[washingtonismoney]

Pre-season poll has:

Oregon with 14 votes
Stanford with 8
UCLA with 3*

*3 people who don't deserve votes, really.

[washingtonismoney]

Pre-season poll has:

Oregon with 14 votes
Stanford with 8
UCLA with 3*

*3 people who don't deserve votes, really.

[terry]

The full Pac-12 media poll (first place votes in parentheses):

2013 Pac-12 Preseason Media Poll

North Division

Oregon (14) — 139
Stanford (11) — 134
Oregon State — 91
Washington — 81
California — 45
Washington State — 32

South Division

UCLA (12) — 130
Arizona State (9) — 124
U.S.C. (4) — 113
Arizona — 73
Utah — 58
Colorado — 27

Pac-12 title game champion: Oregon (13), Stanford (8 ), UCLA (3)

[terry]

The full Pac-12 media poll (first place votes in parentheses):

2013 Pac-12 Preseason Media Poll

North Division

Oregon (14) — 139
Stanford (11) — 134
Oregon State — 91
Washington — 81
California — 45
Washington State — 32

South Division

UCLA (12) — 130
Arizona State (9) — 124
U.S.C. (4) — 113
Arizona — 73
Utah — 58
Colorado — 27

Pac-12 title game champion: Oregon (13), Stanford (8 ), UCLA (3)

[71Bear]

I would flip flop LSJU and UO and UW and OSU in the North and move Utah ahead of AZ in the South...

[71Bear]

I would flip flop LSJU and UO and UW and OSU in the North and move Utah ahead of AZ in the South...

[washingtonismoney]

How I see the conference breaking down (if not in division rankings):

Tier 1: Oregon/Stanford
Tier 2: SC, OSU
Tier 3: UCLA, UW, ASU
Tier 4: Utah, Arizona
Tier 5: 59ers, WSU, Colorado

[washingtonismoney]

How I see the conference breaking down (if not in division rankings):

Tier 1: Oregon/Stanford
Tier 2: SC, OSU
Tier 3: UCLA, UW, ASU
Tier 4: Utah, Arizona
Tier 5: 59ers, WSU, Colorado

[JohnR34231]

Interesting that people think the Ducks are going to be able to do to us at Stanford without the Chipper what they couldn't do with him at Eugene.

I'm guessing some people thought we snuck up on them a bit last year and it won't happen again. We'll see.

[JohnR34231]

Interesting that people think the Ducks are going to be able to do to us at Stanford without the Chipper what they couldn't do with him at Eugene.

I'm guessing some people thought we snuck up on them a bit last year and it won't happen again. We'll see.

[terry]

Interesting that people think the Ducks are going to be able to do to us at Stanford without the Chipper what they couldn't do with him at Eugene.

I'm guessing some people thought we snuck up on them a bit last year and it won't happen again. We'll see.

We snuck up on them? They were 10-0 and ranked # 1. We were 8-2 and ranked # 14. It was clear that the winner of that game would be in line for the North championship. I doubt that Oregon could have somehow not appreciated the importance of that game. . . .

[terry]

Interesting that people think the Ducks are going to be able to do to us at Stanford without the Chipper what they couldn't do with him at Eugene.

I'm guessing some people thought we snuck up on them a bit last year and it won't happen again. We'll see.

We snuck up on them? They were 10-0 and ranked # 1. We were 8-2 and ranked # 14. It was clear that the winner of that game would be in line for the North championship. I doubt that Oregon could have somehow not appreciated the importance of that game. . . .

[FarmBoy]

I doubt that Oregon could have somehow not appreciated the importance of that game. . . .

Perhaps. But any team can get caught up in a bit of hubris. They had destroyed every opponent and we had been getting by on narrow margins. Additionally, we had lost to the UW Huskies who they loathe and whipped 52-21 earlier in the season. They'd beaten us handily two years in a row, even with Andrew Luck at the helm. How could we beat them in Eugene without him?

Anyway, it will all sort itself out starting in September. All these pre-season polls are entertaining and can set us up for better BCS positioning, but won't do anything to help us win the Pac12.

[FarmBoy]

I doubt that Oregon could have somehow not appreciated the importance of that game. . . .

Perhaps. But any team can get caught up in a bit of hubris. They had destroyed every opponent and we had been getting by on narrow margins. Additionally, we had lost to the UW Huskies who they loathe and whipped 52-21 earlier in the season. They'd beaten us handily two years in a row, even with Andrew Luck at the helm. How could we beat them in Eugene without him?

Anyway, it will all sort itself out starting in September. All these pre-season polls are entertaining and can set us up for better BCS positioning, but won't do anything to help us win the Pac12.

[rudruff]

Last year's game had more to do with Oregon's gambles not working as opposed to the previous two years.

Trick plays, 4th down conversions, etc didn't give Oregon the lead that would have forced Stanford to play catch up.

[rudruff]

Last year's game had more to do with Oregon's gambles not working as opposed to the previous two years.

Trick plays, 4th down conversions, etc didn't give Oregon the lead that would have forced Stanford to play catch up.

