Pac-12 Betting Odds and Predictions for 2013
Carrie Stroup here with your 2013 Pac-12 betting odds and predictions and, to nobody’s big surprise, the Oregon Ducks are favored, not just to win the Pac-12 but they also have short odds of winning the BCS championship. All odds were courtesy of Sportsbook.com, where you can claim your FREE $100 here.
OREGON DUCKS
2012 Statistics:
SU Record: 12-1 (8-1 in Pac-12)
ATS Record: 8-5 (62%)
Over/Under: 7-5
Points Scored: 49.5 PPG
Points Allowed: 21.6 PPG
Odds to Win 2014 BCS National Championship: 15/2
2013 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 8
Defense: Starters Returning: 7
New Head Coach: Mark Helfrich
The Ducks were 12-1 last year with the lone loss coming to Stanford in overtime. When Chip Kelly left, OC Mark Helfrich was promoted and his offense (49.5 PPG, 2nd in FBS; 538 YPG, 5th in FBS) could throw more. Two of the nation’s best players return in QB Marcus Mariota (2,677 pass yds, 32 TD, 6 INT; 752 rush yds, 5 TD) and RB De’Anthony Thomas (701 rush yds, 7.6 YPC; 445 rec. yds; 18 total TD). RBs Byron Marshall (447 rush yds, 4 TD) and freshman Thomas Tyner will also share in the nation’s No. 3 rushing attack (315 YPG). WR Josh Huff (493 rec. yds, 7 TD) and TE Colt Lyeria (7 total TD) are both polished. Oregon led FBS with 40 takeaways, and brings back DE Taylor Hart (8 sacks) to anchor a stout D-Line and elite CB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu (4 INT, 16 PD, 6 FF) to lead the secondary. The linebackers are green though
STANFORD CARDINAL
2012 Statistics:
SU Record: 12-2 (9-1 in Pac-12
ATS Record: 9-5 (64%)
Over/Under: 5-9
Points Scored: 27.9 PPG
Points Allowed: 17.2 PPG
Odds to Win 2014 BCS National Championship: 20/1
2013 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 8
Defense: Starters Returning: 7
Despite losing the NFL’s top overall pick (Andrew Luck), the Cardinal still won a dozen games in 2012, including the Pac-12 Championship and Rose Bowl. Now a replacement for RB Stepfan Taylor is needed, but RBs Anthony Wilkerson (914 rush yds, 7 TD career) and Tyler Gaffney (791 rush yds, 12 TD career) are suitable fill-ins. It helps that they’ll run behind what could be the country’s best O-Line. QB Kevin Hogan (1,096 pass yds, 9 TD, 3 INT) progressed rapidly last year, winning all five starts. Receivers are a bit thin, with WRs Ty Montgomery (213 rec. yds) and Devon Cajuste the best available, and no proven tight end. The stingy defense (17.2 PPG, 11th in FBS) was led by an amazing front seven that led FBS in sacks (57) and TFL (124). Many of those standouts return, including DE Ben Gardner (7.5 sacks, 14.5 TFL) and LBs Shayne Skov (81 tackles, 9 TFL) and Trent Murphy (10 sacks, 18 TFL). All-American S Ed Reynolds (6 INT, 3 TD) leads a fantastic back four.
USC TROJANS
2012 Statistics:
SU Record: 7-6 (5-4 in Pac-12)
ATS Record: 3-10 (23%)
Over/Under: 5-8
Points Scored: 32.1 PPG
Points Allowed: 24.3 PPG
Odds to Win 2014 BCS National Championship: 40/1
2013 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 8
Defense: Starters Returning: 6
The preseason No. 1 team is not supposed to lose six games, but that’s just what USC did last year. With Matt QB Barkley gone, Lane Kiffin will start either QB Cody Kessler (2-for-2, 9 yds) or QB Max Wittek (36-of-69, 388 yds, 3 TD, 5 INT) in this redemption year. All-American WR Marqise Lee (1,721 rec. yds, 14 TD) led the nation with 118 catches, WR Nelson Agholor (341 rec. yds, 18.9 YPC) is an amazing athlete, and TE Xavier Grimble (316 rec. yds, 5 TD) is a future pro. The ground game has RB Silas Redd (905 rush yds, 9 TD) and freshman Justin Davis running behind a veteran O-Line. New DC Clancy Pendergast will run a 5-2 set for a DL-heavy team that had 45 sacks (T-4th FBS). DE/OLB Morgan Breslin (13 sacks, 62 tackles) is relentless, and LBs Hayes Pullard (107 tackles) and Dion Bailey (80 tackles, 4 INT) are accomplished. But the shaky secondary has no proven cornerbacks to rely on.
