To build excitement for the upcoming season, I will be releasing an individual team preview for each of my top 25 teams every day until the season starts. The preview continues with #4 Oregon.
2013 Review
Oregon was again projected to be a championship contender last year. They had another great team of speed, and were able to score points at will, scoring 42 or more points in each of their first eight games, including wins against Washington and UCLA. November 7th was the biggest Thursday night in college football's history, as there were two games that would define the season. Where Baylor destroyed Oklahoma in one of them, Oregon would try and mount a comeback against Stanford with quarterback Marcus Mariota slowed with an injury. Oregon wouldn't be able to complete the comeback, falling short 26-20, but their conference title hopes were still in tact. After a dominate bounce back performance against Utah, they would see all of their BCS hopes destroyed when they lost 42-16 on the road against Arizona. The Ducks would finish the season with a win over Oregon State to end with a record of 10-2. They would also receive a bid to face Texas in the Alamo Bowl, where they won 30-7.
Season Outlook
Oregon should be near or at the top of both the Pac-12 and the country this year, as Heisman candidate Marcus Mariota returns at quarterback. He could have been a top five pick in the draft, but instead decided to play one more season for the Ducks, to try and win a championship. Oregon opens the season at home against South Dakota on Saturday night, which should be a blow out, but week two will have Michigan State come to town. If Oregon can handle an early season test against Michigan State, then they should be able to handle their Pac-12 schedule. After easy wins against Wyoming and Washington State, they will have their revenge on Arizona followed by tough mid-season tests against UCLA and Washington. After another easy win against Cal, the Ducks will host Stanford, the only team the Oregon struggles with year in and year out. After Stanford, the Ducks will breeze through the last three games against Utah, Colorado and Oregon State. Oregon is one of the top teams in the nation again, and this year could be the year that they make the playoffs.
Season Prediction
11-1 (9-0) 1st in Pac-12 North
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