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Don't act so surprised. Ducks and Cardinal first, Buffs and Cougs last. Oregon is the favorite to win the 2013 Pac-12 Conference football title in a preseason poll of media members who cover the league. The Ducks were listed in the top spot in the North Division by 15 of the 26 voters participating in the poll, collecting 145 points. Stanford was picked to finish second in the North Division, collecting 11 first-place votes in the balloting for the division race.
UCLA was picked to win the South Division, garnering 135 points and 12 first-place votes, while Arizona State, which tallied 10 first-place votes, and collected 130 points, was pegged a close second in this year's poll. USC was predicted by the voters to finish third in the South Division, claiming the remaining four first place votes.
The media poll has correctly selected the Conference Champion in 28 of 52 previous polls, including 11 of the last 13. Following are the results of the preseason media poll (points 6-5-4-3-2-1, first-place votes in parentheses):
NORTH DIVISION
1. Oregon (15) 145
2. Stanford (11) 139
3. Oregon State 95
4. Washington 84
5. California 47
6. Washington State 33
SOUTH DIVISION
1. UCLA (12) 135
2. Arizona State (10) 130
3. USC (4) 117
4. Arizona 76
5. Utah 60
6. Colorado 28
PAC-12 TITLE GAME CHAMPION: Oregon (14 votes)
Others receiving votes: Stanford (8), UCLA (3)
The 2013 Pac-12 Championship Football Game will take place Saturday, December 7 at 4:45 p.m. or 5 p.m. PT and telecast to a national audience on ESPN or ABC. The Championship game will match the winner of the North Division vs. the winner of the South Division. The game will be played on the campus of the division winner with the best overall conference record. The winner of the Pac-12 Championship will earn the league's automatic BCS berth.