Oregon Football: Preseason game-by-game predictions for 2017 season
By Zach Bigalke
Since the Pac-10 expanded into the Pac-12 and split into two divisions, Oregon and Stanford have owned the North. Until Washington ended the streak last year, either the Cardinal or the Ducks represented the North in the first five Pac-12 championship games. Both teams are still chasing the Huskies this year, but Stanford doesn’t have to reinvent the wheel.
The base laid down by Jim Harbaugh remains in place on the Farm. David Shaw, Harbaugh’s offensive coordinator from 2007 to 2010, has won three conference titles in six seasons after taking over as head coach. The Cardinal have won at least 10 games in six of the past seven seasons.
They lost all-purpose threat Christian McCaffrey to the NFL, but the Cardinal still return plenty of talent. By this point of the season, Keller Chryst will have a full season as the starter at quarterback. Bryce Love is poised to become the next dynamic back in the Stanford backfield. And the defense should be as formidable as other recent editions.
Oregon should be able to score some points against the Cardinal, but they’re not going to win a shootout against Stanford. Shaw’s squad is going to be able to hit some big plays against the Duck defense. The home team will pull away to deal Oregon a second straight defeat, and Ducks fans will have to wait another week to try to reach bowl eligibility.
FINAL: Stanford 44, Oregon 28 (5-2)