The 2023 football season will mark the end of an era in the Pac-12.
The 2023-24 school year will be the final season of participation for USC and UCLA. The Trojans and Bruins are flagship members from the Pac-8 days, and go as far back as the Pacific Coast Conference days of the 1920s, yet they will depart together for the Big Ten at the end of the academic year.
So the self-proclaimed Conference of Champions will have one last ride, and each team will try to unseat two-time reigning football champion Utah. The Utes doomed USC’s chances of reaching the College Football Playoff in 2022, and although they may regress, are always dangerous under coach Kyle Whittingham.
Here’s a look at the 2023 Pac-12 conference outlook.
Pac-12 Conference CFB Futures Odds
Keep track of the best school name nickname betting lines for the college football season:
CFB odds used to make these predictions were current as of 11 a.m. PT on Monday, July 17, and were found at DraftKings Sportsbook.
- USC (+190)
- Oregon (+300)
- Washington (+320)
- Utah (+600)
- Oregon State (+1100)
- UCLA (+1400)
- Washington State (+4000)
- California (+8000)
- Arizona (+10000)
- Arizona State (+12000)
- Colorado (+14000)
- Stanford (+25000)
Best Bet To Win Pac-12 Conference
Oregon (+300)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 0.5 Units
The Ducks could’ve won the Pac-12 in 2022 if not for a pair of tight losses to Washington and Oregon State in the Civil War — the latter of which cost them a berth in the conference title game.
But Bo Nix is back for his extra COVID year of eligibility and should lead a highly explosive offense again that will return its top four rushers, including Nix, and top receiver Troy Franklin. Oregon was 10th in FBS in points per game, yet finished fourth in the conference by scoring 38.8 over 13 contests.
The Ducks also can control their destiny by defeating the conference’s most powerful teams, albeit on the road against U-Dub and Utah. But they will host USC on Nov. 11, and the Trojans haven’t won in Eugene since 2011.
Sleeper Bet To Win Pac-12 Conference
Utah (+600)
DraftKings Sportsbook
You’re the champ until someone knocks you off, right? The Utes have won the Pac-12 in consecutive years and will return gritty QB Cameron Rising to guide an offense that scored 38.6 points per game and beat USC twice in 2022.
Rising may not have All-American Dalton Kincaid this year but will still have a huge tight end to throw to in 6-foot-5 Auburn transfer Landen King. Utah returns leading wide receiver Devaughn Vele, who had 695 yards and five touchdowns, plus will welcome transfer Mycah Pittman, who had 32 catches and three touchdowns for Florida State in 2022.
Plus, coach Kyle Whittingham seems to prefer it if you count out the Utes. Do so at your own risk.
Favorite To Win Pac-12 Conference
USC (+190)
DraftKings Sportsbook
The Trojans are loaded. Led by reigning Heisman Trophy winner and improv-extraordinaire Caleb Williams and a blend of returners and hand-picked transfers that should execute Lincoln Riley’s explosive offense, USC is the clear team to beat in the Pac-12.
USC has a hellacious back half of its schedule where it’ll play Utah, Washington, Oregon, and UCLA in a five-week stretch — with a sneaky game at Cal mixed in. Plus, the Trojans only reached the Pac-12 title game due to their opportunistic defense that led FBS in turnover margin in 2022.
Riley has only ever won fewer than 10 games once — in the COVID 2020 season where Oklahoma only played 11 games. He worked the transfer portal to find defensive stalwarts.
The Trojans are a worthy favorite.
Pac-12 Conference Team To Fade
Washington (+320)
DraftKings Sportsbook
Washington’s offense was on par with USC’s a year ago and should be explosive again in 2023. U-Dub actually led FBS in passing yards per game (369.8) and will return quarterback Michael Penix Jr., leading rusher Wayne Taulapapa and its top-two receivers, Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan.
Washington’s defense was stout, conference-wise, ranking 58th in FBS in total yards-against per game (372.7), despite the fact it ranked 106th in FBS in rushing yards against (121.2) and was the tied for fourth-worst at turnovers forced per game (0.9).
So, why am I fading the Huskies? Like the teams referenced above, their schedule is loaded, and they need to go to both USC and Oregon State while also battling Utah and Oregon at home.
I know all Kalen DeBoer does is win, but can he dodge the sophomore slump and get the Huskies to the Pac-12 title game for the first time since 2018? I’ll believe it when I see it.
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