Could Pac-12 Go Undefeated on Opening Weekend?
By Josh Davis
Dec 22, 2012; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Boise State Broncos fans dressed as Elvis Presley (not pictured) attend the 2012 Maaco Bowl against the Washington Huskies at Sam Boyd Stadium. Boise State defeated Washington 28-26. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports
You may have already seen that Washington State is opening as 14 point underdogs at Auburn, but for the first time this summer we now have every match-up from opening weekend, thanks to betonline.com. This article by Kegs n Eggs outlines each of those spreads if you wish to look at the full list, but we’re just going to run down the Pac-12 lines.
USC (-24) vs. Hawaii
Auburn (-14) vs. Washington State
Northwestern (-6) vs. California
UCLA (-13) vs. Nevada
Washington (-3) vs. Boise State
Colorado (-3) Colorado State
Utah (-4.5) vs. Utah State
If the spreads hold, the Pac would go 5-2, with only Washington State and Cal going down. The Cal game is a toss-up to me and the -14 line on WSU is a little bloated (at least in my opinion), based on what people saw by a young team, in the first game of a brand new system, on national television at Provo last year. Also, it’s SEC vs Pac-12, so you know the line’s going to be high.
Anyways, I don’t see the Pac going undefeated on opening weekend this season and it speaks to what some fans have been pointing too, that the conference should roll back to 8 conference contests per year. More than any other major conference, the Pac-12 plays a difficult schedule in its’ non-conference and everybody could use one more “easy” game to their credit. But alas, this won’t happen anytime soon, at least if one is to take credence in the comments of Larry Scott. He believes the conference necessitates a more difficult conference schedule to keep up.
Speaking of opening weekend, there are more intriguing games than I can remember for the conference in recent memory. How Washington is a 3 point favorite over BSU after losing to them in a Bowl to end last season is beyond me. Colorado and CSU is always fun and after Utah vs USU the last couple seasons how could you not be a little intrigued by that match-up as well?
I’m already ready for Fall camp! Sound off in the comments if you are too!