Pac-12 Picks Part VI

What’s up Cougs? After spending hours upon days analyzing the new Pac-12 conference, I’m finally here to present my picks for who will be crowned the next champion. Outside of the top few teams in the conference, I had a really difficult time choosing how things would shape out. The race for the lower-tier bowl games certainly seems as wide open as it has ever been. Click on the jump to read more.

Pac-12 North Division:

1. Oregon: (9-0) (12-1 Overall) Kind of a no-brainer here. Oregon returns Darron Thomas, LaMichael James and the majority of a very aggressive defense to a team that was three points short of a BCS National Championship in 2010. Until Pac-12 defensive coordinators figure out a way to slow down Chip Kelly’s ridiculous spread offense, I don’t see Phil Knight University losing any conference games.

2. Stanford: (6-3) (9-3 Overall) Stanford will need to break first-year headman David Shaw into the coaching ranks in 2011. His transition, though, should be made incredibly easy by the cannon Andrew Luck refers to as his arm. Look for the Cardinal to drop a few close games late, but recover by smashing Cal in The Big Game en route to a Holiday Bowl appearance.

3. Washington State University: (5-4) (7-5 Overall) Maybe I’m sh*t-hammered on Crimson Kool-Aid, but I really think this will be the year the Cougars return to respectability. With conference wins over Colorado, Oregon State, Utah, ASU and UW, WSU will earn its first trip to the Sun Bowl since Jason Gesser in 2001-ish. Oh and they will drop their third non-conference game against San Diego State after starting the season 2-0.

4. Cal (4-5) (6-6 Overall): To be honest, my knowledge of Cal is pretty elementary. I know they have an unproven quarterback in Brock Mansion and some of the most talented athletes in the conference. With Jeff Tedford securely entrenched on the university’s hotseat, I foresee his players responding with a typical Cal-like season where at times they’ll look like the best team in the country yet nonetheless stay relegated to mediocrity.

5. University of Washington (3-6) (5-7 Overall): Remember that time when Keith Price filled in for Jake Locker against Oregon and led the Huskies to victory?…. Yea, me neither. The Huskies have quite a bit of talent returning on both sides of the ball, but the absence of Jake Locker is really going to hurt them. Keith Price, no matter how well he hands the ball off to Chris Polk, won’t lead the Dawgs to many conference wins.

6. Oregon State (2-7) (4-8 Overall): Mike Riley’s male pattern baldness will keep the Beavers out of serious contention. Oh yea, and Jacquizz Rodgers is gone.

Pac-12 South Division

1. Arizona State: (6-3) (8-4 Overall): The Sun Devils are everyone’s dark horse to win the Pac-12 South, and I can’t say I disagree. Vontaze Burfict is an absolute madman and their unifroms are prett filthy. With Brock Osweiler calliing signals and the best defense in the conference, ASU has a really good shot to beat some solid teams. Too bad, they will lose to the Cougs in early November on the Palouse.

2. Nick Foles U (6-3) (8-4 Overall): A tough loss to the Sun Devils in their annual rivalry game will keep Foles and Co. from reaching the inaugural Pac-12 Championship. Opposing defenders getting lost in Foles flowing blonde locks will lead Arizona to a number of close wins in 2011.     

3. USC (5-4) (8-4 Overall): If I had my way, USC would go their entire season winless. Personally, I can’t stand their obnoxious marching band and the fact they’ve ruled the Pac-12 TV deal over the past 15 years like an evil emperor. Here’s to Lane Kiffin lasting only a few more seasons in L.A.

4. Utah: (5-4) (6-6 Overall): Do you guys think Orrin Hatch will call an emergency Congressional meeting when the Utes get cheated out of their rightful place in the Poinsettia Bowl? (Or however you spell it)

5. UCLA (3-6) (5-7 Overall): I’m thinking Slick Rick gets the boot unless one of his mediocre quarterbacks develops into an All-Conference-type performer.

6. Colorado: (1-8) (3-10): Cue 2003 WSU vs. CU highlight video from Boulder. Flea-Flicker anyone?