College Football 2011: Odds to Win the Pac-12, and Who We'd Bet on

The Pac-12 Conference is ready for its inaugural 2011 season of being part of the college football landscape, and everyone will be aiming to topple the defending champion Oregon Ducks.

Media members are expecting the Ducks to reach the newly-established Pac-12 Championship Game out of the North Division. 

The talented squad from Eugene, OR, will be joined by the following members in predicted order of finish according to a preseason poll: Stanford, Washington, Oregon State, California and Washington State.

USC received top honors in the South Division, but is not-eligible to reach the conference title game due to NCAA sanctions, leaving the following teams to earn a berth: Arizona State, Utah, Arizona, UCLA and Colorado.

All things will come to an end on Friday, Dec. 2, as the winner from each respective division will meet at the home stadium of the team with the best conference record.

The freshly-added programs of Colorado and Utah, out of the Big 12 and Mountain West Conference respectively, creates a new element for sports bettors to consider.

Let’s take a closer look at all 12 teams from a betting perspective.

Oregon Ducks (Even)

Oregon has benefited greatly from USC’s problems in terms of becoming the most powerful program in the conference. The Ducks missed winning the national title by a three-point margin against the Auburn Tigers last year.

Autzen Stadium provides an incredible home-field advantage for head coach Chip Kelly’s squad, posting a 23-3 mark since he arrived on campus in 2007. His first two years were spent as an offensive coordinator.

Bettors will blindly wager on the Ducks due to their top-flight offense that ranked No. 1 in the country a year ago, averaging 47 points a game and 530.7 yards of total offense.

Is a three-peat in store? It’s not out of the question, as the last school to accomplish the feat was the USC Trojans from 2003-05.

Oregon’s biggest scheduling hurdle in the North Division is likely to be on Nov. 12, traveling to Palo Alto, CA, and taking on the Stanford Cardinal.

Recommendation:  No value

Stanford Cardinal (+200)

Many predicted a falloff from this program after the departure of head coach Jim Harbaugh to the NFL, but the position is now handed over to 1994 alum David Shaw, who actually served as offensive coordinator the last four years.

Heisman Trophy candidate and 2010 Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year Andrew Luck surprised everyone in returning, as he was projected to be the No. 1 pick in this year’s NFL draft. 

The Houston native led the offense to a school-record 524 points last season and enters his junior year seventh on the school’s all-time passing list with 5,913 yards. 

New offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton has plenty of talented players in the huddle outside of luck—including all four leading rushers from a group that gained 2,779 yards last season.

Lost in all the offensive fireworks is a defensive unit that finished 2010 ranked 21st nationally by allowing 322.8 yards a game. Four top tacklers return and will need to simply maintain its performance from a year ago for the team to be successful.

Sports bettors will remember the Cardinal having the Ducks on the ropes last year in Eugene, OR, but now, that game is being played inside Stanford Stadium.

That’s the difference in my opinion of determining the North Division winner.

Recommendation: Second-choice

Arizona State Sun Devils (+375)

Arizona State opened last year with two cupcake opponents—including this handicapper’s alma mater—before suffering three-straight losses to Wisconsin (20-19), Oregon (42-31) and Oregon State (31-28) that seemingly derailed the season.

The fact that USC can’t participate in the conference title game is a significant advantage from a betting perspective.

Looking closely at the home loss to the Ducks, professional handicappers will uncover that the Sun Devils finished with an overwhelming 597-386 edge in total yards.

The team’s major strength is its rush defense—leading the conference in that category the last two years.  It’s importance is somewhat lessened due to the potential of facing talented quarterbacks each and every week.

Bettors are receiving a fair price on this team in my opinion, especially since it’s the most well-rounded of the bunch.

Recommendation: The Pick

Utah Utes (+600)

Utah has left the Mountain West Conference for seemingly greener pastures and will bring along a tremendous 79-22 overall record since the 2003 campaign. 

Seventh-year head coach Kyle Whittingham has tallied a solid 12-5 record against BCS Conference schools, including a 4-3 mark against current members of the Pac-12 Conference.

Former UCLA offensive coordinator Norm Chow will be calling the plays this year for third-year starting quarterback Jordan Wynn. He is a big-time playmaker, but also injury prone.

That’s a major concern in terms of wagering and something that has me looking the other way.

Recommendation: Pass

Arizona Wildcats (+800)

Arizona dropped its final five games of the 2010 season, and that’s a big enough reason to not wager on this team to win the conference.

The Wildcats possess a talented quarterback in Nick Foles and a talented receiving core, but there’s an underlying problem—the replacement of five offensive linemen.

Kyle Quinn is the only offensive lineman who has started a game in his career in Tuscon, AZ. 

No thanks, no way.

Recommendation: Pass

California Golden Bears (+2500)

California head coach Jeff Tedford announced Buffalo Bulls transfer Zach Maynard starting quarterback in the season opener against Fresno State.

The junior sat out the entire 2010 campaign to gain eligibility after playing in 12 games (11 starts) during his sophomore year against Mid-American Conference opposition. He ended up throwing for 2,694 yards and 18 touchdowns.

The Golden Bears are a team to watch closely this season due to road games against Oregon, Stanford and Arizona State.

Tedford should have his new signal-caller ready to roar in 2012.

Recommendation: Pass

UCLA Bruins (+2500)

UCLA head coach Rick Neuheisel knows his job is on the line this year, and I think the team will respond. The Bruins bring back 16 total starters, eight on each side of the ball.

Professional bettors are quick to point out that the combined record of teams on this year’s schedule was a dismal 71-78 in 2010.

Neuheisel’s offensive unit started gaining traction after implementing parts of Nevada’s infamous pistol formation. 

Much crazier things have happened in Hollywood.

Recommendation: Long shot

Washington Huskies (+2500)

Washington begins life without the services of star quarterback Jake Locker, who was selected in the first round of the NFL draft by the Tennessee Titans. 

Head coach Steve Sarkisian has things moving in the right direction in the Pacific Northwest, but it’s going to be at least another year of recruiting to place this team in the thick of the conference race.

It’s definitely a plus that the entire full-time coaching staff is in Seattle for a third-straight season.

Recommendation: Pass

Oregon State Beavers (+2500)

A challenging conference schedule is in place, but Oregon State head coach Mike Riley wouldn’t want it any other way. 

Road trips to face Arizona State, Utah, California and Oregon will likely snuff out any chances of winning the North Division. 

Beavers junior quarterback Ryan Katz is a bona fide NFL prospect and could make this team one to watch in 2012—if he returns to Corvallis of course.

Recommendation: Pass

Colorado Buffaloes (+3000)

Colorado will be playing 13 straight games without a week off this year. That’s a telling fact that would cause any bettor to walk away from the window.

Want another stat that will make you cringe? The Buffaloes have lost 17 straight games outside of Boulder.

Heading out on the road during Pac-12 Conference play will not be easy, with scheduled trips against Stanford and Arizona State to name a few.

Recommendation: Pass

Washington State Cougars (+4000)

I wouldn’t bet a team that’s won a total of four games the past year with your money.

Fourth-year head coach Paul Wulff still has a long way to go in Pullman.

Recommendation: Pass