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Big-picture question on Arizona as we begin a 12-part series predicting the outcome of every game for every team in the Pac-12:
Will the Wildcats contend in the South or continue their fair-to-middlin’ ways, thereby confirming what skeptics believed at the time — that the 2014 division title was a one-off, not the new normal under Rich Rodriguez.
Much depends on Anu Solomon, of course. I don’t remember a Pac-12 quarterback who touched both extremes of the spectrum so quickly:
Wins a division title as a freshman, struggles with consistency/injury as a sophomore (seventh in efficiency in conference games) and enters his third season with a tenuous hold on the job.
Solomon (or Brandon Dawkins) will have a first-rate group of receivers at his disposal. But I’m hardly sold on the offensive line or any unit of the defense, and the schedule, while soft early and late, is grueling in the middle and will severely test Arizona’s depth.
I’m not sure the Wildcats hold up.
Coach: Rich Rodriguez
Season: Fifth
Record: 33-20
Win totals by season: 8-8-10-7
Job security: Airtight.
Notable: Posted winning record in conference play once in four years (division title in 2014).
Here we go …
Sept. 3: vs. Brigham Young (in Glendale)
Result: Win
Record: 1-0
Comment: Tight to the finish but tailback Nick Wilson is the difference as Wildcats start with a spirited victory that hyper-inflates expectations.
Sept. 10: vs. Grambling State
Result: Win
Record: 2-0
Comment: Routine blowout.
Sept. 17: vs. Hawaii
Result: Win
Record: 3-0
Comment: With kudos rolling in, and with an eye on Week Four, Wildcats start slowly but take control late.
Sept. 24: vs. Washington
Result: Win
Record: 4-0/1-0
Comment: The Zona Zoo is rocking on a blistering night as Arizona jumps to an early lead and holds on for the upset.
Oct. 1: at UCLA
Result: Loss
Record: 4-1/1-1
Comment: Reality is the road, Josh Rosen, and UCLA’s defense.
Oct. 8: at Utah
Result: Loss
Record: 4-2/1-2
Comment: RichRod’s ownership of this series comes to an end as the Utes’ defensive front dominates.
Oct. 15: vs. USC
Result: Loss
Record: 4-3/1-3
Comment: Losses mounting, the Wildcats put too much pressure on themselves in front of antsy sellout crowd. Mistakes follow, as does a loss.
Oct. 22: Bye
Comment: Recharge, regroup and forget the previous three weeks.
Oct. 29: vs. Stanford
Result: Loss
Record: 4-4/1-4
Comment: Performance improves, but Arizona’s style and personnel are all wrong for Stanford’s power game.
Nov. 5: at Washington State
Result: Loss
Record: 4-5/1-5
Comment: Not close.
Nov. 12: vs. Colorado
Result: Win
Record: 5-5/2-5
Comment: A struggle, but Wildcats end the five-game losing streak and move one victory from a bowl berth.
Nov. 19: at Oregon State
Result: Loss
Record: 5-6/2-6
Comment: Feeling good after the long-awaited W … and with ASU looming … Wildcats snooze through a cold, rainy, depressing defeat.
Nov. 25: vs. Arizona State (Friday)
Result: Win
Record: 6-6/3-6
Comment: It could be worse for the Wildcats. They could be ASU.
Coming later this morning: Arizona State predictions.
* Follow me on Twitter: @WilnerHotline
The post Pac-12 football: Arizona game-by-game predictions for 2016 appeared first on College Hotline.
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by Jon Wilner
