PAC 12 Odds: USC Trojans Favored In 2012 Football Betting Preview

The USC Trojans have been away for a couple of seasons, but it looks like they'll be back in force this year.

Southern Cal spent the last two seasons on probation, and ineligible to win the Pac-12 title. But this year, the Trojans aren't just expected to win the conference; they're popular picks to play for the BCS championship.

But Oregon thinks it's got a shot at a fourth-straight conference title, and a couple other programs feel they could give USC and the Ducks a run.

Here's a look at this upcoming season in the Pac-12 championship odds menu.

Southern Cal is listed as a -500 favorite to win the Pac-12 South Division this season and -220 fave to win the conference championship at most sportsbooks. The Trojans are loaded with 15 returning starters, including senior QB Matt Barkley, 1,000-yard rusher Curtis McNeal, Biletnikoff finalist WR Robert Woods, four along the O line and seven on defense, from a team that went 7-2 in the Pac-12 last year.

And they get to host the game that might well determine where the conference championship is played when Oregon visits the Coliseum Nov. 3.

Those three-time defending conference champion Ducks are -250 favorites to win the North Division and the second choice to win the Pac-12 at +200. Oregon returns 12 starters from a team that went 9-1 in conference last year, but they lost QB Darron Thomas and RB LaMichael James.

Also, the Ducks have to play back-to-back at USC and at Cal in November.

Washington is getting +500 to win the North and +1000 to win the Pac-12. The Huskies get back 14 starters from a team that went 5-4 in the Pac-12 last year, including QB Keith Price and seven on defense. And while U-Dub has to play at Oregon and at Cal, it gets USC and Stanford at home.

Those Golden Bears are a +450 choice to win the North this year and a +1500 pick to win the conference title. Cal returns 11 starters after going 4-5 in conference last year, including senior QB Zach Maynard, 1,300-yard rusher Isi Sofele and All-Conference WR Keenan Allen. But they'll have to replace six starters on defense, and they have to play at USC.

Finally, Stanford is getting +950 to win the North and +2000 to win the Pac-12 this season. But the Cardinal only get nine starters back, none named "Luck," although they do get Southern Cal up on The Farm.

Rounding out the 2012 Pac-12 championship board Arizona, with six starters back on both sides of the ball for its first season under new HC Rich Rodriguez, is getting +500 to win the South and +3,000 to win the conference.

Utah, with 15 returning starters, is getting +800 to win the South and +3200 to win the conference.

UCLA, with 16 returning starters for new HC Jim Mora, is lined at +800 to win the South and +4000 to win the conference.

Arizona State, with just eight returning starters for new HC Todd Graham, is getting +800 to win the South and +4000 to win the conference.

Washington State, with seven starters back on both sides of the ball for new HC Mike Leach, is getting +1200 to win the North and +4000 to win the conference.

Oregon State, with 15 returning starters, is lined at +950 to win the North and +5,500 to win the conference.

And Colorado, with just nine starters back after going 2-7 in its first season in the Pac-12 last year, is listed at +1500 to win the South and +8000 to win the Pac-12 this year.