2008 Oregon Ducks Football Predictions

Will there be life for the Ducks after QB Dennis Dixon and running back Jonathan Stewart? Jimmy Boyd thinks so. Find out why he thinks the Ducks will still be giving defensive coordinators headaches in his 2008 Oregon Ducks predictions and season preview. The betting line for Oregon to win the BCS Championship is 100-1 at Sportsbook.com.
 

Bet on Football Using Your Credit Card

Offense

Sophomore QB Justin Roper starred in Oregon's 56-21 Sun Bowl win over South Florida, replacing the injured Dennis Dixon. He still hasn't won the job this season according to head coach Mike Bellotti, but he will see time on the field, and he will be good when called upon. Nate Costa might have the edge as he is a more mobile QB, which is favored in Oregon's spread-option offense. Despite losing Jonathan Stewart, the Ducks are stable at the tailback spot. Senior Jeremiah Johnson will be the starter. He rushed for 344 yards and five touchdowns in six games before suffering an ACL injury last season. I expect him to easily break the 1,000 yard mark like Stewart running behind one of the best offensive lines in the Pac-10. Senior Jaison Williams is the top receiver, having caught 55 balls for 844 yards and eight scores a season ago. Junior tight end Ed Dickson will be playing on Sunday's soon enough. He is one of the league's best.

Defense

With seven returning starters, the defense is expected to be Oregon's strength. This unit got an extra boost when senior rover Patrick Clung took his name out of consideration for the NFL draft. Chung led the Ducks with 117 tackles in 2007 and is joined by a pair of talented cornerbacks. Walter Thurmond III had 103 tackles and Jairus Byrd has a team-high seven interceptions last season. Senior defensive end Nick Reed is coming off a season in which he led the Pac-10 in sacks (12) and tackles for loss (22.5). Will Tukuafu returns to start opposite Reed. He is working off of a 4.5 sack season. John Bacon, Jerome Boyd, emerging star Casey Matthews, and Kevin Garrett will play the linebacker spots.

Special Teams

The Pac-10 had some good kickers in 2007 and Matt Evensen was certainly one of them. The Lou Groza Award finalist made 16 of his 20 field goal attempts. Fellow Pac-10 place kicker, Arizona State's Thomas Weber, won the award. Both return to duke it out again. Punter Josh Syria is coming off a good season in which he averages 41.7 yards per punt.

Prediction – 3rd Pac-10

The defense should be better, but it's going to be hard to beat USC again without Dixon and Stewart. There are still plenty of playmakers on the offense to give the rest of the league headaches in coach Bellotti's spread-option attack though. Having to play at USC, Arizona State, Cal, and rival Oregon State is not a forgiving schedule. Still, the Ducks should be poised for a third place finish. Oregon is listed at 13-2 odds to win the Pac-10 Conference.

Do all of your college football betting with Jimmy Boyd this season and win big. If the Pac is your conference, then you are in for a treat as Jimmy has made a killing in this conference over the past five seasons. We won't offer you any fluff or misleading numbers. We'll simply guarantee you winners and let the money in your bankroll speak for itself.

July 10th, 2008