mohamoud Diabate could potentially lead the Utes at linebacker.
Clark Phillips III, is a top performer in the secondary where he had 61 tackles and defended 13 passes with two interceptions. Coach Kyle Whittingham is one of the best and most underrated coaches in the game as his 144-70 record joins him as the longest-tenured coach at the same school. The Utes have been set with 9.0 wins and (-165) as an OVER and (+125) picks up an UNDER.
😍 @makaicope pic.twitter.com/hZKStkdqx1
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) August 9, 2022
Bo Nix Travels West, Readies Himself to Lead Ducks
As quarterback Bo Nix (+10000) left Auburn and flew west to Eugene, Oregon has Pac-12 betting odds at (+275) and the Ducks’ futures stayed high. In three seasons with the Tigers, Nix threw for 7,251 yards with 39 touchdowns and 16 interceptions while absorbing 50 sacks. Playmakers must step up beside of Nix in the backfield as running back Travis Dye transferred to USC and Nix will have a go-to wide receiver in Kris Hutson, who is the leading returning receiver with 31 catches for 419 yards.
Getting the return of five starting offensive linemen should solidify the ground game and allow Nix time to throw. On defense, the Ducks return their leading tackler in Noah Sewell, who had 114 stops with four sacks and five defended passes. Oregon’s secondary will be returning from injuries as Colorado transfer Christian Gonzalez joins the back end of the defense.
Oregon possesses Pac-12 betting odds that state 8.5 wins with a (-160) at OVER 8.5 and an UNDER sitting at (+120). The alternate regular season wins are at 9.5 with the UNDER at (-300) and an OVER of (+220). Oregon opens in Atlanta against national champion Georgia and the Ducks are decided underdogs (+17) with an OVER/UNDER at 51 (-110). Georgia controls the moneyline at (-900) while the odds are sitting at (+1100) for Oregon to win at 1-6 points.
Bruins Look Forward to Next Hurdle in Continuing Ascension
UCLA posts Pac-12 odds at (+850) and has one of the most experienced quarterbacks in Dorian Thompson-Robinson (+10000), who completed 62.2 percent of his passes with 21 TD tosses and six interceptions last season. He has turned himself into a major presence as a dual-threat with 609 yards rushing and nine touchdowns.
Zach Charbonnet (+15000) will join DTR as a prototype in the Bruins’ backfield where he rushed for 1,137 yards and 13 scores. UCLA has its center and two guards returning, so the Bruins should be able to start out with a tough inside attack. Last season, UCLA led the league in averaging 36.5 points per game on offense as DTR led the league offensively with 274.4 yards per game. UCLA has to discover mastery from wide receivers as Kazmeier Allen and Duke transfer Jake Bobo look like the top two wideouts and is a long shot to win the national championship (+20000) as of now. The Bruins have plenty of experience on defense, but several transfers should give them the depth they will need to be able to compete.
UCLA was last in the Pac-12 in giving up 260 yards per game through the air. The transfers on defense and former NFL defensive guru Bill McGovern coming over as the defensive coordinator should help UCLA improve its consistency on defense. The Bruins are set at (-120) to go OVER 8.5 wins while the Bruins are stationed at (-110) to go UNDER the 8.5 W’s.
Huskies Looking to Improve Offense to Be Able to Compete
The Washington Huskies (+1400) needed a reprieve for their offense as they found only 323.4 yards per game and scored just 21.5 points, 107th in college football. The administration hired an offensive mind in Kalen DeBoer, who improved offenses at Indiana and Fresno State as he was able to get the Bulldogs’ offense to score over 33 points per game.
He brings in a solid quarterback in Hoosiers transfer Michael Penix, Jr., who posts Heisman Trophy odds at (+15000). Penix is a dynamic athlete who finished his four-year career with 29 TDs and 15 interceptions with 4,197 yards. DeBoer was Penix’s offensive coordinator at Indiana, so they will try to improve a Washington rushing attack that found only 98.4 yards per game. Defensively, the Huskies have to pick up some size and physical ability on the offensive line as teams took advantage of a rushing defense that gave up 193.6 yards per game, 11th in the league.
The Huskies are talented on defense, but a myriad of players have to get over injuries for Washington to be able to consistently rush passers as they had only 19 sacks and 10 interceptions in 2021. Sportsbooks have handed Washington 7.5 wins with OVER at (-150) and (+115) on the UNDER.
