Is the Pac-12 the toughest conference in college football this season? With five 10-win teams from 2022, the Pac-12 sure is giving the SEC a run for its money. Here is one bet for every Pac-12 team in 2023.
Pac-12 Betting Preview: One Bet for Every Pac-12 Team
Arizona Wildcats
2022 Record: 5-7
2023 Win Total: 4.5
2023 Conference Odds: +10000
Impact Player: Justin Flowe, LB
Arizona has a tough road this season – and their out-of-conference schedule doesn’t make it any easier. On September 9th, Arizona will visit Mississippi State in Starkville – a tough test for this team. Add that to the list of visits to USC, Washington State, and rival Arizona State. It’s hard to see Arizona escaping with five wins this season.
Bet: Arizona will stay UNDER the 4.5 win total
Arizona State Sun Devils
2022 Record: 3-9
2023 Win Total: 4.5
2023 Conference Odds: +15000
Impact Players: Elijah Badger, WR, and Jalin Conyers, TE
New head coach Kenny Dillingham will be looking to win some games this season. Lucky for him, he should find some opportunities early. September games against Cal, Southern Arizona, and Fresno State should give the Sun Devils 3 easy early season wins. From there, Arizona State should have no trouble finding two more wins the rest of the way to go over this total.
Bet: Arizona State will go OVER the 4.5 win total
California Golden Bears
2022 Record: 4-8
2023 Win Total: 5.5
2023 Conference Odds: +8000
Impact Players: Matthew Wycoff, OL (transfer from Texas A&M)
Don’t expect much from the California team in 2023. Head coach Justin Wilcox hasn’t had a winning record since 2019, and that shouldn’t change this year. The Pac-12 schedule is brutal this season, and an early September matchup against Auburn doesn’t help. Don’t expect Cal to win many games this season.
Bet: California will stay UNDER the 5.5 win total
Colorado Buffaloes
2022 Record: 1-11
2023 Win Total: 3.5
2023 Conference Odds: +15000
Impact Player Coach: Deion Sanders
Has there ever been a situation where one of the most exciting storylines this season involves a team with a 3.5 win total? Enter the Colorado Buffaloes. New head coach Deion Sanders gutted the team of 2022 and brought in many transfers for 2023. It’s unclear how good this team will be, but expect some big upsets this season.
Bet: Colorado will go OVER the 3.5 win total
Oregon Ducks
2022 Record: 10-3
2023 Win Total: 9.5
2023 Conference Odds: +325
Impact Player: Bo Nix, QB
Here is where the Pac-12 gets tough and what makes this Pac-12 betting preview so hard. Oregon is one of 5 different ten-win teams from the conference last season. This year, Bo Nix is back chasing two things he’s been running after his entire college career – a Heisman trophy and a shot at the National Championship. For his namesake alone, Nix makes a great Heisman candidate contender and a great Pac-12 football bet.
Bet: Bo Nix to win the Heisman, +1600
Oregon State Beavers
2022 Record: 10-3
2023 Win Total: 8.5
2023 Conference Odds: +1200
Impact Player: DJ Uiagalelei, QB (transfer from Clemson)
Nine wins is a tough ask for this Oregon State team this season. The Beavers surprised many by winning 10 in 2022. That said – don’t expect lightning to strike twice. Most years, we won’t see five 10-win teams out of the same conference. Oregon State should win at least six games his season, but winning nine is too much of an ask.
Bet: Oregon State to go UNDER the 8.5 win total.
Stanford Cardinal
2022 Record: 3-9
2023 Win Total: 3.5
2023 Conference Odds: +30000
Impact Players: Jshawn Frausto-Ramos, DB
Stanford won’t be a good team this season. Even so, four wins shouldn’t be hard to come by in 2023. Easy games against Hawaii, Sacramento State, and hosting Arizona should give the Cardinal a path to a three-and-one start to the season. After that, one final win shouldn’t be hard to come by.
Bet: Stanford to go OVER the 3.5 win total.
UCLA Bruins
2022 Record: 9-4
2023 Win Total: 8.5
2023 Conference Odds: +1600
Impact Players: Laiatu Latu, DE
UCLA went 6-3 in-conference and 9-4 overall last season and was the sixth-best team in the Pac-12 in 2022. Now that’s mind-boggling. UCLA has as good a chance as any to take a run at the Pac-12 title, and at these odds, the value is certainly there for the taking.
Bet: UCLA to win the conference championship at +1600
USC Trojans
2022 Record: 11-3
2023 Win Total: 9.5
2023 Conference Odds: +210
Impact Players: Caleb Williams, QB
No Pac-12 betting preview would be complete without Heisman predictions! Caleb Williams won the Heisman last year and is the favorite to repeat and 2023. Even so, there are five teams with shorter odds than the Trojans to win the National Championship! It’s hard to argue with the talent of Georgia and Alabama – but past that, the “Natty” is up for the taking. Grabbing USC at +1600 is a great value for a Pac-12 football bet.
Bet: USC to win the National Championship at +1600
Utah Utes
2022 Record: 10-4
2023 Win Total: 8.5
2023 Conference Odds: +550
Impact Players: Cameron Rising, QB
Utah won the conference championship last year in impressive fashion. They needed to beat USC twice to make it happen, and they did! Getting the reigning conference champion who’s returning a good amount of starters at +550 seems too good to be true. This is an easy bet to take.
Bet: Utah to win the conference championship at +550
Washington Huskies
2022 Record: 11-2
2023 Win Total: 9.5
2023 Conference Odds: +475
Impact Players: Michael Penix Jr.
Everyone is talking about Michael Penix Jr. The Huskies were an 11-win team last season, thanks to his big plays. Penix enters 2023 – his senior season – looking to build his resume for the NFL in 2024. He’s an impressive talent who’d possibly be the Heisman favorite if it wasn’t for Caleb Williams. Getting Penix at +1600 is a great Pac-12 football bet.
Bet: Michael Penix Jr. to Win the Heisman at +1600
Washington State Cougars
2022 Record: 7-6
2023 Win Total: 6.5
2023 Conference Odds: +4000
Impact Players: Jaylen Jenkins, RB
Last in the Pac-12 betting preview is Washington State. The Cougars have a winnable schedule this season. Out-of-conference games against Colorado State and Northern Colorado are a good start. Ending the year with games against Arizona, Arizona State, Stanford, Cal, and Colorado doesn’t hurt. Washington State should be able to reach seven wins this season thanks to the softer side of the Pac-12 schedule.
Bet: Washington State OVER the 6.5 win total
