PAC-12 NCAAF Odds: Trojans Favored to Win Championship Game
Caleb Williams Returns at Quarterback for USC

The 2023 PAC-12 NCAAF odds have USC as the favorite to win this season’s PAC-12 Conference Championship Game. The Trojans lost some talent from last year, but have some strong players coming in. It’s not going to be easy by any means for Southern Cal. Oregon, Washington and Utah have solid teams. The Beavers are heading in the right direction and UCLA can still land some recruits.
But as long as the Trojans have Caleb Williams under center, they’re a threat to score at any time. Jordan Addison has moved to the NFL, but Tahj Washington and others are back to catch the ball.
The Ducks return Bo Nix at quarterback after he threw for 3,593 yards and 29 touchdowns, while Michael Penix Jr. is back for the Washington Huskies. Cameron Rising announced his intention to return to Utah, so the PAC-12 is loaded with talented quarterbacks.
The Favorites
USC Trojans (+200)
The Trojans are the favorite to win the 2023 PAC-12 Championship Game after coming up short last year. In a conference with plenty of top-notch quarterbacks, it’s hard to argue that Williams isn’t the best. He threw for 4,537 yards and 42 touchdowns last season. Perhaps more impressive is the fact he threw just five interceptions.
Washington wasn’t far behind Addision in the receiving department and Southern Cal has some talented running backs. Austin Jones figures to get the bulk of the carries after Travis Dye went to the NFL. Williams scored 10 rushing touchdowns last season, so he can do it all.
Southern Cal’s defense isn’t the greatest, but with the talent the Trojans have on offense, it doesn’t have to be that good. As long as the defense gets a few stops when needed, that’s all the team needs.
Oregon Ducks (+310)
Nix appears to have found a perfect spot for him after being the whipping boy at Auburn. The Ducks’ offense was a solid fit and he’s the first Oregon starting quarterback to return since 2019. Oregon has some nice weapons and the Ducks put up nearly 39 points a game last season. Leading rusher Bucky Irving is back, as is leading receiver Troy Franklin.
The Ducks allowed 27.4 points per game, which isn’t bad in the PAC-12, which is becoming known for its high NCAAF scores. The key game in the conference’s NCAAF schedule is Nov. 11, when the Trojans visit Oregon. The winner of that game will have a big leg up in reaching the championship game. And it’s not impossible the two teams could meet again in the championship game.
Washington Huskies (+430)
Penix doesn’t get the attention of Williams, but actually threw for more yards last season. The Husky signal caller had 4,641 yards and 31 TD passes against eight interceptions. The Huskies can also run the ball and the top two rushers are back in Wayne Taulapapa and Cameron Davis. Both scored more than 10 TDs on the ground last season. Leading receiver Rome Odunze is back after catching 75 passes for 1,145 yards.
Washington’s defense is a shade better, on paper anyway, than USC or Oregon. The Huskies allowed 25.8 points per game, but did have a couple of poor efforts. The Huskies are the only team in the conference to go undefeated at home last season.
The Outsiders
Utah Utes (+470)
The Utes are a bit of a longshot to repeat as champions, but you can’t dismiss them completely. With Rising back at quarterback, the offense won’t be bad. And Utah is a bit of an anomaly in the PAC-12 Conference in that they can actually play defense. Utah allowed 21.4 points per game last season. The Utes lack the firepower of some of the other teams, but as long as they can slow them down, the Utes will have another strong season.
Oregon State Beavers (+900)
The PAC-12 NCAAF odds have the Beavers at +900 and Oregon State is a pretty decent football team. The question is if that will be enough in the North, where the Ducks and Huskies also play. The Beavers were another team that won by stopping the opponent, not necessarily by outscoring them. The Beavers do avoid USC during the regular season, which is another point in their favor.
UCLA Bruins (+1600)
The Bruins have the misfortune of playing in the same division as USC and Utah, so it’s going to be tough for UCLA to reach the title game. The schedule isn’t kind to the Bruins, either. UCLA has road games at Utah, Oregon State and the game with the Trojans is also on the road. Dorian Thompson-Robinson has moved to the NFL, so the Bruins will be untested at quarterback.
Looking For Value
It isn’t often that the favorite offers a lot of value, but with the PAC-12 NCAAF odds at +200 on USC, it’s not a bad wager to make. The Trojans get Utah at home this season in a huge revenge game. Other than the game at Oregon, Southern Cal has a pretty manageable road schedule and should return to the title game.
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