Pac-12 Bowl Projections: Why the Huskies, not Cougars, should be smelling Roses

In our ongoing attempt to cover every permutation for the division races — we’ve touched on the North and taken a deep dive into the South already this week — let us address an event that is neither likely nor incomprehensible.

I can get UCLA into the Rose Bowl in four steps.

That’s right. UCLA, the team that has seven losses and is ineligible for the postseason, could still make the Rose Bowl.

1. The Bruins defeat Arizona State, USC and Stanford to finish 5-4.

They are underdogs this week in Tempe, will assuredly be dogs against the Trojans and could be in the finale, too. But the line is thin. Because each opponent has proven vulnerable, it wouldn’t take much uptick in performance for the Bruins to win any of the three. Or all three.

2. Colorado loses to Washington State or at Cal to finish no better than 4-5.

3. Utah, which is without starting quarterback Tyler Huntley (broken collarbone), loses to Oregon and Colorado to finish 4-5.

4. Arizona loses at Washington State to finish no better than 5-4.

The most unlikely step, by far, is the first one. But if results unfold in that fashion, the Bruins would be 5-4 and own head-to-head victories over any other teams that could finish 5-4 (Arizona, ASU and USC).

They would win the South with a 5-7 overall record and face the North champ in the title game.

At that point, why bet against them?

And if you’re wondering, there is no rule that would prevent them from playing in the Rose Bowl with a losing record. The Pac-12 champ is the Pac-12 champ.

(Unless you’d prefer to hand the trophy to Fresno State.)

Any other season, the Hotline wouldn’t bother raising the possibility of a 2-7 team climbing into the Rose Bowl. But after the intra-conference carnage we’ve witnessed, nothing should be dismissed.

Rose Bowl: Washington (7-3/5-2)

Remaining games: vs. Oregon State, at Washington State

The Hotline’s preseason pick to win the conference remains the late-season pick to win the conference and enjoy the Granddaddy for the first time in 18 years.

Alamo Bowl: Washington State (8-1/5-1)

Remaining games: at Colorado, vs. Arizona, vs. Washington

Impressive as Washington State has been (holding steady at No. 8 in the CFP rankings), I can’t project the Cougars to beat Chris Petersen until I actually see them beat Chris Petersen.

Holiday Bowl: Utah (6-3/4-3)

Remaining games: vs. Oregon, at Colorado, vs. BYU

The Hotline’s projected South champs — the defense and running game will lead the way — will be no match for Washington in the title game.

Redbox Bowl: Oregon (6-3/3-3)

Remaining games: at Utah, vs. Arizona State, at Oregon State

Redbox would have its pick of available teams with no more than a one-game difference in conference record. (It could jump a 6-3 option in favor of 5-4, in other words.) Why not showcase the potential No. 1 pick in the draft.

Sun Bowl: USC (5-4/4-3)

Remaining games: vs. Cal, at UCLA, vs. Notre Dame

While devoid of division significance, the finale against the Irish could be one of the most important games of the Pac-12 season, with a victory potentially clearing the playoff path for Washington State.

Las Vegas Bowl: Stanford (5-4/3-3)

Remaining games: vs. Oregon State, at Cal, at UCLA

Add the weaknesses to the mounting injuries and upcoming locations, and it’s not difficult to envision the Cardinal losing to Cal for the first time in nine years and to UCLA for the first time in 10 … and doing so in back-to-back weeks.

Cheez-It Bowl: Arizona (5-5/4-3)

Remaining games: at Washington State, vs. Arizona State

Hotline modeling (i.e., the last thought to pass through my cranium before typing) has the Wildcats winning the Territorial Cup, thus serving two purposes: Propelling them into the postseason, and ensuring a better conference record than ASU.

At-large: Arizona State (5-4/3-3)

Remaining games: vs. UCLA, at Oregon, at Arizona

Expecting one more win from the Devils — probably this week — but because of the selection procedure, ASU would be squeezed out of conference-affiliated bowls by teams with 5-4 (or better) records.

At-large: Cal (5-4/2-4)

Remaining games: at USC, vs. Stanford, vs. Colorado

Defense is good enough for the Bears to win all three; offense is bad enough for them to lose all three. Our lean is one victory: Either the Bears get bowl-eligible and then have a letdown in the final week(s), or they rise to the moment in a must-win against Colorado.

Not eligible: Colorado (5-4/2-4)

Remaining games: vs. Washington State, vs. Utah, at Cal

Only a season-ending seven-game losing streak would keep CU out of the postseason, and one could argue that such a tailspin is the mark of a team that doesn’t deserve to make the postseason.

Not eligible: Oregon State (2-7/1-5)

Remaining games: at Stanford, at Washington, vs. Oregon

November isn’t quite as brutal as expected. We’ll upgrade it to merely extremely challenging.

Not eligible: UCLA (2-7/2-4)

Remaining games: at Arizona State, vs. USC, vs. Stanford

I’d like the Bruins’ prospects to sweep their final three a bit more if they weren’t visiting ASU on the back end of consecutive road games.