2012 Pac-12 Football Schedule: Predictions for 2012's Most Exciting Games

As long as we're being honest with each other, we can all agree that 2011 was a strange year for the Pac-12.

For starters, the Pac-12 had to adjust to new divisions and two new teams in Utah and Colorado. In the North, we saw Oregon and Stanford dominate. In the South, we saw USC dominate only to watch UCLA sneak into the first ever Pac-12 Championship Game. The end result was anti-climactic, to say the least.

But with the Pac-12 all finished with the 2011 season, it's time to look ahead to the 2012 season. The Pac-12 released its 2012 schedule on Wednesday, and a handful of notable games stand out.

Below are five that caught my attention. Let's take a look at each one of them.

Washington at LSU (Saturday, Sept. 8)

In 2011, Oregon got to play LSU in the opening week of the season. The Ducks were looking to put themselves on track to a second BCS title berth, but they ended up being LSU's first victim instead.

If the Tigers can handle the 2011 Ducks, then surely then can handle the 2012 Washington Huskies.

Don't be so sure. The Huskies have some defensive issues they need to fix, but Keith Price should be considered a sleeper Heisman candidate in 2012. When we last saw him, he was tearing Baylor apart in the Alamo Bowl.

This game is a tough draw for Washington, to be sure. But if they manage to give the Tigers a run for their money, it will be apparent that there's a new sheriff in town in the Pac-12 North.

Bold Prediction: Keith Price throws for 300 yards and three touchdowns, and the Tigers win by fewer than 10 points.

Oregon at Washington State (Saturday, Sept. 29)

Because the Washington State Cougars make up half of this matchup, this might seem like an odd game to focus on.

But remember, the Cougars have a new head coach, and he's pretty good. Mike Leach will be taking over in 2012 hoping to do with the Cougars what he did with the Texas Tech Red Raiders. He's going to try to turn them into an offensive powerhouse.

That's actually not asking a whole lot of Leach. Washington State finished ninth in the country in passing offense in 2011, and it has some talented weapons for Leach to play with.

The Cougars will look to make their tilt against Oregon their coming out party. And with Leach at the helm, this game could very well turn into an epic offensive shootout.

And let's face it, we all love those.

Bold Prediction: Oregon and Washington State combine for 900 total yards and 80 points. Oregon wins, but the Cougars raise some eyebrows.

Stanford at California (Saturday, Oct. 20)

It's the Big Game. What more do you need to know?

Truth be told, I'm not looking for Stanford to be very good in 2011. Losing Andrew Luck to the draft is a killer blow, and the Cardinal could be feeling it for a couple years.

If nothing else, that will even things out between Stanford and Cal a little bit. The Cardinal has won the Axe two years in a row, but the Bears will be favorites to take it back in 2012. The game will be in their backyard, and they should have the stronger team.

The player to watch in this game and indeed all year for Cal will be Keenan Allen. He had a brilliant season in 2011, emerging as a reliable go-to guy for Zach Maynard, his half-brother.

Look for the two of them to be even more productive in 2012.

Bold Prediction: Keenan Allen goes off for 200 yards receiving, and the Bears take back the Axe.

Oregon at USC (Saturday, Nov. 3)

This game is going to be huge.

Huge as in HUGE.

Thanks to the amount of talent Chip Kelly has at his disposal, we know the Ducks are going to be national contenders in 2012. But with Matt Barkley returning and their two-year bowl ban a thing of the past, we know that the Trojans will also be looking to make some noise on the national landscape.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if both teams enter this matchup with perfect records, which would likely mean that both would enter this game as top five teams.

Thus, a win in this game could mean a trip to the BCS National Championship Game.

Bold Prediction: Oregon and USC go back and forth all game, but USC's defense holds when it counts. This will be a win for the Trojans.

Notre Dame at USC (Saturday, Nov. 24)

Even if USC beats Oregon in early November, the Trojans won't be out of the woods yet. They'll have to go through Notre Dame to get to the title game.

That's not going to be as easy as you may think. The Irish had their issues in 2011, but they're returning a strong team in 2012. With solid quarterback play and fewer mental mistakes, they could easily throw their hat into the ring of national contenders.

As far as USC is concerned, beating the Irish in this game would be the final bullet point in their national championship resume. As far as Notre Dame is concerned, winning this game could at least put them in BCS territory.

Bold Prediction: Notre Dame plays well, but Matt Barkley wins this game late for the Trojans.

Thursday, Aug. 30
Northern Colorado at Utah

Saturday, Sept. 1
Toledo at Arizona
Northern Arizona at Arizona State
Hawai’i at USC
UCLA at Rice
Nevada at California
San Jose State at Stanford
Arkansas State at Oregon
Nichols State at Oregon State
San Diego State at Washington
Washington State at BYU
Colorado vs. Colorado State (1)

Saturday, Sept. 8
Oklahoma State at Arizona
Illinois at Arizona State
Southern Utah at California
USC vs. Syracuse (2)
Nebraska at UCLA
Duke at Stanford
Fresno State at Oregon
Wisconsin at Oregon State
Washington at LSU
Eastern Washington at Washington State
Sacramento State at Colorado
Utah at Utah State

Saturday, Sept. 15
South Carolina State at Arizona
Arizona State at Missouri
USC at Stanford
Houston at UCLA
California at Ohio State
Tennessee Tech at Oregon
Portland State at Washington
Washington State at UNLV
Colorado at Fresno State
BYU at Utah

Saturday, Sept. 22
Arizona at Oregon
Utah at Arizona State
California at USC
Oregon State at UCLA
Colorado at Washington State

Thursday, Sept. 27
Stanford at Washington

Saturday, Sept. 29
Oregon State at Arizona
Arizona State at California
UCLA at Colorado
Oregon at Washington State

Thursday, Oct. 4
USC at Utah

Saturday, Oct. 6
Arizona at Stanford
UCLA at California
Washington at Oregon
Washington State at Oregon State

Thursday, Oct. 11
Arizona State at Colorado

Saturday, Oct. 13
USC at Washington
Utah at UCLA
California at Washington State
Stanford at Notre Dame
Oregon State at BYU

Thursday, Oct. 18
Oregon at Arizona State

Saturday, Oct. 20
Washington at Arizona
Colorado at USC
Stanford at California
Utah at Oregon State

Saturday, Oct. 27
USC at Arizona
UCLA at Arizona State
California at Utah
Washington State at Stanford
Colorado at Oregon
Oregon State at Washington

Friday, Nov. 2
Washington at California

Saturday, Nov. 3
Arizona at UCLA
Arizona State at Oregon State
Oregon at USC
Stanford at Colorado
Washington State at Utah

Saturday, Nov. 10
Colorado at Arizona
Arizona State at USC
UCLA at Washington State
Oregon at California
Oregon State at Stanford
Utah at Washington

Saturday, Nov. 17
Arizona at Utah
Washington State at Arizona State
USC at UCLA
California at Oregon State
Stanford at Oregon
Washington at Colorado

Friday, Nov. 23
Arizona State at Arizona
Washington at Washington State
Utah at Colorado

Saturday, Nov. 24
Notre Dame at USC
Stanford at UCLA
Oregon at Oregon State

Friday, Nov. 30
Pac-12 Football Championship Game