Episode #308: Kent Doepel from West Coast CFB, Previewing the PAC-12 2020

The PAC-12 begins this week, the Pacific Northwest conference begins their college football season this weekend. Today we have Kent Doepel from West Coast CFB to help us preview the PAC-12, welcome to the Sports Cast.

Contributors
Santiago Leon – @sleon
Kevin Doepel – @WestCoastCFB
https://www.westcoastcfb.com/

PAC-12 South
Utah
2019 record: 11-3/8-1
Head coach: Kyle Whittingham, 16th year (record: 131-64 overall and at Utah)
Whittingham’s seat temperature: Frigid
Back-to-back division titles, an average of 9.2 wins per season for the past six years and a style of play that makes opponents earn every yard — and all of it accomplished without USC’s tradition or Oregon’s facilities. Our sense is that school officials and 99 percent of Utah fans understand what they have in Whittingham. That other one percent won’t be satisfied without a Rose Bowl.

USC
Arizona State
UCLA
Colorado
Arizona

PAC-12 North
Washington
Stanford
Oregon State
Washington State
Oregon
California

*** North

1. Cal (4-2): The Bears aren’t the most talented team in the division, but they have experience where it counts and arguably the best-coached defense in the Pac-12. What’s more, they play three division rivals at home. We expect a deadlock atop the North, with Cal’s home wins the difference. (Full preview and game predictions.)
2. Stanford (4-2): Quarterback Davis Mills must raise his game in order for Stanford to return to relevance. The offensive line should be better, and healthier, than last season. When it comes to injuries, the Hotline believes teams typically revert to the mean — and Stanford was walloped last year. (Full preview and game predictions.)
3. Oregon (4-2): The combination of new offensive coordinator, inexperienced quarterback and overhauled offensive line — all five starters are new — makes the defending conference champions vulnerable. They’re loaded with talent, especially on defense, but we’re forecasting a backslide. (Full preview and game predictions.)
4. Washington (3-3): A team that lost five games last season has a new head coach, new offensive coordinator, new quarterback and no proven playmakers. The defense, also hit by attrition, will need to be even better than expected for the Huskies to win their third division title in five years. (Full preview and game predictions.)
5. Oregon State (2-4): As we worked through potential scenarios in the North, no team had a wider range of potential landing spots than the Beavers. Their defense should be solid, but we’re a tad skeptical of the offensive line and new quarterback Tristan Gebbia. Third place isn’t out of the question. (Full preview and game predictions.)
6. Washington State (1-5): The Cougars’ future is brighter than their present under first-year coach Nick Rolovich, whose team has faced more challenges than most in 2020. In contrast to other coaching changes on the Palouse (i.e., Paul Wulff to Mike Leach), the roster doesn’t require an overhaul. (Full preview and game predictions.)

Oregon

UW
Stanford
Washington
oregon state

South

1. USC (5-1): Stocked with talent and experience on both sides of scrimmage, the Trojans are the clear favorite within the division and the conference. The lone break in their chain of continuity — a new defensive coordinator, Todd Orlando — should benefit a unit that has underperformed in recent years. (Full preview and game predictions.)
2. Arizona State (5-1): One of the top young quarterbacks in the conference, sophomore Jayden Daniels, will be asked to take on a greater playmaking role and requires help from an untested group of tailbacks. The defense is not only experienced but strongest where it counts most: in the secondary. (Full preview and game predictions.)
3. Utah (4-2): The two-time defending division champs will have a new quarterback (identity: not yet disclosed) and a rebuilt defense that lost six all-conference performers. The offensive line will be one of the league’s best, but the Utes need a high-end tailback to replace the departed Zack Moss. (Full preview and game predictions.)
4. UCLA (3-3): Crucial third year for coach Chip Kelly, whose fate will track closely with the efficiency level reached by junior quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson. The depth chart has no major weaknesses but no obvious strengths, leading to another forgettable season in the middle of the division. (Full preview and game predictions.)
5. Colorado (1-5): How much tumult can a team take? The Buffaloes hired their coach (Karl Dorrell) in late February, held no spring practices and will have a new starting quarterback (Sam Noyer) for the first time since 2017. And it’s not like the depth chart was oozing talent before all the 2020 chaos set in. (Full preview and game predictions.)
6. Arizona (0-6): There is more continuity in Tucson than the prediction suggests, but the defense is loaded with unknowns, the early-season schedule is unforgiving, and Kevin Sumlin’s future looms over the program. If quarterback Grant Gunnell is better than we expect, the Wildcats could win two. (Full preview and game predictions.)

*** Pac-12 Championship Game

Matchup: USC vs. ORE

times, rules covid?

mike leach in the sec?

