Pac-12 Championship Chase: USC Favored, but Beware of the Dark Horse

Williams led the Trojans to a top three offense in college football last season, averaging 506.6 total yards and 41.4 points a game, and after adding some top transfers and recruits to the 2023 roster, the offense should be tough to stop once again.

However, while USC’s offense appears unstoppable again, its defense is another story and was the reason for its downfall in the Pac-12 Championship Game against Utah, where the Utes scored 47 points and finished with 533 total yards.

USC’s defense then allowed another 46 points in its loss to Tulane in the Cotton Bowl, giving up 539 total yards, despite the offense scoring 45 points on 594 yards.

The Trojans added four transfers on the defensive side of the ball in defensive linemen Bear Alexander, Kyon Barrs, and Anthony Lucas as well as linebacker Mason Cobb, but after their defense was seventh in the Pac-12 in both yards and points allowed, allowing 415.1 yards and 27.9 points, an improvement will be necessary to get over that final hurdle.

In the meantime, there are plenty of others who could make a run at the Pac-12 title with the problems in USC’s defense.

Oregon and Washington each return their starting quarterbacks in Bo Nix and Michael Penix, respectively. Both offenses finished in the top 10 in the NCAA last season, resulting in college football picks giving them the next-best odds to win the conference.

Bo Nix throws a Game Winning TD against Oregon pic.twitter.com/ESxxg7FI7m

— College Football Report (@CFBRep) July 26, 2023

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Utah, meanwhile, has the fourth-best odds after winning the Pac-12 Championship Game in back-to-back years, and with the best defense in the conference and quarterback Cam Rising potentially ready to return by the start of conference play, a three-peat doesn’t seem out of the question.

That leaves Oregon State as a potential dark horse to make some noise and make a run at the Pac-12 title.

The Beavers finished last season 10-3 and 6-3 in the conference, and their defense was one of the main reasons. Oregon State was second in the conference allowing 342.3 total yards and 21.4 points a game.

Despite the defense losing some key players, it returns five starters. It also added players through the transfer portal. After defensive coordinator, Trent Bray helped improve the group after he took over in 2021. He should help keep it stable in 2023.

Oregon State was also strong in the ground game, with i196.5 rushing yards a game fourth in the conference last year. Running back Damien Martinez led the team with 982 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, while a strong offensive line allowed him to average 6.1 yards per rush, and with Martinez and most of the line returning, the rushing attack should be dominant once again.

The main issue for the Beavers last season was quarterback play. It appears they have that figured out as the transfer of former Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei to Oregon State took over college football news when it was announced.

Oregon State’s quarterback play was inconsistent last season, but the addition of Uiagalelei should bring some stability to the position. He led the Tigers to a 22-6 record as a starter before being replaced in the ACC Championship Game.

An improvement upon the Beavers’ 2022 roster, along with a fairly favorable 2023 schedule wherein they get Utah, Washington, and UCLA at home while avoiding USC should result in Oregon State making a run at the Pac-12 title.

There are many potential Pac-12 Championship Game matchups come to the end of the regular season, so be sure to play your futures bet at the sportsbook before it all begins in a month.

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