Pac-12 expert picks 2023: Most overrated and underrated teams, projected order of finish, bold predictions

rewrite this content material with complete duration and stay HTML tags The finish of an generation awaits the Pac-12 because the once-proud bastion of West Coast faculty sports activities grapples with the looming departures of 8 premier manufacturers following the 2023 season. Before the gathering of longtime league foes breaks aside, on the other hand, there’s one ultimate soccer season on deck — and it is shaping as much as be one to bear in mind.Six Pac-12 faculties completed within the best 18 of the general College Football Playoff Rankings final season, and many of the marquee gamers who helped force the league’s go back to relevance are again in 2023. It all begins with the quarterbacks, a bunch headlined by means of reigning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams as he seeks to steer No. 6 USC to a convention identify after the Trojans have been shellacked by means of Utah in final 12 months’s Pac-12 Championship Game.The Utes are the two-time reigning champions and have a confirmed warrior at quarterback in Cameron Rising, who’s coming into the 2023 season at the mend from a torn ACL he suffered within the Rose Bowl. Other big-name quarterbacks come with Oregon’s Bo Nix and Washington’s Michael Penix Jr., each of whom discovered new existence within the Pac-12 final season as veteran transfers. Looking to practice of their footsteps this season shall be Clemson switch DJ Uiagalelei, who’s hoping to reinvigorate his profession with an Oregon State program coming off a 10-win season.Combined, the high-caliber quarterbacks at established systems give the Pac-12 masses of CFP contenders. But it is now or by no means because the league seems to be to snap a six-year CFP drought. Will that drought finish? Our CBS Sports faculty soccer mavens have supplied their picks and predictions for the Pac-12 forward of the 2023 season.  Most overrated staff USC: The Trojans have been picked to win the Pac-12, however I’m no longer positive why. Williams is again, positive, however the panorama of the convention does not lend itself to the reigning Heisman winner main them to Pac-12 glory. Why? Considering the quarterback skill somewhere else within the convention, nearly each USC sport will lead to shootouts. Defensive basics were sorely missing for trainer Lincoln Riley relationship again to his Oklahoma days, and that used to be the case in Los Angeles final 12 months as neatly. Plus, the 1.50 turnover margin — the most efficient mark within the country — is unsustainable and not going to hold over from 12 months to 12 months. — Barrett Sallee (Dennis Dodd, Jerry Palm)Colorado: It’s onerous to discover a staff that is overrated within the Pac-12 as a result of there is this type of transparent divide between the highest tier and everybody else, however no person at the backside tier has gotten as a lot consideration this offseason as Colorado. Deion Sanders has overhauled the roster dramatically, and whilst his rent may repay massive time down the street, the Buffaloes are nonetheless prone to end on the backside of the league in 2023. — Tom Fornelli (Shehan Jeyarajah, Will Backus) Washington: Washington did not play Utah or USC final season on its solution to an excellent 11-2 file underneath first-year trainer Kalen DeBoer. This 12 months, the Huskies play the Utes and Trojans in back-to-back weeks. Opening in opposition to Boise State and touring to Michigan State additionally will increase the agenda’s problem. Teams may not be shocked by means of what DeBoer, Penix and a skilled receiving corps throw at then this season. There is plentiful tape in this iteration of the Huskies to be had, and that may make it difficult to succeed in double-digit victories once more. — David CobbOregon State: I imagine that is essentially the most as it should be rated convention within the nation. I trust the Pac-12 preseason media ballot on 8 of the 12 positions within the predicted order of end whilst no longer differing on any staff by means of a couple of spot. Additionally, my view of the place those groups stack up nationally turns out to line up with the consensus; I’m inside of two spots of the AP Top 25 on my rating of USC, Washington, Utah and Oregon, however that is the place I used to be ready to in reality stretch to seek out an “overrated.” The AP ballot has Oregon State at No. 18 and I’ve were given them at No. 25 heading into the 12 months. I