the Pac-12, of course, as a, as a, an angeleno,
you know, Pac-12 close to my heart
and I got a wonder,
you know, it took the market a little while to warm up to
the idea that Lincoln Riley's moved to USC meant a lot of other
talented players were going to come with him and he opened the
they, I think they opened that like 30 to 1 or something to
win the national title and they've been bet pretty
aggressively. Those numbers are long gone, but is it fair to
say that potentially at this point? USC. Maybe a little
Overrated in the Pac-12. I think that's an extremely,
extremely accurate assessment. When you look at this Trojans
team, and you go across the board and see
what their odds look like to win the Pac-12 Drew. You
reference, what their prices to win the national championship.
We've seen Caleb, Williams getting all sorts of buzz in
the Heisman Trophy Market by guys, I truly respect grabbing
prices at 12:48 12:45. I've seen him dip
as low as five in some spots but you do wonder if it's going
to be a honeymoon for the first season with Lincoln Riley.
I mean, so much of this
Roster is going to look a lot different, which is probably
a good thing. Given how they took on water late in the year last
season but can you fit all those Square pegs into round
holes? Well, all the players by into your scheme
right away and I think this is going to be a fascinating case
study because I believe Lincoln Riley can be the man for
the job. Although us, he's going to have to change the composition
of their roster when they
eventually make their way into the Big Ten.
But as far as high flying offense is creating Buzz
getting asses in the seats, most importantly,
in LOL. There's so many other entertainment Avenues. I can't
tell you how many people that I've spoken to want to bet USC
to win a National Championship,
not just because of on-field merits because they believe
college football is a lot better. And I have to be
careful though. I can't throw too much shade because my
better half is a proud, USC Alum, and I'm pretty sure she
thinks that they're going to win their first national
championship since the Pete. Carroll era
over the next three seasons.
She is sadly mistaken, but don't tell her,
I said that, trust me Bond. I tell her that all the time and
she's got a life. Disappointment with a lifetime
commitment to me. So
that's the reality of things
for points. Been told us the biggest liability USC to win
that conference the most win total bet is over nine, a half
for USC. So if you are listening, ladies and
gentlemen, fade the Trojans
this season, but last year, I was one of the people
that were all over the Washington Huskies. I was like
this is the team that's going to win the Pac-12. Blah blah,
blah and they just shot it just was not right at all. Four
Winds, they were terrible. This year,
the Pac-12 do. Darling. Why it seems like USC? It's really
been Utah from the sharps in my opinion. That you'd seem like
a team I probably success last year that they could win
the Pac-12. Are you buying into that?
Well, you mention Washington and I wish I could send
multiple fruit baskets out to Jimmy Lake and their offensive
philosophy because there was no coach for me that was more
profitable looking at that first half unders. Knowing they
love to bang their head into a brick wall
against 89 man boxes because there was no threat of
the passing game but I don't want to throw salt in the wound. So
when we look at Utah, I think the Kyle Whittingham finally
has this team where they need to be. I mean last year, they
were trendy pick by a
lot of folks at prices of 8 to 1 or greater to win the Pac-12.
It didn't start off that way with A1 and to start, you saw
the change of quarterback with Cam Rising taking over for
Charlie Brewer. And the rest was history from what they were
able to accomplish. But you look at the way Utah's being
priced, I think the
wind total was a shade low
when it opened up in that eight and a half range for a team
that I actually have favored in all 12 of their games. Albeit,
Short Road favorites in their season opener, Opener against
Florida and a trip later in the year to Autzen to take on
Oregon, but they bring so much back. You do have to replace
a talented linebackers, taking his talents to the next level
in Devon Lloyd, so I can understand the optimism there,
but I think their price to win the Pac-12 is extremely fair.
In my opinion it doesn't offer a lot of value whatsoever. A
team though that I think is flying a little bit under
the radar though and would have been the North Division in
the past is the Oregon Ducks. I really believe they made
the right decision in In an influx of Youth, especially at
the head coach and coordinator positions, Kenny Dillingham was
able to bring Bo Nick's in a quarterback that he recruited
at Auburn.
And while Nick's can be one of the more Mercurial quarterbacks
and some of his decision-making leaves a lot to be desired.
I think this team has one of the best linebacking cores in
the entire Pac-12. If Noah Sewell and Justin flow can stay on
the field together,
I have questions about their secondary and no doubt that
they're going to be tested week. One, a 17-point dogs
against the Georgia Bulldogs, but if you're looking for
a team, not named us, See your Utah that can win
the conference.
I think Oregon and is extremely
opportunistic, the way the schedule sets up, but they very
favorable Road campaign. And even if they were to lose
against Utah, they still could have a chance to see the Ute
again in the conference Championship.
So a321 organ in my opinion is probably the best bet to make
in the Pac-12. Can I assist an organ for a second and ask you
basically what to expect game by game from these guys under
this new regime because it's been a long time since you
looked at an Oregon team. You thought, hey, the strength of
this team might be
its Fence.
And you mentioned the linebacking corps and in
general you know just bringing in a defensive coordinator from
Georgia, that's going to have a very different feel to it than
the organ teams that we remember under.