[JohnR34231]

[quote author=JPRI link=topic=8150.msg64791#msg64791 date=1374871020]
Interesting that people think the Ducks are going to be able to do to us at Stanford without the Chipper what they couldn't do with him at Eugene.

I'm guessing some people thought we snuck up on them a bit last year and it won't happen again. We'll see.

We snuck up on them? They were 10-0 and ranked # 1. We were 8-2 and ranked # 14. It was clear that the winner of that game would be in line for the North championship. I doubt that Oregon could have somehow not appreciated the importance of that game. . . .
[/quote]

Just trying to come up with a reason for the pundits picking the Ducks over us this year, Terry. Since you obviously don't agree, I'd be curious to know your rationale.

[JohnR34231]

[quote author=JPRI link=topic=8150.msg64791#msg64791 date=1374871020]
Interesting that people think the Ducks are going to be able to do to us at Stanford without the Chipper what they couldn't do with him at Eugene.

I'm guessing some people thought we snuck up on them a bit last year and it won't happen again. We'll see.

We snuck up on them? They were 10-0 and ranked # 1. We were 8-2 and ranked # 14. It was clear that the winner of that game would be in line for the North championship. I doubt that Oregon could have somehow not appreciated the importance of that game. . . .
[/quote]

Just trying to come up with a reason for the pundits picking the Ducks over us this year, Terry. Since you obviously don't agree, I'd be curious to know your rationale.

[washingtonismoney]

I think picking the Ducks over us is perfectly reasonable. They had a much better margin of victory than we did last year -- and margin of victory is the best predictor of future performance, as any oddsmaker for a casino will tell you. They've got the QB Shaw seems to believe is the best in the conference -- he praises Mariota every chance he gets. They've got tons of playmakers. They get fortunate in the conference schedule -- they get UCLA, Arizona, Utah, and Colorado in the South vs SC, UCLA, Arizona State, Utah for us.

Then again, you have uncertainty in the Chip to Helfrich transition. Their OL has consistently underperformed versus elite front 7s, going back to 2009, really. They've lost most of their LBs, IIRC.

Oregon vs. Stanford looks too close to call for me, with maybe the slightest of edges to us because we get them at home.

[washingtonismoney]

I think picking the Ducks over us is perfectly reasonable. They had a much better margin of victory than we did last year -- and margin of victory is the best predictor of future performance, as any oddsmaker for a casino will tell you. They've got the QB Shaw seems to believe is the best in the conference -- he praises Mariota every chance he gets. They've got tons of playmakers. They get fortunate in the conference schedule -- they get UCLA, Arizona, Utah, and Colorado in the South vs SC, UCLA, Arizona State, Utah for us.

Then again, you have uncertainty in the Chip to Helfrich transition. Their OL has consistently underperformed versus elite front 7s, going back to 2009, really. They've lost most of their LBs, IIRC.

Oregon vs. Stanford looks too close to call for me, with maybe the slightest of edges to us because we get them at home.

[JohnR34231]

Not saying it is unreasonable to pick the Ducks over us. I do think, though, anyone who does must feel last year's game was something of an anomaly.

[JohnR34231]

Not saying it is unreasonable to pick the Ducks over us. I do think, though, anyone who does must feel last year's game was something of an anomaly.

[Bruce Wang]

Not saying it is unreasonable to pick the Ducks over us. I do think, though, anyone who does must feel last year's game was something of an anomaly.

Agreed.  And that game was no anomaly.  It wasn't like we got a bunch of lucky breaks.  If anything, if it wasn't for a number of unlucky breaks, Stanford could have won that game more handily.  Even Shaw mentioned that in a post-game interview.  That game was won by sound fundamental defense, which is repeatable.  It will be a tough game, but I think we should be slight favorites.

[Bruce Wang]

Not saying it is unreasonable to pick the Ducks over us. I do think, though, anyone who does must feel last year's game was something of an anomaly.

Agreed.  And that game was no anomaly.  It wasn't like we got a bunch of lucky breaks.  If anything, if it wasn't for a number of unlucky breaks, Stanford could have won that game more handily.  Even Shaw mentioned that in a post-game interview.  That game was won by sound fundamental defense, which is repeatable.  It will be a tough game, but I think we should be slight favorites.

[pefloresjr]

I thought Mariota played like a freshman who was not accustomed to playing in close games for much of the game.  That could be a factor in the pundits favoring Oregon over Stanford.  Of course, they are forgetting the fact that Hogan also played that way and will also likely improve this year.  The factor that makes me think Stanford should be favored (other than my clear bias) is the fact that Stanford's excellent defense should be even better than last year's. I guess we'll find out on that Thursday night in November. 

Cheers,
Pete F.

[pefloresjr]

I thought Mariota played like a freshman who was not accustomed to playing in close games for much of the game.  That could be a factor in the pundits favoring Oregon over Stanford.  Of course, they are forgetting the fact that Hogan also played that way and will also likely improve this year.  The factor that makes me think Stanford should be favored (other than my clear bias) is the fact that Stanford's excellent defense should be even better than last year's. I guess we'll find out on that Thursday night in November. 

Cheers,
Pete F.