Pac-12 Football: A way too early 2019 Pac-12 prediction
With the National Championship over, we now look to next season and for Pac-12 football, it should be as calamitous as this past year.
What a wacky season of Pac-12 football. Not only did the Conference of Champions beat up on itself, but there was an entertaining battle every week. From Stanford’s beatdown of USC to start conference play to Washington’s surprise beating of upstart Washington State, it was truly an incredible season.
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Though there were some interesting moments (like Larry Scott getting roasted in the media for his destruction of the conference), it was another eventful year in the Pac. Even though the conference was once again left out of the College Football Playoffs.
So what will become of next year?
Way-Too-Early Pac-12 2019 Predictions
NORTH DIVISION
- Washington
- Washington State
- Stanford
- Oregon
- Cal
- Oregon State
SOUTH DIVISION
- Utah
- UCLA
- Arizona
- USC
- Arizona State
- Colorado
So what is my reasoning for all of us? Let’s start with the North Division. It is no longer a two-team race between Washington and Stanford. Though the Huskies struggled this season, they will continue to be the favorite until someone, most likely Washington state, dethrones them.
I want to pick Wazzu to come out on top in the North, but what happened in the Apple Cup leads me to believe that the Cougars will not beat the Huskies until they beat the Huskies.
As for Stanford, they took a step back in 2018 and they will remain there until David Shaw can get things back in order. Until then they will take a few key losses like they did last year.
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As for the very unpopular pick, I truly believe Oregon will be the fourth place team in the North simply because they did not show any improvement this past season. In addition to that, a 7-6 win over Michigan State shows that they are not exactly a team that is dominating at the moment. I can also see Cal improving, but right now the other four teams in front of them are just that much better. And finally, Oregon State brings up the rear. As expected.
Now for the South, it is going to be Year 2 in the division of calamity as every team will quite possibly have a chance to win it. Well, every team except Colorado. They will still suck.
With Utah having the most consistency among their coaching staff, roster and being the reigning division winner, they get my early nod to repeat.
And for those of you saying I am a UCLA homer for picking them second, you are partially correct. What I am basing my prediction off of is the fact that UCLA improved from the beginning to the end of the season, and next year you will see massive improvements which is why I have them second in the division.
After that, I truly believe it’s a crapshoot. Arizona showed that they can make improvements and should be a lot better with Khalil Tate returning but it seems they might not be ready to win the Pac-12 South just yet.
And for all of you chastising me about picking USC fourth… don’t. After what they did in 2018 and the recent departure of Kliff Kingsberry as their savior and offensive coordinator, the Trojans will be a lot worse than they were in 2018.
And as for ASU and Colorado… they will continue to be ASU and Colorado.
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To end the season, I expect Washington to once again beat Utah in the Pac-12 Championship Game.