Tell us about USC, a lot of sports pundits are saying they can be favorites in the PAC-12 and College Football playoffs

Who is the Oregon QB?

Predictions

AZ State vs (20) USC
Kent: USC

Arizona vs Utah
Kent: Utah,

UCLA at Colorado
Kent: UCLA, 33-30

Stanford at (12) Oregon
Kent: Oregon, 27-17

Washington at California
Kent: WAS, 17-14

Washington St. at Oregon State
Kent: Oregon State, 34-27

Transcript

Santiago Leon
The sports cast November 4 2020. If you haven’t yet, please subscribe to all our channels, YouTube, Periscope and iTunes. And if you’re an iTunes, please leave a rating and a review, it will help us out tremendously. We’re also on online radio, you can listen to our online radio broadcasts on our website or on the sports cast app. And you could download the sports cast app on the iOS App Store. You can also follow us on Twitter at the sports cast one we have the latest news college football, NFL, and anything else that’s breaking in the world of sports. This episode is brought to you by the sports cast app you could download the sports cast on the iOS app store you can see our latest podcast, our news stories our latest and greatest and find out the latest notifications of anything breaking. This week is the PAC 12 it begins this week and I like to call this week is a PAC 12 week at the sports cast like going on it is the last call like the very last major College Football Conference beginning this weekend. The ACC big 10 Big 12 have all started ACC as well as started already about a couple of weeks in maybe a month or two in and this week. We’re previewing the PAC 12 a conference up in the Pacific Northwest or in the West Coast. It goes all the way from Washington State to Arizona, California. You name it. And today we have a special guest a person that I found on Twitter very popular when it comes to the to like the PAC 12 is Mr. Ken doble. He runs a website and i and i and which I actually have him. talk to you all about it. Kent, welcome back to the sports cast.

Kevin Doepel
Hey, thankful to be on and thankful to be talking back to a football game.

Santiago Leon
West Coast CIF FB college football Tell us about your website. And what is it all? I mean, I’m all about.

Kevin Doepel
Yeah, so our website is West Coast.

Check it out, we have a lot of great Pac 12. Mountain.

It’s free web site, it’s I think it’s the largest website that is free that covers you know, there’s a lot of paywalls these days, we don’t do that to you. free content for our readers and listeners on our podcast. You know, great content that’ll break down, you know, you can find out a lot about your team and other teams in the conference. Just go by our site. So you know, with Pac 12 football starting up in just a few days now definitely check out the website, West Coast cfp.com. And, you know, you’ll definitely get a good rundown of what to expect the season.

Santiago Leon
And that’s right. You guys also follow other conferences, like like the Mountain West Conference and the Big Sky, correct?

Kevin Doepel
Yes, yeah, we do. So if you’re a Mountain West fan, Big Sky fan, check us out as well. A lot of great content, they’re going to check us on Twitter at West Coast CFB. A lot of great stats and analysis going on there. So definitely give us a follow in check out the content. We hope you like it.

Santiago Leon
Definitely a great website. I checked it out today. Very simple and clean. I’m a web developer. So I do like clean websites, just like yours.

Kevin Doepel
Oh, appreciate that. Yeah, we definitely tend to keep it just kind of eye clean. Just provide just the you know, the content people are looking for is just football. So we’re providing that football for them. And again, it’s a free site. So for me at least, it’s frustrating and trying to like, you know, you end up having to pay for a million different sites these days. You know, everyone has a paywall. So it’s like, here you are trying to find you just trying to follow, you know, conferences, a whole bunch of different websites for different teams have paywalls and things like that. So it makes it tough. And so we decide to be that place that people can come for free and just really get that information in quality information.

Santiago Leon
That is my business model when it comes to internet business has things for free, but have some type of premium down the road somewhere. And of course has to be very special, valuable. But we’ll talk about internet businesses a little bit later on the podcast. The Pac 12 begins this weekend. Can’t a lot going on. Before we go on to each team. How do you feel about it and train this weekend?

Kevin Doepel
Yeah, I think it’s gonna be really interesting. You know, I think that from what we’ve seen in other conferences, there’s been a lot of upsets. Um, I think that with the how teams are having to practice and prepare for the season. And, you know, players opting out and things like that, you know, I don’t think that we it’s hard to feel as As Neil knowledgable exactly about what’s going to happen with how these teams have had to adapt this year. So I think that it’s going to be a really fun weekend and I think that we could see some pretty big upsets.

Santiago Leon
Let’s begin with the south of Pac 12. With the Utah boots, they made a impressive run last season, they made it to the PAC 12 championship. Tell us what are we gonna look at Utah for this season?

