After an abbreviated 2020 season, the Pac-12 returns with a full slate and a number of teams well-positioned to contend for the 2021 crown. Below, we look at the odds to win each division in the Pac-12 with college football picks, predictions and best bets.
The Oregon Ducks are back-to-back champions, albeit with an asterisk next to their 2020 title, as they went 3-2 in the regular season and only qualified for the Pac-12 Championship Game due to COVID-19 issues within Washington’s program. Nevertheless, Oregon is a slight favorite to make it a three-peat per the early odds.
The Ducks will have plenty of competition, both from within their division (Washington) and from a trio of teams in the South (USC, Arizona State, and Utah) that are all +250 or better to head to the Pac-12 Championship Game in Las Vegas.
Only two teams (Oregon State and Arizona) are considered long shots at +2000 or worse, so buckle up for a wide-open race this season.
2021 Pac-12 North odds
Odds via Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday, Aug 24.
- Oregon: -110 (bet $110 to win $100)
- Washington: +115 (bet $100 to win $115)
- California: +1000 (bet $100 to win $1,000)
- Stanford: +1300 (bet $100 to win $1,300)
- Washington State: +1500 (bet $100 to win $1,500)
- Oregon State: +2000 (bet $100 to win $2,000)
2021 Pac-12 South odds
- USC: +140 (bet $100 to win $140)
- Arizona State: +200 (bet $100 to win $200)
- Utah: +250 (bet $100 to win $250)
- UCLA: +750 (bet $100 to win $750)
- Colorado: +1200 (bet $100 to win $1,200)
- Arizona: +3000 (bet $100 to win $3,000)
2021 Pac-12 North picks and prediction
Riding three years of elite recruiting classes, Oregon (-110) has the most talent in the conference and is the Pac-12 North favorite. The Ducks return the conference’s best group of skill players with an excellent offensive line, but QB Anthony Brown is a question mark and the defense gave up over 28 points per game last season.
All three of their regular-season wins last year (Stanford, UCLA, Washington State) were closer than expected, so they’re far from a slam-dunk to repeat in their own division.
Best bet
You’ll get slightly more bang for your buck with Washington (+115). The Huskies tout the conference’s best defense, particularly against the pass, but the offense averaged just 403 yards per game thanks to a mediocre passing game. The division might come down to a November 6 showdown between Oregon and Washington at Husky Stadium.
With a slightly better payout, Washington is our favorite future bet for the North.
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2021 Pac-12 South picks and prediction
USC (+140) is the favorite to win the South after winning it last year at 5-0 and with star QB Kedon Slovis back in Los Angeles; however, there are some reasons for pause.
The Trojans needed three fourth-quarter comebacks to get those five wins last season, while there are legit concerns around the rushing attack and defense. USC is good enough to contend, but they’re a PASS here in favor of some other options.
Best bet
Star QB Jayden Daniels gets all the preseason hype, but Arizona State (+200) is more than just a one-man show. The Sun Devils return everybody on a defense that ranked 13th in points per play last season, while Daniels has numerous weapons to play with at the skill positions. ASU avoids Oregon as a Pac-12 North crossover opponent and the softer schedule cements the Sun Devils as an excellent play for the Pac-12 South.
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Long shot
Utah has won more games (14) in the regular season than any other Pac-12 South team the last two years. The defense returns a ton of starters, the Utes have injected an influx of talent from the transfer portal (including QB Charlie Brewer), and they arguably have the best OL and DL in the division. Utah (+250) should contend with USC and Arizona State, and they have the friendliest odds of the three.
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