Oregon State Football: It’s not a surprise, but Beavers will be bad in 2018
2018 Schedule and Predictions
|
Week |
Date
Opponent
H/A
1
Sep. 1
Ohio State
Away
2
Sep. 8
Southern Utah
Home
3
Sep. 15
Nevada
Away
4
Sep. 22
Arizona
Home
5
Sep. 29
Arizona State
Away
6
Oct. 6
Washington State
Home
7
Oct. 13
BYE
N/A
8
Oct. 20
California
Home
9
Oct. 27
Colorado
Away
10
Nov. 2
USC
Home
11
Nov. 10
Stanford
Away
12
Nov. 17
Washington
Away
13
Nov. 23
Oregon
Home
The Beavers 2017 kicking game was atrocious. The S&P+ ranked their efficiency as the 113th overall special teams in the country. That has to improve in order for OSU to overcome a difficult 2018 schedule and while the Beavers find a quarterback and running game.
OSU leads off their season by traveling to Columbus, OH to face the Buckeyes. Week two is a home game against Southern Utah before traveling to Nevada. The Beavers host Arizona, travel to Arizona State, and then host Washington State before their bye week.
If OSU can get lucky against Herm Edwards’ Sun Devils they could possibly have two wins heading into the bye week. Mike Leach’s Cougars squad isn’t going to be unbeatable and Nevada and Southern Utah could be wins. However, OSU probably lacks the talent to capitalize.
Next: Preseason Top 25 following spring practices
The second half of the season is a brutal stretch of games for OSU. Smith’s squad hosts an improving Cal Bears team before traveling to Colorado, hosting USC, and then playing Stanford and Washington on the road before hosting the Ducks in the annual Civil War. That stretch is six straight losses to end the season in Smith’s first year as a head coach.
Prediction: 2-10