Kevin Doepel
Yeah, Utah. I think how Whittingham is just one of the best coaches in the ACC football, if not the best. So, you know, they lost a lot of their defense. I mean, I think they lost 90 or 200 events from last year, which was an outstanding defense, they just have gotten to a point where they reload more than rebuild. So even with the losses on on defense, their offense is looking really good this year. I think that they’re really tough team to be especially in Salt Lake City. So you know, that’s a team kind of a dark horse in the PAC 12 to maybe come out with the PAC 12, South title championship. I would never count them out just based on their style of play. They’re very physical, very good defense. In a short season, you know, they have a great chance to kind of pull out the

apple, South

Santiago Leon
Utah boots in the pitcher. And hopefully that will go well, because they had a good run, love to see a new team like that. And the PAC 12. emerge. Let’s go to Arizona. How do you see Arizona for this season?

Kevin Doepel
Yeah, unfortunately for Arizona, I think that there might be some struggles here. They do have a very talented quarterback, though, and they actually do have some pretty good pieces on offense. You know, I think that Gary bright well, is a very talented runner.

And then their defense.

It’s been a struggle for the past few years. But when I was looking at their depth chart, they have some really big bodies along the D line that they haven’t had in the past. So you know, maybe we see an improvement on defense. And I think that their offense with Grand Canal could have some potential. So while it’s kind of projected to be maybe a bit of a struggle, you know, into one in five season, for all we know, they could didn’t get the right defense going. They might be a plus some games and pull some upsets.

Santiago Leon
Let’s go on to Colorado, the Colorado buffaloes, they hired a new coach this season. Carl, Doral, February. Tell us a little bit about Colorado, how well will they do the season?

Kevin Doepel
Yeah, I think they they might be the biggest unknown in the facts, wolf. Their defense actually impressed me at the end of last year, they start playing pretty well. This year, you know, I don’t see them as being a super talented team, I would probably have them either as demmer Arizona, probably the bottom of the PAC 12 south. But I mean, if they can capitalize on what they were doing at the end of last year, then maybe they can surprise some people as well. So I wouldn’t count them out just yet. But you know, they definitely might be a long year for them as well.

Santiago Leon
Also has a great home field advantage, you know, playing in a high altitude, but I guess it doesn’t really matter.

Kevin Doepel
Yeah, Folsom field is a really, really cool environment. I’ve loved my trips down there. It’s one of the coolest places you can see a game with the view and just the atmosphere in the city itself is really, really cool. Um, I definitely recommend that is maybe the best road trip in the PAC 12. So if people wanted to check something out, definitely go there for a game and you have altitude can make an impact on on teams is it’s not always the easiest thing to do to go play too high of an elevation.

Santiago Leon
Now let’s go to California. Our first California team will talk tonight, UCLA, and a lot of people connect UCLA which have Kelly, very famous, he could he used to coach for Oregon. Tell us about this team. And how well will they do this season?

Kevin Doepel
Yeah, UCLA, you know, I actually thought when they hired Chip Kelly that it was a home run hire that they’re gonna become a very, very good program. So I was shocked when they haven’t gotten that well the past few years. They have a talented quarterback in Dorian Thompson Robinson. I think that dimetric Felton is a very talented runner. So excited, see what he can do. There’s some you know, they recruit Well, they haven’t recruited as well under chip Kelly’s I did under Mora, um, but they might go surprise us. You know, they’ve been young the past few years. I still think they’re going to be fairly young this year. A lot of sophomores and juniors, but, you know, I think that they could make that step. But my initial thought was middle of the pack full of South middle pack team. But again, they could surprise as well.

Santiago Leon
UCLA, of course, is a team to look out. Let’s go on to Arizona State. Of course, a lot of people reference them with Herman Edwards, who used to coach with the Jets. He did well with Arizona, with Arizona State last year, which they beat Oregon. Do you think they’ll have a good run this year?

Kevin Doepel
Yeah, I’m actually very excited by Arizona State and actually one of the games I’m most excited about this weekend. if not more excited about is that Arizona State USC game 9am pacific time on Fox. That’s gonna be a really good matchup. I think that game these are the two contenders for the PAC 12. South. So, winner that games on the inside track on winning that Pac doc title. Game Daniels is very good. Keeping slopes at USD also very good. I mean, this is gonna be an amazing game. If they can pull that one out, then, you know, ASU has a great chance for a special season. And like you said, I mean they they beat Oregon last year, and they may end up playing Oregon again in the PAC 12. title this year. And based on last year, yeah, you can’t count them out. So definitely a great chance to win the PAC 12 title this year.

