The Pac 12 has a new last glimmer of hope for the playoffs and that team is Washington State. A team largely projected to finish in the bottom half of the league. So we know nothing about the Pac 12, and I love it. So this week I am starting from scratch, throw past rankings aside here is the new DEFINITIVE (well until next week at least) look at the Pac 12 and who has the best shot of winning it.
1. Washington State (3): If you are a draftknick you need to know the name, Gardner Mishnew the Pac 12’s leading passer. This guy is just as good if not better than Justin Herbert. The Pac 12 is producing two first round quality QB’s and the rest of the nation needs to take note of that. Mishnew has 2,745 yards and 23 touchdowns thus far this year. This game was never as close as it looks on the box score. Washington State dominated from start to finish.
2. Washington (6): Don’t get it twisted, the offense has completely disappeared this team is winning on it’s defense. Leading the way is the nations best tackler Ben Burr-Kirven.
3. Utah (4): After looking like a tire fire this team is back on track. This is the team Utah fans expected, they currently sit atop the South which is looking increasingly worse each week, don’t get it twisted though there is still time for a collapse. After Jack Tuttle transferred this week if Huntley goes down it’s over for the Utes, whose defense has really disappointed this year.
4. Stanford (5): Bryce Love is not the Bryce Love of last year. That said the Cardinal have a great defense and a pretty decent QB in KJ Costello. They need to start winning and keep winning but they still have a chance to win this league.
5. Oregon (1): Another victim of the Pac 12. Oregon still has a shot with Justin Herbert but that defense needs to regain their early season form if they want to survive down the stretch.
6. USC (2): 6 and 7 are the wait until next year tier. JT Daniels wasn’t ready for the intensity of Rice Eccles stadium. USC has a strong back bone though, if they get another decent recruiting class again this year I have said this all year, this team can be a national player next year.
7. Colorado (7): Hand up, I bought into them too early last year. This isn’t a good team. They might not be good next year if Steven Montez opts to move on from college.
8. Cal (12): Great bounce back win, a middling team that is just two wins from bowl eligibility though.
9. UCLA (10): Hey Chip Kelly has this team looking like a real power five school, that’s cool I guess.
10. Arizona State (8): Wish this team was better.
11. Arizona (9): Gross to watch.
12. Oregon State (11): Predictable.
Picks for week 9
Utah 24 UCLA 17
Colorado 35 Oregon State 10
USC 42 ASU 35
Washington 24 Cal 17
Stanford 35 Washington State 31
Oregon 51 Arizona 17