If there are five kids in a family and the parents are asked to pick their favorite, they probably will be hesitant to name one for fear of offending the other four. But there is an answer because there is always a favorite. Picking the team to beat in the Pac-12 Conference — a family that is about to splinter in several directions — is not easy. The five candidates, in alphabetical order, are Arizona, Colorado, Oregon, UCLA and USC. Oddsmakers and handicappers don’t care about offending teams, so the favorite by a narrow margin is Arizona.
The Wildcats, listed at 20-1 odds to win the NCAA championship, get the nod ahead of the Bruins and Trojans, each posted at 30-1 at DraftKings. Oregon (60-1) and Colorado (90-1) are not as popular with the betting public, but it’s a mistake to overlook the Ducks and Buffaloes in what appears to be a wide-open race at the top. In a new era of college basketball, which features free agency via the transfer portal and major roster turnover on a yearly basis, forecasting the next five months is a tricky business. The Pac-12 will be a treat, with as many as seven potential NCAA Tournament teams among the 12, but also a trick to predict.
Arizona arguably has the best point guard-center combo with Caleb Love, a North Carolina transfer, and 7-foot senior Oumar Ballo. UCLA coach Mick Cronin has a mystery team that looks like a sleeping giant on paper. USC has the preseason player of the year, senior guard Boogie Ellis, and the conference’s top incoming freshman, guard Isaiah Collier. Colorado has two stars to headline the most experienced team in the league. Oregon has an elite big man and high expectations.
The conference’s second five consists of Utah, Arizona State, Stanford, Washington and California, which has a completely different look constructed by new coach Mark Madsen. Oregon State and Washington State are fighting an uphill climb and will be left behind when the Pac-12 becomes the Pac-2 — if the league still exists in any form after this season.