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Pac-12 Preview going into Conference Play.

One final time, the Pac-12 conference will lace them up and compete as the Conference of Champions. It seems as if Arizona will run away with this final Pac-12 regular season title.

However, it is not going to be a cake walk. Teams such as Colorado, USC, UCLA, and Oregon will be somewhere in the conversation going into mid-February.

I have record projections, as well as my best guesses on who will be Pac-12 player and coach of the year awards.

Then let’s talk March, how many Pac-12 teams will get a tournament bid?

Pac-12 Conference: Record Predictions

I will go in order of how I believe it will finish.

Arizona (15-5)
Oregon (13-7)
Colorado (13-7)
USC (12-8)
UCLA (11-9)
Utah (8-12)
Washington (8-12)
Arizona State (8-12)
Washington State (7-13)
Oregon State (6-14)
Stanford (3-17)
California (3-17)

I do think Arizona is not only the best team in the Pac-12, but one of the best teams across the nation. Teams such as Oregon tend to start of slow, then heat up as the season goes along. Also Colorado who is an offensive surprise this year, will score a lot, yet, I believe they will struggle at some points this season.

USC and UCLA, two teams who have been up and down in the non-conference look to find steady ground. Both of this teams in LA will be the best two defensive teams in the conference, however their offense seems to struggle to find consistency.

The rest of the Pac-12 will be competitive to an extent. However, this season I would be surprised if anybody but Arizona takes the regular season crown. Because of defense, I could see USC and UCLA making serious runs at some point, and who knows. The cards can and may fall anyway the wind blows.

Pac-12 Conference Awards

As impressive as Tommy Lloyd has been and is projected to be, I look to Colorado to steal some of the shine in the award market. If Colorado can even be in the conversation for Pac-12 title in late February, you can bet head coach Tad Boyle will be a Pac-12 Coach of the Year candidate.

KJ Simpson and Tristan da Silva are also two of the best players in the conference, both of which play for Colorado. USC has a veteran point guard who will also garner praise for player of the year in Boogie Ellis. Arizona has two players as well who will be up for the award in Oumar Ballo and transfer Caleb Love. I would lean one of these five guys to win the award.

Pac-12: How Many NCAAB Tournament Bids?

There is a theme in this article, five teams, Arizona, Colorado, Oregon, USC, UCLA. I truly believe these will be the five teams to represent the Pac-12 for the final time come March.

I expect Arizona to be a top 2 seed, with Colorado and Oregon being seeded somewhere between 4 and 7. USC and UCLA will be a different story all together.

USC in my foresight will be a seed 10-12, while UCLA will be one of the last four in. The Bruins will play a Tuesday or Wednesday game.

Five teams, is my final answer. With all five teams having a good chance to make a run to at least the second weekend. Arizona is the only true contender now, yet we have seen true Madness in this sport in the past.

Rowan Donaghey, Sports Reporter and Betting Analyst for Stare Down Sports. You can follow him on the X via @RowanDonaghey

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