The Oregon Ducks haven’t been in the College Football Playoff conversation for a half-decade but hope this is the year that changes. Oregon got a huge boost when star quarterback Justin Herbert passed on a chance to be a top-10 NFL draft pick to return to school. The Ducks offense should be explosive, and if the defense can step up, this group should be in contention for the Pac-12 title and maybe even in the national championship hunt. The program has fallen since the halcyon days of Chip Kelly but the optimism is warranted in 2019.
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Oregon regular season win total
o9 +120
u9 -145
Oregon Ducks Win Total Odds Analysis
Oregon went 9-4 a season ago, and the return of a lot of key players from that group is the reason why the chances are good at improvement. It would take a very successful regular season in order to hit the “over” on the projected win total, as the Ducks have not captured 10 regular season games since 2014.
Oregon begins the year with a huge clash against Auburn in a contest that could play a big role in the win total wager even though it’s only the first game of the season. The Ducks follow that up with non-conference games against Nevada and Montana. The Pac-12 slate begins at Stanford, followed by home games against California and Colorado.
One of Oregon’s toughest stretches is back-to-back games against Washington and Washington State, and it will wrap up the season with matchups against USC, Arizona, Arizona State and Oregon State. The schedule is frontloaded, so if the Ducks can win a few of their high-profile battles, things will be looking good down the stretch.
Oregon Odds
Herbert threw for 3,151 yards and 29 touchdowns a season ago, but he wasn’t quite as prolific as hoped. All the tools are there and he needs to put it all together for this team to push for the conference title. He will be without Dillon Mitchell, last year’s 1,000-yard receiver, but there is belief that Juwan Johnson, Johnny Johnson III, Brenden Schooler and true freshman Mycah Pittman will be a solid group. The offensive line could be one of the team’s biggest strengths, as it has all sorts of experience. C.J. Verdell and Travis Dye are expected to be the 1-2 punch in the running game.
The offense should put up points, and it will be up to the defense to slow down opponents to truly get this team in the College Football Playoff conversation. Jordan Scott is the nose tackle who will try to lock things down against the run, while highly-rated recruit Kayvon Thibodeaux could have a role right away. Troy Dye was easily the team’s leading tackler a season ago and returns to lead the linebackers, and the secondary boasts a pair of three-year starters in Thomas Graham, Jr. and Deommodore Lenoir.
Key Stats or Trends
Oregon has one of the most talented teams in the Pac-12, and if Herbert takes the leap to stardom, this team could be tough to beat. The first game of the year against Auburn will be an indication of how ready it is to compete with the big boys, and the games against Washington and Washington State could help determine the fate of the season. The Ducks are no longer a perennial power but it looks like 2019 could be an impressive year for this group.
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