The Pac-12 has quality at the top of the league. Arizona was great last season in their first go with new coach Tommy Lloyd and UCLA seems to have a great blend of experience and incoming talent. Either of those two teams could be in the Final Four this year and it wouldn’t be a shock. 

After that, there is a significant drop off but the league has shown that discounting their teams is often perilous. Odds are that by the time the season is done, programs like Oregon and USC will be very dangerous as well.

This piece is a look at the regular season in the Pac-12 though and the top favorites definitely look strong. Let’s run down the whole league and see what we are working with. 

Pac-12 Regular Season Futures

Arizona Wildcats +185

Arizona loses a lot from its 33-win team of a year ago. The cupboard is hardly bare though with Azuolas Tubelis and Kerr Kriisa as returning starters. Both should see their production rise as should Pelle Larsson. There is no reason to expect this team is going to need to rebuild at all. They have everything you need to win. 

UCLA Bruins +185

UCLA has a great base in wing Jaime Jacquez and lead guard Tyger Campbell – those guys were in the Final Four a couple of years ago. The reason to really like this team is that their top freshman might be so good that they become the best players on the team. That is how good Adam Bona and Amari Bailey look right now. 

Oregon Ducks +600

Guard Will Richardson is the leading returning scorer in the conference this season. He is part of a very very experienced team that is going to have three senior starters. If touted freshman Kel’El Ware is as good as advertised the Ducks are going to be very talented and coach Dana Altman has proven to be able to get the most out of transfers. 

USC Trojans +650

Last season Isaiah Mobley took over for his brother as the lead dog, and now he is in the NBA too. Vince Iwuchukwu is a big-time prospect who was expected to fill the void but he suffered a cardiac arrest over the summer so his status is in doubt. If the Trojans are going to stay closer to the top than the bottom they need to get something out of him. This team is solid but not spectacular. 

Stanford Cardinal +1100

There is a big gap between Stanford and the teams above and below them. Forward Harrison Ingram has the potential to be one of the best players in the conference as a sophomore. Stanford has plenty of size too so they should be one of the better rebounding teams in the league but their guard play is a question mark right now. If it is better than expected they can move up. 

Colorado Buffaloes +2100

The Buffs are usually underrated but coach Tad Boyle has some building to do this season with Jabari Walker in the NBA and a couple of other starters moving on. There is enough talent and experience to expect them to beat the teams underneath them but the Buffs were 4th in the league last season so if Boyle figures it out they could surprise again. They are not likely to rise that high this year. 

Arizona State Sun Devils +2900

Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley is under a lot of pressure. Last year was a bit of a disaster and it is kind of turning into a downward trend. This year they only have one returning starter but Marcus Bagley might be a difference-maker if healthy. Desmond Cambridge is a transfer who has scored everywhere but Hurley has not been strong about integrating those types of players. 

Washington State Cougars +3200

The Cougars won 22 games overall last season and 11 Pac-12 contests last season to finish fifth. Unfortunately, they have to replace a few starters and just don’t have the depth of some other teams in the league. Coach Kyle Smith is very good though and this team could certainly overachieve a little. Adrama Diongue is one of the best recruits they have ever gotten. The 7-footer likely needs time to develop though. 

Utah Utes +5500

Year 1 at Utah was not much of a success for Craig Smith. They should be better this season. Brandon Carlson is one of the better centers in the league and they have lots of size to work with beyond him too. Mike Saunders is a transfer from Cincinnati and if he shoots it really well they have some upward mobility for sure. 

Washington Huskies +9500

The Huskies usually have some talent but it has been a pattern that they do not get the most out of it. This year they are going to lean hard on Kentucky transfer Keion Brooks. They have signed some other transfers too, even from within the PAC 12, but those are more defensive than offensive adds. If Brooks flourishes, they could move up.