Santiago Leon
Definitely curious how well they do well this season. I know that a good run and hopefully we’ll see they repeated again. Why words? I’m I’m a fan of him. And hopefully, he’ll continue his endeavors at Arizona State. Let’s go on to USC, a lot of the pundits are saying that their favorite in the south potentially going to the championship game. They have a great recruiting system. Great. I can’t say great recruiting class. I mean, a good recruiting class. Tell us what do you see for USC this season?

Kevin Doepel
Yeah, I actually think USC is the best roster and Pac 12. Top to bottom this year. So I mean, they brought back so many great players from last year. To me, the only real question is more so on the coaching side of things. I think they if you were to simply just match up teams in the PAC 12 with with no coaching, then I think USC is the team to beat in the PAC 12. Clay Helton, I think it’s we’ve kind of everyone’s been thinking, like, you know, it’s hard to know exactly where he stands having up and down there. But I do like his hires. I think that Graham Harrell is an amazing offensive coordinator. He also made a good defensive coordinator higher this year as well. So, to be honest, I mean, I think that they might be the best team in the PAC 12 this year and I just don’t know the coaching to get them all the way to winning the title. But that would be my pick for the PAC 12 South champion,

Santiago Leon
which will be making predictions towards the end of the show of the standings and who will be in the PAC 12 championship. So get ready for that. Okay, let’s go up a little bit north near area. The Cougars cougars of Washington State. Um, what do you have to say about them

Kevin Doepel
that I like they’re hired NyQuil ditch, um, I do think it’s gonna be a little bit of a rebuilding season. I think that Leach is a great coach. losing him is is not easy. But I think that Nick rolovich did a good job of hiring Jake dicker from Wyoming. He’s a really good defensive coordinator. I think it’s just one year. You know, like, I think that first year is gonna be a little bit rough. of a middle road Pac 12 team is kind of my initial impression. They just don’t get the pieces. But they did have some transfers this year too. So definitely watch out for Max borghi one of the best players in the PAC 12 he’s definitely special one maybe my most favorite player to watch. Great athlete catch the ball in the backfield can also run really well. They’re actually starting a freshman at quarterback Jaden Dora so that’ll be fun to watch. But you know, usually a freshman isn’t gonna win a ton of game so I think it’s gonna be a bit of a rebuilding year but definitely excited to watch their style play

Santiago Leon
the Post Mike Leach era let’s go on to Oregon State here at the sports cast we were we were going back and forth with the few Oregon State fans on Twitter What do you have to say about them?

Kevin Doepel
No, I think that

they surprise some people last year I think that Jonathan Smith has been a surprisingly good hire I think that he’s done good things there so I’m you know theater really good quarterback last year and Jake Luton who actually is gonna be starting for the Jaguars this week. So it’d be see weird to see how they adapt to losing him because he made their offense really good last year, um, defense, you know, struggled at times. So I think that they have some really good they also have one of the fastest teams the pack Well, people may not realize that but when they had their player combine back in March, they had like five guys run sub 4.4. So they have a ton of speed actually at wide receiver and even at running back to so definitely watch out for them and they could surprise some people. And the last one some really good deep threats this year. And champ Fleming’s is really fun to watch. He’s like five foot 540 pounds. So if you’re not a you know, normally watch Pac 12 football but definitely tune into an Oregon State game this year in this. It’s always fun to watch a guy who’s five foot five, run down the field and catch some balls and he’s pretty good.

Santiago Leon
Let’s go to the Huskies very competitive team in the PAC 12 What What do you have them? You know? Like what do you have them you know for this season

Kevin Doepel
yeah Huskies I think that them as the second best Pac 12 team Hi. Um, but having a coaching change, and I think Peter Smith Oh, a bit rough for them new new offensive coordinator with john Donovan. So I mean I wasn’t very impressed with his tenure

as OC

hire for sure.

Defense it should be either the best or second best defense in the PAC 12. Offensively big question marks at quarterback. that’ll probably be just how well they can play at quarterback. If they go quarterback late I mean they have a chance at winning the PAC 12 North with mediocre QB play then they’re going to need to rely on hand the ball off and hoping that they’re off to blank and kind of get some running lanes going if not I mean it might be kind of a mediocre season for the Huskies so they have some could be a mediocre to a high ceiling team I’d say.

Santiago Leon
Let’s go on to the Oregon Ducks. Definitely the top two favorites in the PAC 12 of course this is a this is a team that is not what Justin Herbert but it’s still a very good team, their defense and everything. Tell us about Oregon Ducks will they make a good run this year?

