LASH Roundtable: Pac-12 Edition

Last year UCLA and USC settled for Sun Bowl and Las Vegas Bowl victories, respectively. Both have higher expectations this time around. Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Jason: In my game by game predications column I had UCLA 9-3 with losses to Oregon, Stanford, and Arizona State. I think it’s realistic to expect them to win the Pac-12 South and perhaps even go 10-2. Anything better than 10-2 would have to be considered an amazing season, especially given their schedule. As for USC, I also see them going 9-3, with losses to UCLA, Stanford, and some random surprise loss along the way, likely to a Pac-12 South school. To the victor(y Bell) go the spoils.

Anthony: I have a feeling that while USC will almost certainly lose up at Stanford, they will go on a run the rest of the season until they face the Bruins on November 22nd. Unfortunately for them, I think they could also very easily lose the following game against Notre Dame. My ‘rosy’ outlook for USC has them finishing the season 9-3 and going to a reputable bowl game, but not ending up in the Pac-12 Championship game or the new college football playoffs.

As for UCLA, my ‘rosy’ outlook has them ending up no worse than 10-2, with two tough road conference games against Washington and ASU, and two very tough home conference games with Stanford and Oregon. It would be really difficult for them to win all four of those games. If they end up 10-2 and win the Pac-12 Championship, however, they could very easily end up as one of the four teams in the new playoffs.

Micky: I really want to like UCLA’s outlook this season. They’ve got a ton of talent and having a preseason Heisman candidate always helps. But I firmly believe in the trend that quarterbacks returning for another season to improve their draft stock never fully pans out. Braxton Miller (too soon?). Aaron Murray. Matt Barkley. Landry Jones. You get the point. I’m not saying Brett Hundley will suffer a horrific injury or simply fail completely. I actually think Marcus Mariota will have the bigger fall-off, allowing the Bruins to take the Pac-12 title after winning the South division with a 10-2 record. A UCLA-Stanford title game would be epic after the two teams square off in the final game of the season.

As for the Trojans, they are as loaded as they’ve ever been, but are simply too young right now to hang with the big boys. I like them to finish 9-3, second to the Bruins while still winning the Victory Bell.