ARIZONA STATE SUN DEVILS
2012 Statistics:
SU Record: 8-5 (5-4 in Pac-12)
ATS Record: 8-4-1 (67%)
Over/Under: 6-6
Points Scored: 38.4 PPG
Points Allowed: 24.3 PPG
Odds to Win 2014 BCS National Championship: 125/1
2013 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 6
Defense: Starters Returning: 8
Todd Graham’s first season with ASU was as unpredictable as his career path, starting 5-1, then losing four in row, then finishing with 49.7 PPG in three straight wins. Junior QB Taylor Kelly (3,039 pass yds, 29 TD, 9 INT) exceeded expectations without top-flight receivers. The 2013 group is young, but ultra-talented, especially JUCO WR Jaelen Strong. TE Chris Coyle (696 rec. yds, 5 TD) has great hands. The Sun Devils have two elite RBs in Marion Grice (679 rush yds, 6.6 YPC, 11 TD) and D.J. Foster (493 rush yds). ASU led the nation in TFL (9.0 per game), was 2nd in sacks (4.0 per game) and 3rd in pass defense (168 YPG). Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year DT Will Sutton (13 sacks, 23.5 TFL, 63 tackles, 3 FF) and LB Carl Bradford (11.5 sacks, 20.5 TFL, 81 tackles, 3 FF) wreak havoc in opponents’ backfields, really helping an average secondary, led by S Alden Darby (80 tackles, 3 INT).
OREGON STATE BEAVERS
2012 Statistics:
SU Record: 9-4 (6-3 in Pac-12)
ATS Record: 8-5 (62%)
Over/Under: 7-5
Points Scored: 32.5 PPG
Points Allowed: 20.6 PPG
Odds to Win 2014 BCS National Championship: 125/1
2013 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 8
Defense: Starters Returning: 7
After starting 6-0, the Beavers alternated losses (three by four points or less) and wins to finish 9-4. Coach Mike Riley will delay picking a starter between QBs Sean Mannion (7.9 YPA, 15 TD, 13 INT) or Cody Vaz (8.0 YPA, 11 TD, 3 INT). The winner will throw most often to WR Brandin Cooks (1,151 rec. yds, 5 TD), but will not forget about TE Connor Hamlett (403 rec. yds, 3 TD) or WR Kevin Cummings (208 rec. yds). Four starters return to the offensive line to create holes for a now-healthy RB Storm Woods (940 rush yds, 13 TD). On defense, pass-rushing machine DE Scott Crichton (9 sacks, 17.5 TFL) headlines a JUCO-laden D-Line, while OLBs Michael Doctor (83 tackles, 11 TFL) and D.J. Alexander (50 tackles) fly all over the field. Three starting DBs return, including blanket CB Rashaad Reynolds (75 tackles, 3 INT, 13 PD).
UCLA BRUINS
2012 Statistics:
SU Record: 9-5 (6-4 in Pac-12)
ATS Record: 8-6 (57%)
Over/Under: 9-5
Points Scored: 34.4 PPG
Points Allowed: 27.6 PPG
Odds to Win 2014 BCS National Championship: 75/1
2013 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 7
Defense: Starters Returning: 6
Despite a three-game losing skid to end the year, Jim Mora Jr. has to be praised for his 9-5 first season with UCLA. The offense improved to 467 YPG (24th in FBS) thanks to QB Brett Hundley (3,470 pass yds, 29 TD, 11 INT; 355 rush yds, 9 TD). The sophomore won’t have RB Johnathan Franklin, but plenty of talent still exists with RBs Jordon James (419 total yds), Malcolm Jones (313 rush yds career) and freshman Paul Perkins. Hundley has exciting targets in WRs Shaquelle Evans (877 rec. yds, 3 TD) and freshman Devin Fuller, but the O-Line can’t let him absorb another 52 sacks (2nd-most in FBS). The scoring defense improved to 58th in FBS (27.6 PPG), from 94th in 2011 (31.4 PPG). An elite linebacker trio of Anthony Barr (13.5 sacks, 83 tackles, 4 FF), Eric Kendricks (149 tackles, 3 FR, 2 TD) and Jordan Zumwalt (70 tackles) is the heart of the 3-4 scheme. The secondary is green, but still better than most.
