Pac-12 Tournament First Round Predictions
By Josh Davis
12:00 #8 Stanford vs #9 ASU
Total toss up as I haven’t seen Stanford play even once this season. Also, Stanford won their only meeting this season in a game in Tempe by 3 measly points. Who do I go with? (sigh) I think I’m going to take sensational freshman Jahii Carson at the buzzer for ASU to start the tournament with a bang. Devils by 2.
2:30 #5 Colorado vs #12 Oregon State
This one is really hard. Colorado’s win vs OSU earlier this year was by 4 and OSU just beat them by 6 on Saturday. This suggests that for some reason they match up really well, even though the Beavers have been terrible. I’m taking Colorado in a 12-15 point win, because if they don’t blow OSU out, they might actually get beat. I don’t see them getting beat in this game.
6:00 #7 USC vs #10 Utah
Utah has been a seriously interesting story, with finishes that have been absolutely all over the map in the second half of this conference season. If you’re looking at last week, you’re going to have a difficult time winning this game in your pick. Look instead back to their meeting when USC rocked Utah @Utah. Yep, that’s the outcome in this one… right? SC by 6 in a close one.
8:30 #6 Washington vs #11 WSU
Washington State lost both times to UW earlier, the most recent being only 2 weeks ago by 4. The other meeting 18 games ago was a 5 point Husky win. But the Cougs have changed and are the most dangerous 11 seed in the short history of the tournament right now. That could be squelched by UW, but the Cougs will win this game! I gotta believe it! Cougs by 10.