Predicting The 2024 Season For Oregon

By STEVEN VAUGHAN, 750 THE GAME

College football is right around the corner, and I want to predict how some of the main teams on the West Coast are going to do this season. Today I will be looking at the University of Oregon. 

According to Betonline.ag, the Ducks have a win total of 10.5 games. They are -300 to make the CFP. Oregon is +190 to win the Big 10. They are +650 to win the national championship. There are some high hopes for the Oregon Ducks this season.

Game 1 – Idaho @ Oregon

This is an easy win. Idaho is not a threat on the FCS level. It will be more of a scrimmage for the Ducks as they will play very vanilla and still win this game by at least 40+ points.

Game 2 – Boise State @ Oregon

I think this is going to be tough and close for at least the first half. Boise State is the favorite in the Mountain West conference. Boise State has always given Oregon problems. The Broncos head coach, Spencer Danielson, did a great job last season taking over, and Boise brings back Dirk Koetter to call the offense. Add in former no. 1 quarterback prospect Malachi Nelson, a transfer from USC, and Boise State will be a competitive team. A nice matchup for the Ducks, but Oregon is too talented and deep and takes over the game in the second half.

Game 3 – Oregon @ Oregon State

Oregon will be 2-0 heading into the Civil War, and as much as I want to give Oregon State a chance. I can’t. The Beavers have too many questions in my mind on both the offensive and defensive sides. Even at Reser Stadium, Oregon should be able to handle anything the Beavers throw at them on offense. I am also interested to see how the Beavers defense plays now that Trent Bray isn’t in charge of just the defense. I think Keith Hayward is a great defensive coordinator, but this game could be a blowout.

Game 4 – Oregon @ UCLA

Oregon’s Big 10 opener is on the road against Big 10 power………. UCLA. It’s a transition year for the Bruins under new head coach Deshaun Foster. Who I think will do a good job, but this year could be rough. The Rose Bowl isn’t much of a home-field advantage, and with UCLA’s starting quarterback transferring to Oregon to be the backup quarterback. I don’t see much for UCLA. Oregon moves to 4-0.

Game 5 – Michigan State @ Oregon

The home debut for the Big 10 Oregon Ducks is against a familiar foe in Jonathan Smith—the new head coach at Michigan State. Just like UCLA, I like the hire of Smith, but this year could be rough. Aidan Chiles is the quarterback for the Spartans, and I expect him to make some plays. There isn’t enough around Chiles to keep up with the Ducks. Michigan State lost their best defensive player Derrick Harmon to Oregon, and the Spartans lost numerous players who were starters or projected to be starters in the spring to the transfer portal. Oregon beats Jonathan Smith and the Spartans to move to 5-0.

Game 6 – Ohio State @ Oregon

This is THE game. A potential no. 1 vs no. 2 matchup at Autzen Stadium as Ohio State should also be undefeated heading into this one. Unlike in years past. The loser of this game is still in a good position to make the CFP now that it has expanded to 12. This should be a great game. A key will be the Ducks run defense. Dan Lanning has added numerous big bodies through the transfer portal and through high school recruiting to bolster the defensive line. The Big 10 is a different animal, and with Chip Kelly being the offensive coordinator at Ohio State. The Buckeyes are going to want to run the football. Ohio State has the best running back combo in the nation with Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson. If the Ducks can handle the run game of Ohio State. I think the Ducks will win. I think Oregon beats Ohio State because of the Autzen crowd and the bolstered defense. Oregon moves to 6-0 and maybe no. 1 in the country.

Game 7 – Oregon @ Purdue

In a different year, this could be a sneaky tough game. We have seen Purdue take out huge teams at home at night. This will not be a year this happens as Purdue is projected to be the worst team in the Big 10. This game is on a Friday night which has old Pac-12 after-dark vibes, but Oregon wins this game. It may not be by as big as the betting line. But Oregon will get the win and move to 7-0.

Game 8 – Illinois @ Oregon

Another tough Big 10 game. Illinois is going to want to be physical with the Ducks. We will see if all of the transfer portal recruiting pays off in a game like this. The depth will be tested. And Illinois is a team under Bret Bielema who doesn’t make many mistakes. Oregon wins with the game being at Autzen Stadium, but Illinois won’t go away easy. 8-0 for the Ducks.

Game 9 – Oregon @ Michigan

This is the first loss for the Ducks. Oregon fans seem to be overlooking this game and looking at the Ohio State game. I understand. Ohio State is no. 2 in all the polls, and no. 2 in the betting market to win the national championship. But Michigan is the team that won the national championship last season by dominating Washington and is not getting the respect they feel. The game in Ann Arbor is going to be tough. Michigan has one of the best fanbases, and I think Michigan has a chance to be in the top 10 still when this game kicks off. A CFP berth could be on the line for Michigan. The physicality that the Ducks will have played against finally catches up to them, and Michigan can run the football and slow the Oregon offense just enough. Oregon falls to 8-1.

Game 10 – Maryland @ Oregon

Maryland is unknown to me. They lose long-time quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa but bring in transfer MJ Morris from NC State who is expected to start. Maryland has invested a lot of money into the football program and could be one of the biggest beneficiaries now that there are no more divisions in the Big 10. Playing in the Big 10 East and facing off against Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State every year. Now there are no conferences and more wins could be on the Terrapins plate, but not in this game. The Ducks will come off of a loss and know they need to win out to make the Big 10 Championship. This is a game where I feel like Maryland could live to win depending on how they look throughout the season, but as of right now. I got the Ducks winning. 

Game 11 – Oregon @ Wisconsin

Jump is going to be played so loud for this game. Oregon has to hope for no snow. On paper, this game looks like a trap game. Right before the Washington game. On the road in Wisconsin. But I think Oregon will handle this game pretty easily. Wisconsin is a team that is still transitioning to more of a new-age offense where they spread the ball around through the air. Tyler Van Dyke is a very talented quarterback, but I think it’s very difficult to change your identity in college football. Luke Fickell is only an average coach in my mind. I think Oregon out-athletes Wisconsin pretty easily and wins this game by 20+. 10-1 heading into the Washington game.

Game 12 – Washington @ Oregon

Dan Lanning is 0-3 against Washington in his career. Including losing twice when the Ducks were double-digit favorites over the Huskies. Lanning finally gets his win. We are underrating the Huskies a bit this season. Not being ranked in the preseason top 25. But the schedule is brutal for Washington and ending the season in Eugene makes it no easier. Jedd Fisch is a good coach who gets the best out of his players. Will Rodgers has a ton of experience from his SEC days at Mississippi State. The Autzen crowd won’t affect him. I think this game is much closer than the spread is going to be. I would project this spread to be in the double digits with Oregon favored. I would be on Washington to cover that number, but Oregon wins the game.

I think Oregon finishes the season 11-1 and makes the Big 10 championship game. I would not be betting any of the futures for Oregon as I think 10.5 wins seem right. There is plenty of potential for two losses on the season. I think Oregon only loses one, but Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Washington are all potential landmines. Oregon is going to make the first-ever expanded CFP and finish the season 11-1 and heading to the Big 10 championship. 

@steven_von