Sun Devils Working Their Way Forward With Florida Transfer at QB
Arizona State (+2000) coach Herman Edwards had to replace assistant coaches due to NCAA violations. The coordinators are new as coach Donnie Henderson moves up to defensive coordinator and UNLV offensive coordinator Glenn Thomas takes over the same position with the Sun Devils. ASU had to withstand the transfer of 17 Sun Devils, which included quarterback Jayden Daniels to LSU; however, Arizona State hit the transfer portal as well, so chemistry must form for ASU to be a player in the Pac-12.
The Sun Devils gave up only 326 yards per game and 20.8 points per outing. Both of those led the league as ASU was second in allowing only 194.8 yards passing and 131.2 yards rushing last season. The squad returns its front seven, led by leading tackler Kyle Soelle, and Merlin Robertson, who was the third leading tackler and led ASU with three interceptions. After the two LBs, Arizona State has no more of its top nine tacklers from 2021 remaining, so the rebuild on defense has been in effect since the end of last season.
Offensively, former Florida quarterback Emory Jones can take over and be productive as both a passer and a runner. Jones passed for 2,734 yards and rushed for 759 yards. The Sun Devils pick up a solid running back in Wyoming transfer Xazavian Valladay. He rushed for 1,063 yards and has been named to the Doak Walker Award watch list as the nation’s top running back. Andre Johnson is the leading returnee at wide receiver where he had 12 catches for 186 yards as Arizona State has to rebuild its offensive line to help the backs and receivers find openings and yardage. Oddsmakers have spotted the Sun Devils with 6.5 wins with (+120) on the OVER and (-160) as an UNDER.
Building The Dam 🎥🏈
Ep. 1: Going Camping
“It’s loud. It’s exciting. Everyone’s competing. Everyone’s joining together and just experiencing this camp together.” pic.twitter.com/SnBJu6uNDd
— Oregon State Football (@BeaverFootball) August 8, 2022
Beavers’ Experience Could Allow Forward Pac-12 Movement
As Jonathan Smith enters his fifth season as head coach, Oregon State returns to spark solid offense after the Beavers’ 429.3 yards was 19th in college football in 2021. OSU lost Pac-12 leading rusher B.J. Baylor, but the Beavers return two talented running backs in Deshaun Fenwick and Trey Lowe.
Quarterback Chance Nolan is a persistent passer as he threw for 2,677 yards with 19 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions. The Beavers return their second leading receiver in Tre’Shaun Harrison, who posted 401 yards. On defense, Oregon State has a solid front, although it gave up 243.5 yards per game through the air, but did pick off 15 passes.
The Beavs return two key linebackers in Avery Roberts and Omar Speights who were the top two tacklers with 123 and 87 stops, respectively. OSU has been handed 6.5 wins by the oddsmakers and hitting the OVER is set at (Even) with the UNDER at (-130).
Cougars Look For Stable Presence After Distractions in 2021
Washington State has Pac-12 betting odds (+4500) and the Cougars removed the interim tag from Jake Dickert as he coached the Cougars to a 4-3 ledger. He took over at midseason when Nick Rolovich was fired and his foolishness took the focus off the field when he refused to get vaccinations for COVID-19.
Dickert added Incarnate Word transfer Cameron Ward (+15000) as he was one of the top FCS passers at any level last season and threw 48 touchdown passes. Ward’s impetus will be getting the ball in the hands of De’zhaun Stribling, who was the third leading receiver with 471 yards on 44 catches and five TDs. Watch freshman Orion Peters, who was a Top 100 prospect from Inglewood, California, and could start at wide receiver for Wazzu. The Cougars have to remake their running game as Nakia Watson rushed for 114 yards last season and now can find himself as the starter.
Defensively, Washington State will have to add transfers and make replacements in all three phases as it finished in the middle of the league in giving up 375.8 yards. WSU has been served 5.5 wins by the oddsmakers with the OVER at (-110) and a (-120) UNDER.
Stanford Looking to Rebound From Three Rough Seasons
Coach David Shaw has seen the Cardinal miss bowl opportunities in the last three seasons. Stanford, who has Pac-12 betting odds at (+9000), returns to the turf with a consistent quarterback in Tanner McKee, who should have a deep group of wide receivers. Stanford returns it’s top three wideouts, led by Benjamin Yurosek and Elijah Higgins, who combined for 86 of Stanford’s 239 catches.
