Oregon Football Predictions
TweetOregon has been the team to beat in the Pac-12 since Chip Kelly stepped on campus. It has captured three Pac-12 championships in his three seasons while compiling a 34-6 record.
Kelly led the Ducks to a 12-2 mark in 2011, punctuating another stellar campaign with a victory over UCLA in the conference title game and a win over Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl.
It appears Kelly has laid the foundation for Oregon to be a national power for years to come.
Offense
The Ducks finished first in the Pac-12 in both scoring and total offense last season with 46.1 points and 522.8 yards per game. In order to remain the most potent offense in the league, they must find a capable replacement for quarterback Darron Thomas.
Sophomore Bryan Bennett and redshirt freshman Marcus Mariota both show promise. Bennett led the Ducks to a pair of wins last season while Thomas missed time with a knee injury, but Mariota outplayed him in the spring game.
Whoever ends up as the starter will benefit from a solid line that returns three starters and another player, Jake Fisher, who logged significant minutes as a freshman. The quarterback will also benefit from the presence of running backs Kenjon Barner and De’Anthony Thomas. These two have the ability to fill the shoes of LaMichael James.
Barner averaged over six yards per carry last season while rushing for 939 yards and 11 scores. Thomas, who will be utilized all over the field, rushed for 595 yards and seven touchdowns and had 46 receptions for 605 yards and nine scoress.
Outside of Thomas, junior Josh Huff is the biggest receiving threat. He hauled in 31 passes for 430 yards and two touchdowns last year.
Defense
The stop unit finished fifth in the Pac-12 in both total and scoring defense in 2011 with 390.1 yards and 24.6 points allowed per contest. The unit wasn’t dominant, but it was good enough to get the job done.
The defense may actually be asked to carry the load at times this season as the offense breaks in a new signal caller.
The defensive line is talented with juniors Taylor Hart and Wade Keliikipi anchoring the unit. Hybrid end/linebacker Dion Jordan, who is coming off a 7.5-sack campaign, is one of the most feared pass rushers in the league.
Despite the loss of two starting linebackers, the second layer of the defense should remain stout with seniors Michael Clay and Kiki Alonso holding down the fort.
Senior John Boyett, who is once of the best free safeties in the entire nation, is the leader in the defensive backfield. He is coming off a 108-tackle season.
PAC-12 North Prediction: 1st Place
Oregon should have an opportunity to play for a fourth straight conference title.
A Nov. 3 matchup at USC, who defeated the Ducks last season, will be a major test, but I don’t see anyone else in the Pac-12 tripping them up.
The schedule is very favorable early. The Ducks don’t play a true road game until their seventh game of the season. That will give the young quarterbacks a chance to get comfortable with the offense and gain confidence.
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