My Early Pac 12 North Predictions

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As of today, this is how I see it.

1. Washington. One of the few teams that has enough talent to win the NC this season. They return a very good offensive line, which should give QB Browning plenty of time to find receivers. Sr, RB Gaskin will become UDub's all time leading rusher this season. Their defense returns 9 starters, and may have the best secondary in the nation. Their schedule is certainly doable, with only an opening game in Atlanta against Auburn, a game at Utah, and a game at Oregon blocking the way to a perfect regular season. This team is a lot better than people think. The biggest question mark is this. Can HC Petersen win a big game?

2. Oregon. Close between Oregon and Stanford, but I give the Ducks the edge because of their schedule. Their offense is never at a loss for points and the same should be true this season. QB Hebert and a solid offensive line will lead the way. The defense will need improvement from their sophmore starters to make a run at Washington. They have an easy schedule, hosting both Washington and Stanford, and not playing USC.

3. Stanford. Another team that should be able to score plenty of points, with 8 starters including QB Colstello and Heisman runner-up Love returning. The problem will be twofold. First, the defense returns only 4 starters. Next, they get USC, and Notre Dame on the schedule and play both Oregon and Washington on the road.

4. Cal. With 10 starters returning n offense, and 7 on defense, much improvement is expected from this team. Improvement will be needed with crossover games at USC and Arizona. They do host the big 3 in the North. (Washington, Oregon and Stanford)

5. Washington State. The cougars lose 8 offensive starters, including everyone in the backfield. The defense returns 7 starters, but is weak up front. A soft non-con schedule will not offset crossover games at USC, and home against Utah and Arizona.

6. Oregon State. The Beavers return 7 starters, but two are WR's and the other 5 are on the line. On defense, only 4 starters return, now that OLB Ugwoegbu has left the team. New HC Smith opens at Ohio State. Things do not get much better after that. 3 wins would be a major accomplishment.
 

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Even though I love nutty coach Mike Leach. This will not be a good ATS team this year.

Go against them EVERY game and you will be on the plus side at the end of the season.

Mark it boys...……….
 

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An even bigger question is can Browning play well in a big game? Seems like every time he plays poorly.


I noticed you have Stanford +3.0 at Oregon in week 4 as a GOY bet, but you are predicting the Ducks to finish 2nd over Stanford in the North Division.
 

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An even bigger question is can Browning play well in a big game? Seems like every time he plays poorly.


I noticed you have Stanford +3.0 at Oregon in week 4 as a GOY bet, but you are predicting the Ducks to finish 2nd over Stanford in the North Division.

Great observation SD....even though I think Washington can be a top 5 team...I worry about consistency at quarterback.
 

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Even though I love nutty coach Mike Leach. This will not be a good ATS team this year.

Go against them EVERY game and you will be on the plus side at the end of the season.

Mark it boys...……….

Mike Leach was born in Susanville, California, a small community in the far Northeastern part of California. I passed through there by car a year ago on my way from Reno, Nevada to Portland, Oregon (some of the most scenic country in America). Anyway, I stopped for lunch in Susanville and spotted a couple guys who I thought might be "in the know" regarding Mike Leach......Their comments were hilarious...............He's a rebel, a lot of "theatre" in him, basically a good guy, studied law at Pepperdine....etc. but most importantly, he's a "winner". So, there you have it, a little "deep research" regarding Mike Leach.
 

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Mack, Leach was just an athletic director away from being Tennessee's coach. A lot
of confusion, with the Tennessee AD being fired and no more Mike Leach interest.

Truth, he was interested and could have been Tennessee's coach if all hell hadn't broke
lose with the AD department.

Mack, I love the hire with Pruitt, but I don't trust new AD and former coach Phil Fulmer.
Stab you in the back Fulmer just like he did with Johnny Majors. Back stabber and everyone
around the Tennessee program knows it.
 

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Great observation SD....even though I think Washington can be a top 5 team...I worry about consistency at quarterback.

Also, the Huskies were beaten badly in the trenches against Penn St. last year. The defense couldn't get off the field. Penn St. was 13/17 on 3rd downs 1/1 on 4th. Their QB McSorley was 32/41 342 yds, 2 TD 2 INT. He made every big pass when it mattered.

What was Browning? 18/28 175 yds, 1 TD 0 INT. He has yet to have a big 300+ yd passing game against a high profile team.



Stanford dominated the 2nd half last year in their win over Washington. The previous year, Alabama totally won the battle of the trenches, in the playoff game. I fear that Auburn, with a big physical SEC defense, will do the same.
 

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SunDodger, not trying to put you on the spot but what is your take on the Washington vs.
Auburn game.

Not sure I have a side at this time....welcome your comments friend.
 
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SunDodger, not trying to put you on the spot but what is your take on the Washington vs.
Auburn game.

Not sure I have a side at this time....welcome your comments friend.


I'd like to see them bench Browning. He has held them back in the past. Not sure if it's mental game preparation but i just don't think he's that good.
 

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always feel like there is a PAC-12 qb who is a NFL prospect but not a college winner. Browning appears that way to me this year just like Rosen and Darnold did last year. We will talk about how great they are for the next level but the team still ends up with 3-4 losses.

Thanks for the analysis and i think Washington is the best team of the Pac-12 north also. sometimes a qb with attention tries to do it all and hurts his team. I still see at least 2 losses on the schedule with Auburn and likely 1 or 2 others in conference play but i appreciate the analysis.

Also agree that Washington State is just gonna be bad all around.
 

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Browning threw for 43 TD.'s in 2016. Then he lost all of his "go to"receivers last season. If WR McClather and "go to" TE Bryant recover from their injuries, Browning will see his performance rise again because RB Gaskin (soon to be the all time rushing leader at UDub) and their huge experienced offensive line will control the game on the ground, opening up the passing lanes for him. Last season the defense held 9 opponents to 20 points or less. This year the defenses promises to be even better with 9 starters returning and one of the best secondaries in the pass happy Pac 12.

I took Stanford and 3 points at Oregon because I believe that a win against USC makes Stanford the favorite in that game. Oregon plays no one of consequence before Stanford. If Stanford is -100 (a pick) or a favorite in that game, I middle.
 

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