Kevin Doepel
It makes them of talent plus coaching. We mentioned earlier you have a great talent but the coaching kind of doesn’t quite Oregon barrio crystal ball has been made amazing. Here’s Joe Morehead was amazing state as offensive coordinator. Andy of all those was great as defense coordinator at Boise State and then now was doing really well in Oregon. They did lose Justin Herbert and it’s been fun watching him play on Sundays. So that is the big question mark around the ducks is you know, how can how can they do a quarterback this year, but every other piece on offense and defense feels pretty special. They did have some OPT outs at dB so that will be anything to watch. But I think that their defense is probably gonna be the best in the PAC 12. And they are definitely to me the best option for the PAC 12 to make the playoffs this year.

Santiago Leon
Oregon Ducks are definitely a favorite here at the sportscast. Let’s go to Stanford not only intellectual, but also a good college, college football team. Tell us about this team and how deep can they go in the PAC 12. Yet

Kevin Doepel
setting Stanford

to me Actually, I think that was kind of frustrated me to watch over the past few years is they had a great brand to play when they were just the physical team in the PAC 12 that was running the ball and using their tight ends and running backs and old line just to dominate teams. It seems like once they hired to Peter Pritchard, as it was, he started tossing the ball around a lot. And once they started throwing the ball at the time, their their wind started decreasing, the more they throw it. So, um, I think they need to get back to, to what made Stanford great, which is just being that big physical running team. I think back to that kind of brand, I think that they can be special, but I think that they’re stylish, they’re trying to play with being the passing team, they don’t really have like the skill on the outside of the offense to be that team. They just, you know, have that kind of niche. Similar to Utah. We’re just the physical running team. And I think that is really impactful in the PAC 12 as well, because a lot of teams are a little smaller on defense. So if you can be that big team, I think that’s a huge advantage. But they’re talented. They’re one of the better recruiting teams, the PAC 12 great coach and David Shaw. So they could they could sneak up on some people in the game against Oregon this Saturday. You know, I think we’ll definitely get a kind of idea of just how good they are.

Santiago Leon
That’d be a great game to start off the PAC 12. California bears tell us about them. I know they’re very competitive team in the PAC 12

Kevin Doepel
Wilcox, I think he’s a great coach. They also have good quarterback play with Chase garbers. And you know, when he’s pulling for either offense actually works and they can score and then defense. So when he’s been playing there, they’re one of the best teams in the PAC 12 the past two years, but they lose every game essentially. And they cancel. So the key to them is just keeping them healthy. I think they’re gonna be really good this year. I think that the winner of the U dub cow game this Saturday, we’ll have the inside track on being the second best Pac 12 team and maybe we can upset Oregon and get to that Pac 12 North title. So that’s gonna be a fun one to watch and definitely curious to see. I love Chris Brown. The running back. He’s He’s massive. He’s like 612 35 ran all over u dub last year. He’s a big physical presence, he can think he’s the more fun pack of running backs to watch. And I think that he’s gonna have a big impact on this season in the PAC 12. There

Santiago Leon
you have it, that is our preview. I mean, that’s Ken’s preview of each team in depth when it comes to talent coaches. And of course, we’re that in the schedule now let’s go on to each part of the PAC 12 and see who will finish first to last and let’s start with the North can’t from from like the very bottom to the top. How does it end up at the end of the season?

Kevin Doepel
very bottom, you know, in the north

um, see if this was your Oregon State Park at the bottom for me. I’ve been going back and forth on this that’s a tough one I’m gonna I’ll say I’ll say Oregon State’s at the bottom but I’m not convinced I don’t feel fully convinced in that thought process. I think that whole north is actually pretty good. And so putting them last I don’t think the worst thing that actual by any means, but I’ll probably put Oregon State last.

And then at the five spot I would put Wazoo

for spots spot. That’d be Stanford their three spot. Again, it’s a toss up here between UW Cal.

I’ve been going back and forth on that one too.

I’ll go I’ll go UW three spot Cal two spot. We’re gonna have the one spot there and then we’ll move to the move to the south. I would say number six, probably Arizona five Colorado. Four spot there. Obviously UCLA three, Utah to ASU and then one USC. So we had a PAC 12 matchup of USC, UCLA, Oregon in a championship.

Santiago Leon
And who are your top three players that will impact the PAC 12 this season?

Kevin Doepel
That’s good question. Would it be along the lines of the best players or more some like, you know, like how Oregon’s quarterback plays? The best

Santiago Leon
players?

