Favorites: USC and Oregon

Matt Youmans (VSIN – The Sports Betting Network)  —  A wide-open conference race means there is no dominant team, and that’s the case again this year in the Pac-12. Five teams will set the pace — Oregon (+ 250), Washington (+ 360), USC (+ 380), Arizona State (+ 450) and Utah (+ 600), according to the DraftKings odds board — with UCLA chasing as a 12-1 long shot. USC is the obvious favorite in the South, and the North is a coin flip between Oregon and Washington.

Trojans quarterback Kedon Slovis is the conference’s top Heisman Trophy candidate (28-1 at DraftKings) after totaling 47 touchdown passes in two seasons.

USC coach Clay Helton has underachieved with an 18-13 record the last three seasons, and he was lucky to go 5-1 last year, when Slovis led improbable comebacks to beat Arizona State, Arizona and UCLA.

USC: Almost everything about USC looks good on paper: The roster is loaded with talent, led by veteran quarterback Kedon Slovis, and the schedule is hospitable (seven home games and no games against North favorites Oregon and Washington).

But the Trojans are too often paper tigers for coach Clay Helton, who is 18-13 straight up and 13-18 ATS the last three seasons. USC was lucky to finish 5-1 last season, when improbable comebacks were required to beat Arizona State, Arizona and UCLA.

Slovis has thrown 47 touchdown passes in two seasons and is the conference’s top Heisman Trophy candidate (28-1 odds at DraftKings), yet his arm strength is a concern after he suffered a separated shoulder in last year’s Pac-12 title game. Drake London could be the league’s top wide receiver, and Texas transfer Keaontay Ingram is primed to take over as the team’s go-to running back. The Trojans will flash plenty of firepower in offensive coordinator Graham Harrell’s wide-open attack. Aside from edge rusher Drake Jackson, a top NFL prospect, there are question marks all over the defensive depth chart.

Home games against Stanford, Utah and UCLA are probably tougher than they appear, and Arizona State, California and Notre Dame will be tough spots on the road.

Helton is a poor game manager who had the luck factor on his side last year, so it wouldn’t be surprising if USC finishes 8-4 and Helton remains on the hot seat.

Pick: Under 8.5

latimes.com

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