Jon Wilner of the Pac-12 Hotline posted his under/over predictions for all Pac-12 teams. The under/over for the Ducks is nine wins, of which Wilner goes for the under while citing Oregon’s lack of a proven quarterback. The only team that Wilner predicts to win more than nine games is Arizona State.
Given Oregon’s talent advantage, in addition to a schedule lacking USC and ASU, I believe that the Ducks should go 11-1. The Ducks also have top-notch coordinators on both sides of the ball, and, quite frankly, the Pac-12 is not very good.
Of course, there’s what should happen and then there is what will happen. Youth is a factor, but until Mario Cristobal can prove that he can have his team ready to play its very best every game, it feels like the Ducks are most likely going to fall into that slightly above average eight-to-nine win category. There have simply been too many sleepwalking performances in his first three years as head coach.
It is early June and a lot can change over the next three months. Right now the Ducks have the raw goods to win 11, but my gut has them at eight or nine. Where would you put the Ducks win total at right now?
Darren Perkins
Spokane, Washington
Top photo credit: UO Athletics
Darren Perkins is a sales professional and 1997 Oregon graduate. After finishing school, he escaped the rain and moved to sunny Southern California where he studied screenwriting for two years at UCLA. Darren grew up in Eugene and in 1980, at the tender age of five, he attended his first Oregon football game. His lasting memory from that experience was an enthusiastic Don Essig announcing to the crowd: “Reggie Ogburn, completes a pass to… Reggie Ogburn.” Captivated by such a thrilling play, Darren’s been hooked on Oregon football ever since. Currently living in Spokane, Darren enjoys flaunting his yellow and green superiority complex over friends and family in Cougar country.