have a good time the step forward season of 2022 for trainer Jonathan Smith, I simply have them a half-step at the back of groups like Oklahoma and Texas A&M, each of whom fall at the back of the Beavers within the nationwide scores. — Chip Patterson Most underrated staff Oregon: I to find myself backing up an Oregon staff that used to be knocking at the door of a Pac-12 identify sport look a 12 months in the past. The preseason media ballot has the Ducks at fourth within the convention whilst I’ve them in 3rd at the back of USC and Washington (two of the 8 spots the place I’m in lock step with the league’s reputable preseason scores). The AP Top 25 has Dan Lanning’s team at No. 15 whilst I’ve were given them at No. 13. Oregon has recruited higher than somebody else within the Pac-12 over the past 4 years and picked up a pair key additions within the switch portal that may assist Nix and Co. make any other run at a convention identify. — Patterson Utah: Even if Utah begins 0-2 in opposition to Florida and Baylor whilst Rising and megastar tight finish Brant Kuithe paintings again from torn ACL accidents, the sleepy ol’ Utes may nonetheless win the Pac-12. Rising is a battle-tested veteran, Kuithe is one of the country’s highest tight ends and Ja’Quinden Jackson is poised to grow to be this system’s newest 1,000-yard rusher at the back of any other elite offensive line. The protection stays an uncongenial team underneath coordinator Morgan Scalley with confirmed playmakers in each place team. The different Pac-12 contenders have more moderen coaches and flashier quarterbacks, main many to sleep at the Utes over again. Doubt the Utah at your individual peril. — CobbUCLA: You listen so much of discuss USC, Washington, Oregon and two-time protecting champion Utah, however there hasn’t been a lot buzz across the Bruins. There will have to be. While Dorian Thompson-Robinson is long gone, UCLA nonetheless has skill on all sides of the ball and can have a star-in-the-making in freshman QB Dante Moore. Oh, and simply in case Chip Kelly is not ingenious sufficient on offense, former Navy trainer Ken Niumatalolo has been added to the personnel. UCLA’s offense will have to be very entertaining. — Fornelli (Palm)Washington: USC dominates the headlines. Oregon State, Washington State, Stanford and Cal are in search of a house. Can we discuss Washington soccer after the Huskies very quietly went 11-2 in Kalen DeBoer’s first season? Offensively, maximum of the most important items go back. Penix guided the country’s No. 2 offense whilst main the Power Five in passing (4,641 yards). He has two 1,000-yard receivers returning: Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan. Bralen Trice is one of the highest edge rushers within the nation. Oregon and Utah seek advice from Montlake, Washington, whilst UCLA is not at the agenda. With a win at USC, the Huskies may well be staring on the Pac-12’s first CFP berth since 2016. — Dodd Oregon State: Oregon State is America’s Team. Sorry, I are not making the principles. Left by means of the wayside in the most recent wave of convention realignment, the Beavers are greater than succesful of profitable the Pac-12 and sending two-thirds of the league off on their new adventures empty-handed. DJU is a big improve at quarterback, and returning 4 out of 5 starters at the offensive line is helping. The protection has to switch some studs, however the Beavers have frequently advanced on that aspect of the ball in every of their 5 seasons underneath Smith as trainer. — Backus (Sallee, Jeyarajah) Bold predictions Dennis Dodd: The final season of this model of the Pac-12 shall be one of the most efficient. The league will get its 2nd consecutive Heisman winner with Washington’s Penix incomes the consideration and 3 groups into New Year’s Six bowls — together with the Huskies incomes the convention’s first CFP berth in seven years. Chip Patterson: Rookie quarterbacks will pop within the Pac-12. I’m no longer positive what number of of the freshman quarterbacks will get started Week 1, however I feel we see a adolescence motion around the league over the path of the season. Jaden Rashada has already been tapped because the starter for Arizona State. Dante Moore has a particularly excessive ceiling at UCLA. While Oregon State has became to Uiagalelei as its starter, there’s masses of pleasure about what Aidan Chiles can do for the Beavers offense someday. The Pac-12 has rightfully received consideration for its quarterback power and enjoy at…