With the 2013 season rapidly approaching, that can only mean a few things: new teams and new players. The Ducks are coming off one of their best seasons after posting an impressive 11-1 regular season record along with another BCS Bowl win over a viable Kansas State team in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, but the fans still aren’t satisfied.
Fans have been expecting nothing less than a national championship year-in and year-out ever since Chip Kelly created current the football culture here at the University of Oregon and now Mark Helfrich will have to take those expectations and turn them into titles. There is an almost surreal level of expectations among Ducks fans, fair or not, but that doesn’t mean the Ducks can’t meet them.
With no USC to worry about, Oregon State at home, and an up-and-coming UCLA team at home as well, the Ducks have a perfect schedule lined up in their favor and if there is any year to go all the way, this could be it. Below I will post predictions for all the upcoming games as well as the scores at the end.
Vs. Nicholls State Colonels (1-10) Overall (0-7) Southland
The only time Nicholls State made any sort of headlines last season was when its opening game against Oregon State was postponed due to Hurricane Isaac. Not only did Nicholls State get obliterated in a re-scheduled meeting with the Beavers 77-3, they only managed to grab one win against Evangel, who mind you is in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. It would be an understatement to say the Ducks have this one in the bag.
Score Prediction:
Oregon: 70
Nicholls State: 14
At Virginia Cavaliers (4-8) Overall (2-6) ACC Coastal
The ACC has been steadily improving over the past few years as a conference, but there is an argument to be made that Virginia football is not a part of that change. Last season, Virginia posted a dismal 4-8 record along with an 0-1 record against Top 25 teams.
There wasn’t anything to be positive about other than being ranked 37th in passing yards last season. The Ducks will be the second team they play in the upcoming season and there is no telling that they will be anywhere near the level of play to compete with a national powerhouse in Oregon. Once again, the Ducks have this game in the bag.Score Prediction:
Oregon: 56
Virginia: 13
Vs. Tennessee Volunteers (5-7) Overall (1-7) SEC East
The Tennessee Volunteers haven’t been playing at a high level in quite some years now. Arguably home to some of the best fans in college football, the Volunteers haven’t produced teams anywhere near what some experts projected them to be. Now as they head into a brand new season, they will have the mindset of proving the nation wrong, but it will have to come against some great competition as they are set to face the Ducks week three, Florida week four, Georgia week six, and Alabama week eight.
Head Coach Butch Jones has adjusted to his new team, but after losing their starting quarterback and two wideouts, their team will once again rely on their defense to stay in games. The Volunteers won’t probably be ready for the high-octane offense Oregon runs three weeks into the season and their defense will most definitely be put to the test early in the season.
Senior linebacker Dontavis Sapp was voted the top ranked SEC player during the spring and will try to lead a very capable defense heading into next season, which could pose a threat to some teams, just not so much for the Ducks.
Score Prediction:
Oregon: 59
Tennessee: 28
Vs. California Golden Bears (3-9) Overall (2-7) Pac-12 North
After 11 seasons, Head Coach Jeff Tedford was fired by California Golden Bears and scrambled to pick up the scraps of another disappointing season. New Head Coach Sonny Dykes has implemented a pass-heavy offense that should resemble an “Air Raid,” but without any real quarterbacks to do the throwing, it may be another lost cause for the Golden Bears this season.
California does not have too much to look forward to in regards to offensive talent and the same goes for the defense. The Ducks shouldn’t have much of a problem here as they play California at home and it will be another reminder pointing to the fact the Ducks are continually on the rise and the Golden Bears are on the decline.
Score Prediction:
Oregon: 42
California: 17
At Colorado Buffaloes (1-11) Overall (1-8) Pac-12 South
Finishing on the bottom of the conference, Colorado looks to be the easy win in the Pac-12. There is always that one team that everyone is looking forward to and this year, it’s the Buffaloes.
Aside from switching to the Pistol offense this season, which the Ducks have become accustomed to over the years with Nevada and UCLA, not much has changed. With their starting quarterback Jordan Webb out for the season, it may be another long season for the Buffaloes.
The Ducks defeated the Buffaloes 70-14 last season and all signs are pointing to a similar scenario. If there is anything as a sure win on the Ducks schedule during Pac-12 play, it might as well be the Buffaloes.
Score Prediction:
Oregon: 62
Colorado: 24
At Washington Huskies (7-6) Overall (5-4) Pac-12 North
The ever-so appealing rivalry game between the Ducks and Huskies will be in Washington this year as two of the better offensive teams in the Pac-12 fight for this year’s bragging rights.
The Huskies have installed their version of a no-huddle offense this year and with quarterback Keith Price continuing to develop as a dual threat, it will be interesting to see if this Washington team can make the step to compete in the Pac-12 North.
Both teams look to be ready for this upcoming season and despite the Ducks being favored in virtually every match up this season, Washington may be up to the challenge this year. Washington being the first real competition on the Ducks schedule, this game could easily sneak up and cost the Ducks their first and lone loss of the season.
Score Prediction:
Oregon: 45
Washington: 48
Vs. Washington State Cougars (3-9) Overall (1-8) Pac-12 North
Washington State has a plethora of upperclassmen returning for the 2013 season, but the talent level remains underwhelming.
With returning quarterback Connor Halliday, alongside numerous other players, the Cougars are going to have one of the most experienced teams in the Pac-12 this season. But, having said that, their inability to recruit high quality players has been their main issue in the past.
Despite Head Coach Mike Leach claiming to have stressed a better tempo in his no-huddle offense, not many will be surprised if they remain towards the bottom of the Pac-12 North once again this season.
Score Prediction:
Oregon: 63
Washington State: 17
Vs. UCLA Bruins (9-5) Overall (6-3) Pac-12 South
While the Bruins are returning quarterback Brett Hundley, they will be trying to fill the void that has been left by running back Jonathan Franklin.
The Bruins were the ninth wonder of the Pac-12 South as they have made the Pac-12 championship game two consecutive years, but amidst the confusion might actually lie a solid group of players. Whether or not the Bruins reach the Pac-12 championship for a third straight year is way up in the air, but they definitely aren’t going to be an easy opponent to play, even at home.
Score Prediction:
Oregon: 45
UCLA: 31
At. Stanford Cardinal (12-2) Overall (8-1) Pac-12 North
The Stanford Cardinal have been the worst nightmare for the Ducks over past few seasons. First it was Andrew Luck and then it was the unknown quarterback Kevin Hogan. For whatever reasons, the Ducks have had trouble handling Stanford, especially late in the season.
The Cardinal have crushed the BCS title dreams of Duck fans one too many times, but this may all come to an end sooner than later as Stanford regroups after losing their running back, two tight ends, and an offensive line that was comparable to a poor man’s NFL team.
The Cardinal were the lone loss for the Ducks last season in a low scoring 17-14 OT game and the only goal every Duck will have will be to not only crush the Cardinal for what they have done, but also create a new positive memory that will attempt to erase an erasable curse that Stanford has put forth on this program.
Sure the Cardinal return a talented quarterback and have likely regrouped to a certain extent, but one thing is for sure and that is that they won’t nearly be the same team they were last year.
Score Prediction:
Oregon: 52
Stanford: 38
Vs. Utah Utes (5-7) Overall (3-6) Pac-12 South
The Utah Utes picked up an invaluable weapon this season in new co-offensive coordinator Dennis Erickson, but a coach can only do so much. With a mediocre season behind them, the Utes will be looking to gain respect in their new conference, but they simply do not have enough fire power to keep up with the better teams in the Pac-12.
The Ducks didn’t have the opportunity to play Utah last season, but it will be hard to argue against a possible blowout win for the Ducks.
Score Prediction:
Oregon: 59
Utah: 17
At. Arizona Wildcats (8-5) Overall (4-5) Pac-12 South
Head Coach Rich Rodriguez will be under a lot of pressure this season as he tries to prove that his team is capable of being among the best teams in the conference.
Last season Arizona finished in the middle of the pack and unless running back Ka’Deem Carey can manage to carry his team to a higher level of play, the Wildcats will most likely repeat what they did last year.
The Ducks will have every advantage in this matchup and due to a season ending injury to wide receiver Austin Hill, the Wildcats will be lacking on the offensive side of the ball.
Score Prediction:
Oregon: 62
Arizona: 20
Vs. Oregon State Beavers (9-4) Overall (6-3) Pac-12 North
The Beavers will be an interesting team to look at throughout the upcoming season. Despite losing two tackles and their middle linebacker, the Beavers return running back Storm Woods, Terron Ward and Chris Brown.
The Beavers finished the season in the top 25 and could do the same this year if they can recover on the defensive side of the ball. This year’s Civil War will once again be a must-go event, but the fact that it will be held in Autzen this year could be the difference between a close game and a possible blowout.
Score Prediction:
Oregon: 56
Oregon State: 31
DuckSeason is the Emerald’s yearly football magazine for the upcoming season. This story has been republished from the magazine.