College Football: Previewing the Favorites To Win the Final Season of the Pac-12

After seeing eight of their 12 schools accept deals to head to other conferences, the Pac-12 will be kicking off its final season. It could end up being one of their most exciting seasons to date, with the top four betting favorites getting close odds far ahead of the rest of the field.

Below we are breaking down those top four teams, sharing their odds from FanDuel Sportsbook, and giving you the information to boost your college football betting strategy and win big on your Pac-12 Champion bet.

USC has been one of the most dominant teams throughout the history of the Pac-12, and they are looking to add one last championship before moving to the Big 10. The Trojans will again be led by Caleb Williams, the betting favorite to win this year’s Heisman Trophy. The biggest question will be the play of USC’s defense, which was allowed 29.2 points and 423.9 yards allowed last season. If they can improve those numbers, USC should be able to cruise to a Pac-12 Championship and a playoff berth.

Few teams represent the Pac-12’s unique brand of football more than the Ducks. The team finished 10-3 last season and returned quarterback Bo Nix and several key skill players. While offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham is gone, the Ducks have the talent to once again be one of the nation’s top offenses. Like USC, they will need to make some significant improvements on defense to have a hope of winning the national championship. The good news is they have a brand-new pass rush, which Oregon struggled with in 2022. If they can get pressure on opposing quarterbacks, the Ducks could match up well with any other team on this list.

Like the first two teams, Washington is also set to join the Big 10 starting next season. The Huskies surprised a lot of experts last season, and they hope to build on that in 2023. While Washington doesn’t attract the same talent as USC and Oregon, they do have one of the best quarterbacks in the country, Michael Penix Jr. The senior field general was second in the nation in passing yards last season, and he’ll have two of his top receivers back for 2023. While the Huskies need improvements on defense this season, they will have a head start on that with Bralen Trice, one of the best pass rushers in the country. Washington should compete with USC and Oregon this season if their defense plays well.

Utah was not invited to join the Big 10, so they opted to join Colorado, ASU, and Arizona in the Big 12. They have recruited well and built an incredible program behind head coach Kyle Whittingham, but their chances to win a Pac-12 title will likely hinge on quarterback Cameron Rising. The senior tore his ACL in last season’s Rose Bowl and has been out of action since. Rising is expected to be able to play in the season opener, but time will tell if the injury hampers him. The Utes have returned 14 starters from last season and have arguably the best defense in the conference, meaning they are set up for a conference championship. If Rising can return to full strength, this would be the best bet on the board.