PAC-12 Review: Arizona and the Huskies

PAC 12

The PAC 12 is the forgotten Power 5 Football Conference, more or less because of all the games played in the evening on the West Coast. Eastern U.S. Fans rarely have the opportunity to watch the likes of USC, Stanford, Washington, Arizona, etc. Many games, especially with teams like Washington State, Oregon and Oregon State are high scoring affairs as offensive coordinators dominate poorly coached and under talented Defense. Usually the most balanced teams that focus on Defense emerge as the winners of their respective divisions.

A Little History

The Head Bozo matriculated at Arizona when they were in the WAC, the Western Athletic Conference. ASU and Arizona joined the PAC 10 in 1978, then Colorado and Utah in 2011 to form what is now the PAC 12.

Pac 12 North

Powerhouse Washington, ranked 6^th in the nation is the favorite to upend Stanford in the North and contend for a National Playoff berth. Defense is always a priority and QB Jake Browning returns. This year The Stanford game is a home game for Washington, which should flip the results from last year and send the Huskies to Santa Clara for the Championship game. Defending North Champ Stanford (ranked 13^th) held off the Huskies last year to get to the conference final, only to lose to PAC 12 winner USC with Sam Darnold at the helm.

The Cardinal return All-American RB Bryce Love from what was a tremendous 2017 season in which he tallied 19 TDs and over 2000 yards rushing. They have a brutal schedule, besides the Huskies, Stanford encounters tough challengers USC and Notre Dame.

Oregon should improve off of the last two years disappointing (6-12) in-conference results but unless they can upset Washington and Stanford at home, the Ducks will suffer another mediocre fall. Oregon State and Cal give up way too many points. The Bozos will be jumping on betting against them and taking the over when opportunity knocks. Cal can put up the points big-time with top returning passer Ross Bowers returning.

Pac 12 South

Last year’s PAC 12 winner and 13^th ranked USC head into 2018 as the favorite to win the South again. After losing QB Sam Darnold to the Jets in the NFL draft, USC will turn to JT Daniels as the newest pretty boy QB in SoCal.

Chip Kelly brings his offensive philosophy to the UCLA Bruins but the “other” team in L.A. has to settle on which of three QBs to start the season. Expect growing pains and lots of miscues and high scoring affairs in Westwood this autumn.

The Utah Utes are interesting as they always play tough “D” in an offensive minded Pac 12 South. The Bozos could see an improvement from last year’s (3-6) conference record depending on how they perform against Washington, USC and Arizona, all on the road.

The ASU Sun Devils, with new Head Coach, Herm Edwards are a mystery. Second last fall in the South, their Defense needs to improve big time, they got smoked by NC State in the Sun Bowl, giving up 52 points. Some over bets to cash here!

The Buffaloes of Colorado surprised everybody in 2016 winning the South but regressed terribly last year managing only two victories in the Conference. I don’t see much in the way of improvement. Look for maybe three conference wins. Doormat.

The Bozos finish their Pac 12 analysis with their upset pick to win the Pac 12 South, the Arizona Wildcats. Looking to build on their five conference wins last year, this is Coach Rich Rodriguez’ final year. The exciting spread offense led by Heisman hopeful Khalil Tate will put up some numbers for sure, and as usual, it’s about shoring up the defense, to somehow hang in there long enough to tough out these 100 point games. The Wildcats have a relatively easy schedule, they don’t face Washington or Stanford and the all-important USC game is at home, a few steps from the Apache-Santa Cruz dorm.

When Arizona defeats the high and mighty Trojans in their fifth game, they will use that momentum to capture the South and take on Washington in Northern California for the Pac-12 Championship game.

-HB