In today's 12-PAC we take a look at some bold predictions being made for Washington football, Oregon's BCS title chances, WSU football awards, Oregon State DB Sean Martin's suspension and future Trojan Zach Banner being named a finalist for a prestigious award.
Future USC Trojan, Washington Native, Zach Banner A Finalist For Watkins Award
Washington native Zach Banner was named a finalist for the Watkins Award, an award which honors the top African American student-athletes in the country. Though Banner didn't win the award, this explains what a prestigious honor it was for him to be named a finalist.
OSU's Sean Martin is "suspended indefinitely''
As we shared with you yesterday, Oregon State CB Sean Martin was arrested for a DUII over the weekend. Yesterday afternoon, OSU head coach Mike Riley issued a statement that Martin "has been suspended indefinitely". I have had the privilege of knowing Riley since the mid 90's when he was at USC, and have a tremendous amount of respect for him and how he runs his program.
I am not sure how many games, if any, Martin will miss, but I am sure that whatever further punishment Riley hands down won't just be for "show". There aren't enough guys like Mike Riley coaching in college football, but if there was, we'd all be better for it.
Oregon's BCS Title Odds
The Register-Guard came across two sets of BCS title odds, and the Ducks could be an attractive bet to gamblers. 10:1 by one site, and 12:1 by another mean expectations will be high for Chip Kelly's squad. Also, Oregon RB De'Anthony Thomas is listed at 25:1 to win the Heisman Trophy.
Washington State Football "Bloscars"
The folks over at WSUFootballbog.com presented their awards from the 2011 season. It's a fun satirical twist on traditional awards. It was nice to see WR Marquess Wilson garner some accolades this postseason, including a "Bloscar".
Wilson is easily one of the most underrated players in the PAC-12, and one of the best kept secrets in the country. How more people aren't aware of him is beyond me, but behind Robert Woods and Marquise Lee at USC, there might not be a better wideout in the conference.
Washington: 10 Bold Predictions for 2012 courtesy of Bleacher Report
Yes, I know it's Bleacher Report. And yes, some of these predictions are incredibly far-fetched. However, others are extremely realistic. Can the Huskies win nine games? Definitely. Can UW go undefeated at home? It's plausible. But two predictions the author makes are worth some serious discussion. Can Keith Price throw for 4,000 yards and rush for 500 or more?
If he does, it could be a special season on Montlake. The other prediction is that Washington will keep it close against LSU before losing by single digits. When Sark first got hired, I was vocal about 2013 being the year UW takes the conference by storm. But if this prediction of a narrow loss to LSU comes to fruition, it could be a positive barometer of what to expect in 2012.
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