Southern California quarterback Caleb Williams won the Heisman Trophy last year and is back to lead the Trojans.
The Pac-12 will begin its final season with cornerstone franchises USC and UCLA, before the Los Angeles schools head to the Big Ten next year.Â
Let’s look at some of our favorite 2023 Pac-12 win totals picks.
2023 Pac-12 preview: USC, Colorado and more look to contend
The Pac-12 has not been a factor in the College Football Playoff in recent years. Washington was the last Pac-12 team to play in the CFP, in 2017. USC has an excellent chance to end the conference’s drought this year.
Colorado might struggle on the field, but new coach Deion Sanders’ program will be interesting to watch.
This final year of a fully loaded, quarterback-oriented Pac-12 could be memorable — Williams and USC hope to make it that way.
2023 USC win total props: Over 9.5 wins (-170 or better)
The Trojans could get off to a 6-0 start without breaking much of a sweat. USC’s first serious test should come in Week 7 at Notre Dame.
That starts a six-game run with five quality opponents — vs. Utah, Washington and UCLA and a road game at Oregon.
Coach Lincoln Riley, an offensive guru, has Williams and a potent offense. The task for USC is to stop the run, something it couldn’t do last season.
USC has too many weapons and its defense should be improved. Take the Over at 9.5 wins.
2023 Oregon win total picks: Under 9.5 wins (-120 or better)
The best news for the Ducks is the return of quarterback Bo Nix, who could be a Heisman contender. Nix, who played three seasons at Auburn, has already played 47 college games, and has thrown for 68 touchdowns and 10,844 yards.
Oregon finished 10-3 last season. The Ducks opened the season by losing to Georgia, 49-3, then won eight straight.
Their other losses were at Washington and a shocker at home vs. rival Oregon State.
Oregon could start 5-0 before a rough, three-game test — at Washington, home vs. Washington State and at Utah.
The Ducks host USC and Oregon State in November. The 9.5 number is steep and the Ducks always seem to lose a game they should win. Take the Under.
2023 Washington win total props: Under 9.5 wins (-142 or better)
The Huskies return one of the best quarterbacks in the league in Michael Penix Jr. He led the country in passing yards with 4,631 and he threw for 31 touchdowns.
Penix has two excellent receivers in Rome Odunze (75 catches, 1,145 yards) and Jalen McMillan (79 catches, nine touchdowns) to work with this season.
The Huskies are coming off an 11-2 season that included a 7-0 home record. The Huskies only lost at UCLA and Arizona State last season.
The loss to a bad Sun Devils team probably kept Washington from the College Football Playoff.
A healthy Penix means the Huskies will cover the Over and win at least 10 games.
2023 Oregon State win total picks: Under 8.5 wins (-160 or better)
The Beavers are coming off a 10-win season that ended with four consecutive victories. OSU defeated No. 10 Oregon on the road, effectively knocking the Ducks out of any chance for a College Football Playoff invitation.
The 8.5 wins seem steep for a school without much football tradition, but Oregon State has an easy start to its schedule and the chance to build momentum before visiting Washington State in Week 4.
OSU finishes its season at home against Washington and at Oregon. Still, 8.5 wins is too rich, so take the Under.
2023 Washington State win total props: Under 6.5 wins (-162 or better)
Cameron Ward is back at quarterback for the Cougars. He threw for 3,231 yards and 23 touchdowns last season as WSU went 7-6.
Meanwhile, the Cougars’ defense was ranked fifth in the Pac-12 overall and third in scoring.
The Cougars avoid USC but play at UCLA, Oregon and Washington — that looks like three losses right there. They also host Wisconsin, Oregon State and Arizona — all tough games, but a visiting team winning in Pullman is difficult.
Winning seven games to cover the Over looks unreachable, especially with two new coordinators. Take the Under.
2023 Arizona win total picks: Over 4.5 wins (-176 or better)
Jedd Fisch has revitalized a dormant Wildcats program. In his second season, Fisch’s U of A team finished 5-7 but that included the big one — a 38-35 win over rival Arizona State.
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Arizona struggled with the conference’s power teams and lost six of seven in the middle of the season.
The Wildcats’ schedule isn’t easy — at Mississippi State, USC, Washington State and ASU, plus tough home games against Washington, Oregon State and Utah.
Expecting the Wildcats to take another step this season and surprise a team or two. Take the Over.
2023 Arizona State win total props: Under 4.5 wins (-105 or better)
The Sun Devils are starting over after firing Herm Edwards early last season. Replacing Edwards is Kenny Dillingham, who was raised in the Phoenix suburbs.
Dillingham, formerly the Oregon offensive coordinator, has recruited well and should get the program back on its feet.
ASU has several quarterback possibilities in Trenton Bourguet, Notre Dame transfer Drew Pyne and true freshman Jaden Rashada, plus strong receivers.
The Sun Devils’ defense was weak last season and must improve. The team leader in sacks only had 2.5 last season.
Don’t see more than four wins this season. Take the Under.
2023 Stanford win total picks: Under 2.5 wins (+138 or better)
The Cardinal are coming off a 3-9 season and face a difficult schedule.
If you take away an opening win over non-major Colgate last season, Stanford’s victories over Notre Dame and Arizona State were by a total of three points.
Stanford has a new coach, Troy Taylor, a former quarterback at Cal. Taylor has a rebuilding job to do and the 2023 season offers games at USC, Washington State and Oregon State. Home games include Arizona, Oregon, UCLA, Washington and Notre Dame. Take the Under.
2023 Pac-12 win total picks
- 2023 USC win total props: Over 9.5 wins (-170 or better)
- 2023 Oregon win total picks: Under 9.5 wins (-120 or better)
- 2023 Washington win total props: Under 9.5 wins (-142 or better)
- 2023 Oregon State win total picks: Under 8.5 wins (-160 or better)
- 2023 Washington State win total props: Under 6.5 wins (-162 or better)
- 2023 Arizona win total picks: Over 4.5 wins (-176 or better)
- 2023 Arizona State win total props: Under 4.5 wins (-105 or better)
- 2023 Stanford win total picks: Under 2.5 wins (+138 or better)
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Chuck Bausman is a contributing writer at Catena Media. His previous experience includes being an executive sports editor for the Philadelphia Daily News.
