PACIFIC-12 PREVIEW
August 20th, 2012
BY BRETT CIANCIA
It's a two horse race this season for the Pacific 12 Conference title: Oregon from the North division and USC from the South. Overall for the conference, it will be a year of transition with the addition of 4 new head coaches and the loss of Quarterback Andrew Luck who was chosen first overall in last April's NFL Draft. Will Mike Leach's offense have success at Washington State? How much will Utah improve in its second season in the conference? Can Stanford remain nationally relevant without Luck? These are just a sampling of storylines surrounding the intriguing 2012 Pac-12 football season. The November 3rd showdown between Oregon and USC will be a preview of the conference title a few weeks later as both are primed to win their respective divisions. Ultimately, I think USC is the more complete team and behind their elite offense, the Trojans will win the PAC-12 title.
NORTH
1. OREGON
2011 Record: 12-2
Defensive Returning Starters: 6 Offensive Returning Starters: 5 Head Coach: Chip Kelly 2. STANFORD
2011 Record: 11-2
Defensive Returning Starters: 7 Offensive Returning Starters: 6 Head Coach: David Shaw 3. WASHINGTON
2011 Record: 7-6
Defensive Returning Starters: 7 Offensive Returning Starters: 6 Head Coach: Steve Sarkisian 4. CALIFORNIA
2011 Record: 7-6
Defensive Returning Starters: 5 Offensive Returning Starters: 6 Head Coach: Jeff Tedford 5. WASHINGTON STATE
2011 Record: 4-8
Defensive Returning Starters: 7 Offensive Returning Starters: 7 Head Coach: Mike Leach * 6. OREGON STATE
2011 Record: 3-9
Defensive Returning Starters: 8 Offensive Returning Starters: 7 Head Coach: Mike Riley |
SOUTH
1. USC
2011 Record: 10-2
Defensive Returning Starters: 7 Offensive Returning Starters: 9 Head Coach: Lane Kiffin 2. UTAH
2011 Record: 8-5
Defensive Returning Starters: 7 Offensive Returning Starters: 9 Head Coach: Kyle Whittingham 3. UCLA
2011 Record: 6-8
Defensive Returning Starters: 9 Offensive Returning Starters: 7 Head Coach: Jim Mora * 4. ARIZONA STATE
2011 Record: 6-7
Defensive Returning Starters: 4 Offensive Returning Starters: 4 Head Coach: Todd Graham * 5. ARIZONA
2011 Record: 4-8
Defensive Returning Starters: 6 Offensive Returning Starters: 6 Head Coach: Rich Rodriguez * 6. COLORADO
2011 Record: 3-10
Defensive Returning Starters: 6 Offensive Returning Starters: 3 Head Coach: Jon Embree |