The Pac-12 will finally kick off its seven-game, conference-only schedule this week, with Oregon and Southern California the “preseason” favorites.
The last of the conferences to begin play, the debate continues about whether any Pac-12 team will have a 2020 resume deep enough to warrant a College Football Playoff spot even with an undefeated record.
Oregon has been installed as the +180 favorite to win the Pac-12 by SportsBetting.com, followed by USC (+200). PointsBet is offering the Ducks at +195 and the Trojans at +210, while DraftKings has them listed as co-favorites at +200.
The 12th-ranked Ducks open their season against Stanford (+2800). They’ll do it without star offensive tackle Penei Sewell, who opted out to focus on the 2021 NFL Draft, where he is expected to be a top-five pick.
Sewell’s decision came after the Pac-12 originally decided to postpone the fall football season, and he didn’t change his mind after the conference decided in late September to move forward with a shortened schedule.
Oregon is still a 28-point favorite to roll past Stanford by PointsBet, where the over-under on the game is 51 points.
The Pac-12 also had a request to expand the CFP denied, which likely means an undefeated team would also have to be dominant in order to gain serious consideration. The Pac-12 championship game is scheduled for Dec. 18.
The late start and shortened schedule has also impacted player futures, with no Pac-12 players among the 19 players DraftKings is offering Heisman Trophy odds on.
Pac-12 odds, over/under win total (SportsBetting.com)
Oregon +180, 6
USC +200, 5.5
Washington +500, 4.5
Utah +700, 4.5
Arizona State +850, 4.5
Cal +2500, 4.5
Washington State +2500, 2
Stanford +2800, 3.5
UCLA +2800, 3.5
Arizona +5000, 1.5
Oregon State +8000, 1.5
Colorado +10000, 1.5
Oregon coach Mario Cristobal has yet to name his starting quarterback against Stanford, although SportsBetting.com is offering Tyler Shough at -1000 ahead of Anthony Brown (+650).
Other Pac-12 Week 1 starting QB odds:
Utah: Jake Bentley -1100, Cameron Rising +675
Washington: Kevin Thomson -200, Jacob Sirmon +150, Dylan Morris +800, Ethan Garbers +1200