Kevin Doepel
best players? Yeah, that’s also really good question. I think that you know, different players have different abilities to impact a game I think the quarterback position full of what happens at this at USC. I would put number one, I think that his his play can can make a huge impact Nikki makes the USC team run due to their success this year. I think number two, I’d say Jane Daniels at ASU think that he is a very talented quarterback and should create a lot for them.

Number three, that’s tough.

Maybe kayvon Thibodeaux I think that he can be pretty special this year. If you can create some havoc off the edge. I mean, that could really bolster that duck defense. And he was really fun to watch last year. So I would say he’s probably my number three in terms of someone who can really impact the game and, and make things difficult for the opposing team.

Santiago Leon
So yeah, yeah, it seems like the talent pool is pretty good this year. Tell us who will be at the PAC 12 championship game this season.

Kevin Doepel
Yeah, I think USC and Oregon and I would pick Oregon to win that matchup, it’s gonna be a really fun one. They both teams have a ton of NFL talent. And like Oregon’s coaching edge, which gives them the advantage. So definitely the ducks are going to pull up the title this year.

Santiago Leon
Will a PAC 12 team make it to the playoffs?

Kevin Doepel
It’s a good question. You know, I it’s been interesting to watch this year, big twelves have some struggles? I think the big 12 probably out. But question to me is, will the ACC maybe get two teams or sec? I’ll set it back. We’ll just not get in. Actually, I think that. I don’t know if they’re playing enough games that’s going to give them enough respect to get to that point. I think that past year’s panel has kind of lost that respect nationally. So even if a team goes seven No, I think there’s a good chance that maybe like a Clemson team with one loss if they were to lose Notre Dame this weekend, they will get in still owes back well, I don’t think the PAC 12 is kind of built that brand yet.

So I’ll say no, I’ll say don’t get in.

Santiago Leon
Yeah, that’s something that I was thinking about when I first heard the news of Trevor Lawrence getting COVID and that’d be be able to play for two games that there is a chance that Clemson could lose and that could open up a door for for a like the PAC 12 winner but of course there’s a lot of different variables we’re looking at SEC is stacked and and there could be two sec teams going to the playoffs.

Kevin Doepel
Yeah, I just wonder like if Clemson was to lose, you know, I think people without trouble Lauren’s playing that they might just put Notre Dame and Clemson in. And then you know, one last sec team I think is gonna get more respect than a PAC 12 team with no losses. And maybe that’s deserved. You know, Pac 12 hasn’t really impressed on the national stage in a while and they don’t really seem to to win the big bowl game. So You know, I don’t know, without having an on schedule this year, it’s gonna be really hard for people to think pratfalls worthy of that playoff spot. I mean, ideally, they would expand the playoff this year with the limited sample sizes that we have in terms of non conference games, but I didn’t want that it’s gonna happen. So that’s time being I don’t think

Santiago Leon
it’d be a great year to experiment, a expanded playoffs be great to see but no word on that. And yes, I think it should be an interesting year with COVID. Tell us about what are the rules with the PAC 12 and COVID. I know that each conference is different. I know, one of the compromise was to have testing every day, I believe rapid testing. I know that in the big 10. If, if one player gets contracts COVID, he is out for two weeks, what are the rules for COVID in the PAC 12.

Kevin Doepel
So the tax will rule as at least 53 scholarship players to be able to play a game. So if you were to fall below that, then you would not have to cancel the game. And even breaks down by like position group or things like that. So you can go even further and do it. I don’t know that I’ll top my head on the details of it. But there’s rules like you have to have a minimum amount of offensive lineman, quarterbacks, things like that you can’t like have all your quarterbacks out and still play a game. So that’s the big one. And then they are doing testing consistently. You have to be able to perform contact tracing, things like that. But the big one is just that the cancellation rule is the if you don’t have 53 players eligible, then you have to cancel the game, which we have seen in like other conferences do so. Hopefully, it doesn’t get to that point, though.

Santiago Leon
Yeah, we’ll see how it goes with the PAC 12. I know some, like the big 10 feels like it’s the most strenuous of all of them. But hopefully that will not be the case for the PAC 12. Hopefully, we’ll have a good healthy season. Um, before we head into predictions, will there be fans in the stadiums for the PAC 12?

Kevin Doepel
That’s like state by state, you know, generally, but I don’t know, teams haven’t fans this year. So that could still be up to up to change a lot is based on the governors of each state and what they apply. So what kind of wait to see on that.

At the moment, no fan acted first weekend.

Santiago Leon
Quite interesting. Great to see and the 9am are you in favor of a early early schedule for the PAC 12 rather than the late night games?

Kevin Doepel
You know, I’m definitely like the wait and see mode of it.