ARIZONA WILDCATS
2012 Statistics:
SU Record: 8-5 (4-5 in Pac-12)
ATS Record: 6-7 (46%)
Over/Under: 9-3
Points Scored: 38.2 PPG
Points Allowed: 35.3 PPG
Odds to Win 2014 BCS National Championship: 500/1
2013 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 6
Defense: Starters Returning: 10
The Rich Rodriguez era got off to an 8-5 start, but the Wildcats surrendered 49.6 PPG in five defeats. The potent offense (526 YPG, 7th in FBS) has the nation’s top rusher, RB Ka’Deem Carey (1,929 rush yds, 6.4 YPC, 23 TD), but the will sorely miss star WR Austin Hill (1,364 rec. yds) who tore his ACL in the spring. QBs B.J. Denker (259 pass yds, 3 TD, 1 INT) and JUCO Jesse Scroggins have so-so options in WRs David Richards (298 rec. yds, 3 TD) and Garic Wharton (264 rec. yds, 2 TD). The atrocious 3-3-5 defense (499 YPG, 3rd-worst in FBS) remains virtually intact. NT Tevin Hood (26 tackles) anchors a weak front four, but LBs Jake Fischer (119 tackles, 3 FF) and Marquis Flowers (5.5 sacks, 100 tackles) are reliable. DB Tra’Mayne Bondurant (74 tackles, 11.5 TFL) and CB Shaquille Richardson (14 PD) should improve.
WASHINGTON HUSKIES
2012 Statistics:
SU Record: 7-6 (5-4 in Pac-12)
ATS Record: 8-5 (62%)
Over/Under: 5-7
Points Scored: 24.0 PPG
Points Allowed: 24.2 PPG
Odds to Win 2014 BCS National Championship: 200/1
2013 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 10
Defense: Starters Returning: 7
The Huskies rode the roller coaster in 2012, starting 3-1 by beating Stanford, then losing three straight (by 25.3 PPG), winning four in a row and then closing with two losses by a combined five points. QB Keith Price (2,728 pass yds, 19 TD, 13 INT) regressed after a 33-TD sophomore season, but coach Steve Sarkisian hopes a no-huddle offense will revive his career. He has great weapons at his disposal in RB Bishop Sankey (1,439 rush yds, 16 TD; 249 rec. yds), WR Kasen Williams (878 rec. yds, 6 TD) and TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins (852 rec. yds, 7 TD). Williams and Seferian-Jenkins were both cited for DUI charges in the offseason, but neither is expected to miss any games. Price also has four returning O-Linemen to protect him. A solid defense (357 YPG, 31st in FBS) brings back a fast front seven with DE Josh Shirley (6.5 sacks, 6 FF) and LBs Shaq Thompson (74 tackles, 3 INT), John Timu (91 tackles, 2 INT) and Travis Feeney (76 tackles, 4 sacks, 2 INT). A stifling pass defense (197 YPG, 23rd in FBS) is paced by SS Sean Parker (77 tackles, 2 INT) and CB Marcus Peters (3 INT, 8 PD).
UTAH UTES
2012 Statistics:
SU Record: 5-7 (3-6 in Pac-12)
ATS Record: 5-7 (42%)
Over/Under: 5-5-1
Points Scored: 26.7 PPG
Points Allowed: 25.1 PPG
Odds to Win 2014 BCS National Championship: 500/1
2013 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 6
Defense: Starters Returning: 6
It was a miserable year two in the Pac-12 for the Utes, who finished 3-6 in conference play with five double-digit losses. The injury-fueled QB carousel didn’t help, but QB Travis Wilson (1,311 pass yds, 7 TD, 6 INT) should bring stability to the spread attack this season with new co-OC Dennis Erickson. They hope top WRs -- Dres Anderson (365 rec. yds, 3 TD) and Kenneth Scott (360 rec. yds, 3 TD) -- both step up. TE Jake Murphy (349 rec. yds, 4 TD) is also vital to this offense. RB John White is hard to replace, but RB Kelvin York (273 rush yds, 3 TD) could have a big year if his turf toe subsides, as Utah’s beefy offensive line is shaping up nicely. The defense has to rebuild its front four without DT Star Lotulelei, but will be strong in the middle with LBs Trevor Reilly (4.5 sacks, 3 FF, 69 tackles) and Brian Biechen (58 tackles, 5 PD). Safety-turned-cornerback Keith McGill leads a youthful secondary.
CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS
2012 Statistics:
SU Record: 3-9 (2-7 in Pac-12)
ATS Record: 3-9 (25%)
Over/Under: 5-6
Points Scored: 23.0 PPG
Points Allowed: 33.1 PPG
Odds to Win 2014 BCS National Championship: 50/1 (Field)
2013 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 7
Defense: Starters Returning: 6
New Head Coach: Sonny Dykes
The Golden Bears’ pro-style offense fizzled with a paltry 14.8 PPG during a season-ending, five-game losing skid, but figures to be much more exciting this year. Sonny Dykes’ brings his fast-paced spread attack from Louisiana Tech (578 YPG, 1st in FBS), but it’s unclear if junior QB Austin Hinder or freshmen QBs Zach Kline and Jared Goff will start, as the trio has zero FBS pass attempts. New skill-players are needed to help WR Chris Harper (544 rec. yds) and RB Brendan Bigelow (431 rush yds, 9.8 YPC, 3 TD). The No. 95-ranked defense (441 YPG) will switch to a 4-3 with DC Andy Buh. DL Deandre Coleman (48 tackles, 3 sacks) and DE/LB Chris McCain (50 tackles, 4 QBH) and LB Nick Forbes (85 tackles) make the front seven above average. The awful pass defense (272 YPG, T-107th in FBS) lost three starters.
WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS
2012 Statistics:
SU Record: 3-9 (1-8 in Pac-12)
ATS Record: 5-7 (42%)
Over/Under: 6-5
Points Scored: 20.4 PPG
Points Allowed: 33.7 PPG
Odds to Win 2014 BCS National Championship: 50/1 (Field)
2013 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 8
Defense: Starters Returning: 8
The Cougars won just one Pac-12 game under Mike Leach, taking the Apple Cup over Washington in overtime to cap the season. If QB Connor Halliday (15 TD, 13 INT) falters again with the Air Raid offense, Leach will put in redshirt freshman Austin Apodaca. WRs Gabe Marks (560 rec. yds, 2 TD) is the standout amongst a deep receiving group. WSU had the worst rushing offense in the nation (29 YPG, 1.4 YPC) and the offensive line allowed an FBS-most 57 sacks. RB Teondray Caldwell (269 rush yds, 4.8 YPC) is the best runner the Cougars have to offer. The 101st-ranked scoring defense (33.7 PPG) has a chance to improve with plenty of returnees. DTs Toni Pole (5.5 TFL) and Xavier Cooper (3 sacks) are both 300 pounds, and LBs Darryl Monroe (80 tackles, 3 sacks) and Cyrus Coen (60 tackles, 12 TFL, 3 INT) make plays. Star SS Deone Bucannon (106 tackles, 4 INT) has no real weakness.
COLORADO BUFFALOES
2012 Statistics:
SU Record: 1-11 (1-8 in Pac-12)
ATS Record: 3-9 (25%)
Over/Under: 6-5
Points Scored: 17.8 PPG
Points Allowed: 46.0 PPG
Odds to Win 2014 BCS National Championship: 50/1 (Field)
2013 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 9
Defense: Starters Returning: 7
New Head Coach: Mike MacIntyre
The 1-11 Buffaloes were just atrocious last season, getting outscored 46 to 18 on average by their opponents. Mike MacIntyre tries to get the program on the track by bringing his multiple set from San Jose State, whose Pistol-heavy offense threw for 333 pass YPG (6th in FBS). QB Jordan Webb has a torn ACL, allowing QB Connor Wood (265 pass yds, 1 TD, 4 INT) to take over. WR Paul Richardson (555 rec. yds, 5 TD) is back from a season-long knee injury to provide the No. 1 target, while RB Christian Powell (691 rush yds, 7 TD) leads a deep group of ball carriers. The nation’s fourth-worst defense (489 YPG) hopes new DC Kent Baer can create more turnovers. DE Chidera Uzo-Diribe (7 sacks) is a beast, and both LB Derrick Webb (66 tackles) and CB Kenneth Crawley (44 solo tackles, 4 PD) are heady and productive.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
