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2009 Oregon College Football Predictions

Written by Jimmy Boyd

oregon 7709 The transition from Mike Bellotti, who took over as athletic director, to Chip Kelly couldn’t have gone much smoother as the Ducks recorded a 10-win season and capped it all off with a 42-31 win over Oklahoma State in the Holiday Bowl. Now the question has to be asked if the Ducks are ready to challenge USC for a Pac-10 title. Get my take in this 2009 college football betting preview. Oregon is listed at +3300 to win the 2009 BCS Championship.

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Offense – The Ducks were one of the best offensive teams in the nation in 2008 behind a ridiculous running game. They put up 41.9 points per game (7th nationally) and 484.9 yards per game (also 7th nationally). 280.1 of those yards came on the ground as the Ducks boasted the nation’s second best ground game. Jeremiah Masoli returns at QB and figures to be one of the most exciting players in the conference with his ability to beat you with his arm and legs. He threw for 1,744 yards and 13 touchdowns last season and Kelly is confident that he will be an even better passer this season. LeGarrette Blount joins him in the backfield as one of the most punishing runners in the country. He rushed for 1,002 yards and 17 scores last season. Ultra quick redshirt freshman LaMichael James gives the Ducks a nice change of pace back also. The wide receiver corps lost a pair of starters, but juniors Jeff Maehl and Jamere Holland appear poised to take on bigger roles. The line must replace three starters, and that could keep the Ducks from matching last year’s gaudy offensive numbers.

Defense – The defensive line took a hit with the loss of three starters as well. Losing All-American pass rusher Nick Reed hurts the most. Only end Willie Tukuafu returns following a 7.5-sack campaign. Expect the Ducks to shuffle in a lot of different players and show opposing offenses a variety of looks to make up for their lack of star power. We can also expect defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti to get creative with his talented group of linebackers. He’ll use Casey Mathews to stuff the run in the middle and he’ll look to blitz with the athletic Spencer Paysinger and Eddie Pleasant. The Ducks gave up way too much through the air last season, allowing 270.2 yards per game (111th nationally). Losing Patrick Chung and Jarius Byrd hurts, but the Ducks return two very good players in Walter Thurmond III and T.J. Ward. Thurmond is a big play guy who recorded five interceptions last season and Ward is a stick; the team’s top returning tackler with 101 stops in 2008.

Prediction: 3rd Pac-10 Conference – The way I see it, the Ducks are a year away from a very special season. They’ll still give their fans plenty to cheer about in 2009 as they threaten another 10-win season, but ultimately I have them falling short of a Pac-10 title, as was the case in 2008. Oregon is listed at +400 to win the Pac-10.

Own your man in 2009 with the help of Jimmy Boyd’s expert football picks!

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