Oregon Football: Ducks 2018 game-by-game predictions
Week 1 shouldn’t be much of a test for the Ducks and a great way for Coach Cristobal to regain his footing as a head football coach. The Bowling Green Falcons come into 2018 as the 97th ranked team per the S&P+. Bowling Green shouldn’t have the talent to compete with Oregon in anyway. Mike Jinks has improved the Falcons but this should be an easy win for the Ducks.
The Falcons offense returns five starters from the 2017 season. Coach Leavitt’s defense will have to shut down the 67th ranked offense and quarterback Jarret Doege who started five games and completed 63 percent of his passes. Doege threw 12 touchdowns with only three interceptions, which is great efficiency. The Ducks defense should handle the Falcons as inside linebacker Troy Dye returns with 107 tackles from a season ago.
The Oregon offense will be tasked with scoring on seven returning Falcons starters for Carl Pelini’s defense. Justin Herbert will carve up a defense that finished 2017 ranked 123rd per the S&P+. When healthy, Herbert led the Ducks to a 6-1 regular season record and looks to be a top 10 NFL Draft pick in 2019. Oregon needs to find a feature back with the graduation of Royce Freeman.