You know, the last couple of regimes that were,
you know, capable of putting up 70 points on a given Saturday,
you know, what have you number one? Seen the market sort of
adjust correctly, in terms of this being more of a defensive
team in terms of totals, in terms of, you know, just in
overall output of
points. And, you know, would you expect there to be a little
bit of a That lag, just because of how much you know, people
are kind of anchored to the ducts of old. Well I think
there's going to be a huge overreaction or under action
and I know I'm not exactly
putting myself on one side of the fence,
given what we're going to see Week 1 against Georgia. I mean,
of Oregon, goes out there Drew and we see them scored 13
points in a defensive minded game in hostile territory, down
in Atlanta, you could see the market Trend down a little bit,
but I don't think that'll be indicative for what this
offense wants to do. One of the big things that they talked
about in spring camp. After watching the spring game
was trying to hit the homerun. I mean, this was an Oregon
offense in years past to your point especially under Chip
Kelly that was explosive so much of it was predicated on
the run, but they had grown rather conservative under Mario
Cristobal. It was a team that wanted to try and hit you in
the mouth.
He wanted to stay true to his offensive line DNA and I think
Kenny Dillingham and Company want to try and allow bow
Nick's to throw deep. The problem for the Ducks is
they're going to need a couple receivers to emerge.
They, of course, lose Travis died down the coast to USC. So
one of their games, Acres in the backfield is gone and we'll
see what they get out of Brian Cardwell.
But there was some optimism about guys
like Chase Kota and Chris Hudson during spring practice
that lead them to believe, they have some legitimate vertical
threats. The one thing that I am concerned about is
optimistic, as I am about Oregon defensively, is they
need some difference makers to emerge in the second year.
I think that's the one group that's going to get tested,
maybe not Week 1 against debts in Bennett and
a Georgia team that we're not quite sure what they'll have as
far as wide receivers are concerned but it will be on
full display when jarrin Hall and that Why you offense come
to town? So I think this is an Oregon team to your point that
you're going to have to be able to adjust to very quickly to
figure out what their style of play will be and if they're
better defensively and they want to run the football, there
may be some opportunity to vet their games under the total.
I like that and I'd last thing I want to talk about this is
I love the organ. Take. I'm not a fan of bone X though. I've been
very adamant about that. That's the only thing keeping me from
going hard on the Ducks this season, but one thing I really
like is UCLA with Chip Kelly this year. I mean
their schedule if eight home games there.
Non-conference schedules, Bowling, Green, Alabama, State,
and South Alabama. I mean over eight and a half, wind seemed
super easy to me. I played that last night,
I kind of like them A Plus 900. I mean, are you buying into
UCLA? Are you saying the Bruins? Yeah, I mean, Chip,
Kelly didn't exactly go out there and create a murderer's
row, for what UCLA is going to have to encounter
non-conference wise Alabama State, one hell of a payday to
travel out to LA,
in the Rose Bowl for that matchup. Although, we have seen
some money, at least come in on some of the game of the year
numbers, on Bowling Green, not going to call for
Right upset from the Falcons. But it may not be a 5 touchdown
laugher. The people were looking for. And when you talk
about this UCLA team, I mean, I think the level of optimism
starts with Dorian Thompson Robinson who I feel
like, he's in his 17th year under Center for UCLA, the Las
Vegas kit, but the one thing about DTR, that's got UCLA
fans. Excited is they claimed his decision. Making is a lot
better
that he doesn't want to try and throw the ball into Tight
Windows, like you grew accustomed to in the past. You
have an extremely talented running backs. And Zach
charbonnet
who we know can do it all
and I think they'll get them a little bit more involved in
the passing game. Now, as far as UCLA defensively, I think
that's going to be the key point to watch to figure out.
If this Bruins team is going to be able to get to nine wins or
more.
I like what chip Kelly's building.
I think that they are going to have their hands full
especially going forward. But to UCLA's credit they're
beginning to identify with the kind of players that they need
to bring in. They're not necessarily trying to
shoot for the pie in the sky with the 5-star recruits. It's
bringing in players. That they can mold for their system and
try and get where they need to go. So I'm kind of with you
there. It's not a bet that I made myself but I would
definitely lean over the total for
the Bruins and I can see them being a legitimate, Dark Horse.
One that I honestly would have made a much more compelling
case for as far as the division odds if the Pac-12 is still
with that north-south division,
because I think they have the rifle shot to be the second
best team in the South behind only USC.
It's very fair point. Yeah, I think know, we've done do
service here to the Pac-12. And I think
Bruins, if that's off schedule, manifest to maybe a little
inflated opinion of them, as we get down the home stretch of
the Season, they'll have some opportunities to bet against
that team,
but ultimately, I'd be surprised if you see l.a. is
really in the mix.
What do you think Bond?
Yeah, I mean I like I said, big UCLA stay on this season, I'll
be playing UCLA and working in the Pac-12, but, yeah, I've
just fade USC and Utah. That's all I can say more USC than
anything, I think. What we got from this.