This week, I will preview the Oregon Ducks. The Ducks have been known for a great football program and national title contender until last season. They lost 4 games, each because of quarterback Vernon Adams' constant injuries and poor defense. They could've beaten Michigan State, who went to the College Football Playoff last season. they lost to Utah 62-20 at home, Washington State in overtime, and TCU in triple overtime. The Ducks will be losing quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. (a graduate transfer from FCS Eastern Washington), tight end Pharaoh Brown, wide receivers Byron Marshall and Bralon Addison, running back Thomas Tyner (who is retiring from football itself), defensive lineman DeForest Buckner, and linebacker Joe Walker. Running back Royce Freeman and wide receivers Darren Carrington and Dwayne Stanford will return. Just like last season, Oregon will bring in FCS Montana State quarterback graduate transfer Dakota Prukop, who will probably start for the Ducks next season.
They will also bring in a new defensive coordinator: former Michigan head coach Brady Hoke. Hoke had a 31-20 record, failing to reach bowl eligibility in his final season. He guided Michigan to a 23-20 overtime Sugar Bowl victory against Virginia Tech in 2011, his first season. The following year, the Wolverines went 8-5, losing to South Carolina in the Outback Bowl. In 2013, Michigan began to receive a lot of national attention before dodging two big upsets and eventually finishing the season 7-6 with a 31-14 loss to Kansas State in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl. Finally, Michigan fired Brady Hoke after a 5-7 season in 2014.
Oregon opens the 2016-2017 season against FCS UC Davis at home. This should be an easy 77-7 win for the Ducks. Next up is Virginia, which is also a home game. Oregon will win this one 48-20. After this is Nebraska, who beat UCLA in the Foster Farms Bowl almost two months ago. Oregon will win this shootout 45-42. But the Ducks will face another shootout against Colorado, which be probably be a 40-37 victory for the Ducks. Now at 4-0, the Ducks should be somewhere in the top 15, if not, the top 10. Washington State will grant Oregon yet another shootout. This time, WSU will pull away 35-31. Oregon will fall to 15th in the top 25 or something like that. They will redeem themselves with a 38-27 victory against Washington. The Ducks will defeat Cal 56-48 and climb back into the top 10. Oregon will face yet another shootout against Arizona State, winning 62-55. It will get tough for Oregon starting here. First up is a trip to USC. Oregon will win this game 52-38. The following week, Oregon hosts Stanford in the big battle for the Pac-12 North Division. Stanford will handle Oregon 51-38 and clinch the Pac-12 North Division, shattering Oregon's Playoff hopes. Oregon will take on Utah after this and probably win 47-33. Finally, the Ducks will defeat Oregon State in the Civil War rivalry 59-23 in Corvallis.
This season, I predict that Oregon will go 10-2, which will be another great season for the Ducks. Even though they fell short of the Pac-12 Championship, Oregon will probably go to one of the New Year's Six bowl games, ranked 8th or somewhere around there. Oregon fans should look forward to this upcoming season and keep cheering for their Ducks. Stay tuned for next week, Pac-12 fans, as I will preview the Oregon State Beavers next.
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