Before the watch, you know, on starting any in

games kind of cool. But I wouldn’t want to attend a game at 9am. I mean, that’s way too early to, you know, have a chance to tailgate or anything like that. Right. So, um, you know, from, I think from what TV watching perspective, I think it’s, it’s fine. What’s the quality of players, you know, players might be pretty tired, I’m gonna be waking up at like, four in the morning to have that game be played. So, you know, hopefully, we’re gonna get a good level of play not to tire tire players. So it’s only a wait and see to see the kind of quality that comes out of it. And I wouldn’t necessarily want it going forward once there’s fans back in the in the stadium, because I think that it is a kind of, I think that tailgating for fans is a huge part of the game and you lose to having that end game. So I would say that going forward, I would probably be against it.

Santiago Leon
It would be cool. We’ll be good for East Coast ratings. But of course, you’ll be competing against the other big conferences. So looking forward to see those numbers see how it is with with with TV ratings.

Kevin Doepel
Yeah, I agree. I think that, you know, the nice part of the 7pm slot is a not much competition. But the negative is that a lot of people aren’t even watching. So, you know, where’s 9am? There’s lots of eyeballs, but lots of competition. You know, breaking even, you know, in terms of ratings may not make even make a difference. Or maybe it’s worse. We’ll see.

Santiago Leon
We’ll see Pac 12 is usually on the fox, big Fox network. Let’s go into week one predictions. Let’s start with Arizona state at USC. We got Ken

Kevin Doepel
Yeah. us. I think the us all this came out. I think it’s gonna mix.

I have a

faith in staff. I think that ASU is better coached. But I think that USC talented, talented and skilled enough, and I’ll say that USC pulls this one out kind of a defensive battle a little bit. I think they’ll win 24 to 21.

Santiago Leon
Arizona versus Utah.

Kevin Doepel
Well, for Arizona, I don’t It’s a good matchup for Arizona.

They’re honest.

Maybe there’s like in surprises, you know, against Utah D

reports out of the Utah training camp.

So maybe grant can happen but my initial thought is that Utah just kind of kind of run the ball control the clock, think Utah

and 17.

Santiago Leon
UCLA versus Colorado buffaloes.

Kevin Doepel
Yeah, it’s gonna be a good one. I think that these team we matched in the game being in Colorado is an edge for Colorado. I think UCLA barely wins this game. I’ll say something like 33 to 30. But you know, I’m, it’s gonna be a fun one of these. I mean, one of them are closer games this weekend.

Santiago Leon
That should be an interesting matchup, Stanford at the Oregon Ducks.

Kevin Doepel
This is gonna be a fun one, too. I think that we don’t really know what to expect with with Stanford or Oregon at the quarterback position. So I think Oregon could have a little bit of a slow start in game one. The Smart move for them would be to rely on their running game. And I think we’re in something in a win this game. But the question is by how much? It may be closer than people think I would say Oregon 27. Stanford 17.

Santiago Leon
Quite interesting. Good to see Marcus the ball back in the field, Washington Huskies at California bears.

Kevin Doepel
This is probably the most competitive game of the weekend. And this is the one I’ve gone back and forth on the most in terms of who’s going to win this game. And this is why it’s really hard to to rank these two teams and think about the North. I think that Washington has more talent top to bottom, and it’s not even close, I would say. But California has great scheme and more experience, and maybe the better coaching staff. So you know, I think that Jimmy likes unproven at this point. While Wilcox is more proven. I think both teams have very good defenses. I think you’re better at defense, I think that Cal’s offense is gonna be better. This is going to be kind of just a really close game, probably low scoring with the kind of mediocre offenses going against really good defenses. Um,

it’s, it’s hard to say I mean, I might go

I think it’s I’ll say Husky 17. Cow 14. But I mean, I’ve gone back and forth on this one all week. So honestly, my opinion might change tomorrow on this one size, it’s tough. I think that YouTube’s talent advantage might give them a slight edge. And you’d have done a lot of tackling drills in practice this week. So I think that we’ve seen teams, you know, and I clean in Miss large ackles and done a lot of that. So I think they’re deep. Hold on, hold on, and when

Santiago Leon
I will make sure to, to watch out for the game this weekend. Finally, the Cougars at the beavers.

Kevin Doepel
This should be a fun one on offense. You know both teams don’t have great defense. But fun, explosive skill players. So this would be a really close game. I think that we can say it’s gonna win this one. I’ll say Oregon State pulls it back with a

I’ll say 3047 win.

Santiago Leon
24 awesome. This is great. 3427 when Yeah. 3427. And it feels like you are I in one game? I think it was one game that you were girl kind of going back and forth, I think was Washington, California, right.

