Season Overview
After five-plus decades of playing in the Pac-8-10-12 Conference, Oregon—ridiculous as it sounds—now begins life in the Big 10. So instead of annual scrimmages with Cal, Colorado, and Stanford, the Ducks will face off against the likes of Ohio State, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
Oregon enjoyed great success in recent seasons, including back-to-back Pac-12 championships in 2019-20, but one thing eluded them: an invite to the College Football Playoff. Last year, the Ducks were 9-point favorites to beat Washington in the conference title tilt, and a win likely meant a CFP berth. But they got upset.
Heading into this season, though, with a flock of returning talent, Oregon will be one of the top betting choices to make the expanded CFP.
Betting Odds
- Odds to win national championship (Bet365): +800
- Odds to make CFP: -300
- Odds to win Big 10 (FanDuel): +200
- Wins over/under: 10.5
Oregon returns 17 starters this season from a team that finished Nos. 6 and 7 in last season’s final polls. The Ducks lost two games last year, both by field goals to Washington, but they blew out just about everybody else. Eight starters are back on an offense that averaged a healthy 531 yards per game last year, including four along the offensive line. While they lost last year’s starting QB, leading rusher, and leading receiver, they filled those gaps with quality transfers, including former UCF and Oklahoma QB Dillon Gabriel (155/26 career TD/INT). Additionally, nine starters return for a defense that held foes to 318 YPG last season.
Oregon should be 5-0 when it hosts Ohio State in mid-October. Later, the Ducks play at Michigan, although the Wolverines will not be the team they were last year. Oregon also plays at Wisconsin, which should be improved, then finishes at home against Washington. However, the Huskies, like Michigan, are also going through a transition this season. Still, the Ducks are known to stumble once or twice every season, and we can easily see that happening against this schedule.
Pick
Oregon under 10.5 wins