While McKee had a solid season with a 65.4 percent completion rate and 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions, the Cardinal averaged only 20.8 points per outing. Stanford struggled in the rushing attack where it averaged only 3.2 yards per carry. The Cardinal was last in total defense as it gave up 451.3 yards while they gave up a conference-high 32.4 points.
Stanford goes to a 4-3 defense where the Cardinal returns it’s top two tacklers in linebacker Levani Damuni and Ricky Miezan, who were tough in making stops around the line of scrimmage. The Cardinal may be in for a struggle again with road games at Oregon, at UCLA, and at Utah. They host USC and then are off the league slate for games at Notre Dame and at home to BYU.The sportsbooks give Stanford 4.5 wins with a (+115) to go OVER the 4.5 victories and a (-150) to hit UNDER 4.5 W’s.
Makin’ plays every day 🎯🏈#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/wudE5fTfpi
— Stanford Football (@StanfordFball) August 11, 2022
Bears Getting New Looks With Transfer Portal in High Command
Last season was a tough challenge for the California Golden Bears as they went 5-7, although 4-2 over the last six games. Their Pac-12 odds to win the league sit at (+5000) while they have a (+25000), fifth in the Pac-12, to win the national championship.
The Bears lost a large number of starters, including QB Chase Garbers, so freshman Kai Millner and Jack Plummer will vie for the position. Running back Damien Moore could be the focal point of the offense after he led the Bears with 517 yards and six touchdowns. Jeremiah Hunter caught 21 passes for 388 yards as he will be the key receiver for whoever emerges at QB.
Safety Daniel Scott led in tackles with 82 and he was tied for the team lead with three interceptions. California has a solid competition at linebacker, where Mule Iosefa was the third leading tackler with 59. The Bears are posting 5.5 wins and (-105) to go OVER with an UNDER of (-125).
Colorado, Arizona Seal the Pac-12 Basement
Colorado’s Pac-12 betting odds sit at (+20000) and the Buffaloes are feeling the turnover of the transfer portal where 22 players left the program since the 4-8 ledger and coach Karl Dorrell had to replace six of ten assistant coaches.
The Buffaloes have to work on their offensive attack after they were last in the league with 257.4 yards and 18.8 points (11th/Pac-12).
Colorado picked up a major receiver in R.J. Sneed from Baylor, who caught 127 passes for 1,507 yards and eight TDs in the last three seasons.
Defensively:
CU looks to rebuild a defense that gave up 421 yards per game with 39 touchdowns allowed. Sportsbooks gave the Buffs 3.0 wins with (EVEN) set at OVER 3.0. and (-130) for the UNDER.
Meanwhile, Arizona went 1-11 in coach Jedd Fisch’s first season and the Wildcats need players to step up and take ownership of offensive skill positions. A real key is quarterback Jayden de Laura who transferred to Arizona from Washington State.
Defensively:
Arizona needs to play make and be more aggressive as they only accrued six turnovers last season. The Wildcats measure (-170) to go OVER their 2.5 wins while sitting at (+130) to hit the UNDER on the 2.5 W’s.
Take the Trojans with an Influx of Talent in Riley’s First Season
The USC Trojans possess Pac-12 odds at (+220) and have once again become the biggest story in the Pac-12 with the hire of Lincoln RiIey as head coach. The abundance of tremendous talent through the transfer portal should allow USC to win the Pac-12. Since Pete Carroll left for the Seattle Seahawks in 2009, USC has won only one Pac-12 title which was in 2017 and the fan base is hungry for the Trojans to reconfigure themselves as a champion.
Please Note:
Having transfers in Caleb Williams (+400) at quarterback with Jordan Addison (+8000) at wide receiver and Travis Dye (+10000) in the backfield will stock the Trojans and turn them into the favorite.
Utah possesses Pac-12 Conference odds at +250 as the Utes feel like the Trojans’ opponents in the Pac-12 Championship game. The Utes won their first Pac-12 title last season and return a quality quarterback in Camron Rising (+8000). Oddsmakers give USC (+1400) the fifth best odds to win the national championship while Utah’s national championship number (+6600) is second in the Pac-12.
