Oregon Season Odds
EUGENE, OR (The Spread) – The Oregon Ducks have been in the national title picture the last two seasons, but with the return of USC to postseason play, can the Ducks stay in the picture?
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Chip Kelly enters his fourth season as head coach of Oregon and he has won at least 10 games in all three seasons, including 12 in each of the past two. This season, the Ducks run atop the Pac-12 could end as their rival, USC, gets off its postseason ban.
According to oddsmakers, Oregon is not the favorite to win the Pac-12 Championship, as it has 2/1 odds to win the title, while the Trojans have 5/8 odds. The Ducks are the favorite to win the Pac-12 North Division, as they have 2/5 odds. Oddsmakers have also given Oregon 8/1 odds to win the 2013 BCS National Championship and have set the over/under for wins at 10.5 for the Ducks.
Oregon has just 13 starters back from last season, but the Ducks seems to be in good shape to be a high-powered offense once again. With their extremely fast tempo and play calling, the Ducks have averaged at least 46 points per game the last two years. This season, a new quarterback is in play, with Bryan Bennett and Marcus Mariota both looking capable to run the offense. Bennett, a sophomore, did start one game last year. Oregon may rely heavily on the running backs, as they have the tandem of De’Anthony Thomas and Kenjon Barner to make up for the loss of LaMichael James. The two combined for over 1,500 yards and 18 TD’s rushing in backup duty and Thomas also had 46 receptions for 605 yards and 9 TD’s to lead Oregon last season. Thomas has been given 20/1 odds to win the 2012 Heisman Trophy.
Defensively, Oregon took a step back last year, allowing 24.6 points and 390 total yards per game. The Ducks return a pair of defenders that had over 100 tackles last season, as well as defensive end Dion Jordan, who led the team with 7.5 sacks in 2011. The problem for Oregon will be in pass coverage, as the Ducks have to replace four of the seven starters in their back seven.
When it comes to scheduling, Oregon doesn’t hit the road for non-conference play and actually starts with four home games. Oregon will host Arizona, Washington, Colorado, and Stanford in conference play and head to Washington State, Arizona State, Cal, Oregon State, and USC for road trips. The schedule doesn’t seem too difficult when you consider all that Stanford lost and the new coaches in the conference. The big challenge is a road trip to USC, but the likelihood is the two teams will meet again in the conference title game. Despite 10.5 wins being a lofty over/under setting, Oregon is more than capable of getting to 11 wins when you consider it should play 14 times this season.
For total odds for the Oregon Ducks for the 2012 College Football Season, see below.
2012 Oregon Season Odds
2013 BCS National Championship Odds: 8/1
2012 Pac-12 Conference Championship Odds: 2/1
2012 Pac-12 North Division Odds: 2/5
2012 Heisman Trophy Odds: De’Anthony Thomas (RB) 20/1
2012 Over/Under Win Total Odds: 10.5
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