Kevin Doepel
Yeah. I think that was tough to call to be honest. But I’ll say Huskies when 17 to 14?

Santiago Leon
Yeah, for sure. I mean, I’ll definitely look at that. I’ve been hearing other pundits saying the same thing. So looking forward to the PAC 12 opening weekend, this weekend on Saturday. It’s going to be very visible for the East coasters. Yes, you can watch it, but instead of 1030 at night, you can watch it at 12pm during lunchtime, so definitely looking at the PAC 12. And I’m hoping that the PAC 12 will be competitive enabled able to go to the playoffs this year can’t.

Kevin Doepel
Yeah, I’m definitely hoping that we can have the PAC 12 team in the playoffs this year. You know, it’s been a long time since we’ve had that it’s been since 2016. So definitely, you know, do to have people in play on the big stage. So hoping that can happen. Hopefully we get some good matchups this year, some fun games, hopefully a high quality of play and that everyone’s ready to kind of have a full slate of games again. So I think one of the best aspects of cultural balls when you just have a Saturday and it’s just, you know 70 games going on one day You turn on the TV and it’s like seven games going at once, and everyone looks forward to most. So having the PAC 12 back i think is definitely a nice addition for a lot of fans.

Santiago Leon
Yeah, cool fan. College Football is in full swing once a PAC 12 then so I’m really glad to see you guys back. And I’m glad that you guys didn’t postpone your season till next spring.

Kevin Doepel
Yeah, no, I think I have an awful idea and how is very opposed to having the spring season? I think that’s just like a stupid idea. Frankly, and I think that it, no one would want to be honest. Meaning if everyone’s already played the playoff, things like that. So it’s good they made it happen in the fall. And it’s it’s nice that we finally you’re gonna have like a kind of back to a normal college football season having everyone buying again.

Santiago Leon
Exactly can’t what is the best way to reach you? And tell us about your website and how and how can people go to that website.

Kevin Doepel
So definitely find us on Twitter,

FB again, that’s West Coast CFP, lots of great stats highlights analysis, you should actually be entertained. If you if you enjoy college football. More, especially for your pocket Mountain West man. definitely give us take a look at our website. It’s West Coast cfb.com. And a lot of articles that will kind of give you information on the PAC 12 and Mountain West and Big Sky. So definitely take a look at the website. Check out some articles. It’s free, which is awesome. And you’ll definitely get a good run down on your team before the Saturday in or if you’re a national fan, and you want to get an idea of how the PAC 12 looks. Let’s take a look at the website and you’ll get a good idea.

Santiago Leon
Definitely check out the website. I checked it out. It’s pretty awesome, clean, great content, and they have writers from and all over all over like the West Coast. So very, very informed if you if you can’t, you know if you want a alternative. Go there. Check it out. Give us a quick recap on the Mountain West. How’s it doing so far?

Kevin Doepel
Yeah, nontheless has been pretty fun to watch. I think that Boise State again looks like the class of the conference on San Diego State should be a threat. San Jose State is even had some surprising surprising wins so far. So definitely keep an eye out for them. But different things that Boise State is your favorite once again, which is nothing really new to most fans. You know, Boise State is kind of the class of the Mountain West. So check out their games to check out Boise State and they might end up in a ny six game. So should be fun to see them this weekend. This Friday, actually, they’re playing BYU. So that’s one of the best games of the weekend. BYU was ranked number nine and Boise State is number 21. Boy, so both teams actually have a chance. You know, I’m making chili. So if you’re looking for a fun game on Friday night, that’s the game to watch. And that actually might be the best game of the entire weekend on the west coast.

Santiago Leon
A lot of good games going on with college football, definitely looking. Looking forward to it. And of course you can follow us a long on our Twitter at the sports cast one or on our website, the sports cast dotnet check out our app the sports cast app for iPhone iOS, get the latest and greatest get notifications of the latest podcasts coming in. And also the latest article. We’ll have more Pac 12 coverage this week and looking forward to this weekend. Really happy to have can’t can’t thank you so much for the information. This preview I am so I’m one more knowledge now than I was like two hours ago.

Kevin Doepel
Well, I appreciate that. You know, I appreciate you having me on. It’s fun talk Pac 12 football in Mountain West football. None you know, definitely hope that the listeners you know got some information on the PAC 12 especially fans that may not have been packed with fans to begin with. Give you a good rundown before the weekend’s games and hope you’ll kind of go into those games a little more knowledge of how the PAC 12 looks.

Santiago Leon
Pac 12 and full swing college football and phone swing now. Can’t thanks for coming on to this podcast.

Kevin Doepel
Yeah, appreciate it. I’ll see you soon.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai