Oregon Football: Game-by-game prediction for 2020 season

5. at Cal (Dec. 5)

Cal is a team I really like this year. According to ESPN’s returning metric, Cal is No. 1 in the country in returning production on offense. The Bears have every starter from their bowl win coming back.

Quarterback Chase Garbers’ health is going to determine how Cal’s season goes. I know you can say that about the majority of quarterbacks, but when Garbers played for over half the game last year, the Bears were 7-0 and when he didn’t they went 1-5. If Garbers stays healthy all year the Bears are a dark-horse candidate for the Pac-12 title.

Head coach Justin Wilcox is a defensive minded guy and has consistently built very strong defenses. Replacing team leader Evan Weaver will be very difficult but Wilcox has recruited well year in and year out and has plenty of talented guys on the roster.

This game should be a close defensive battle. Last year, the Ducks pulled out a 17-7 win, I think this game will be similar. Ducks pull out another close win in a really tough spot.

Final Score: Oregon 24, California 14 (5-0)

6. vs. Washington (Dec. 12)

This game could define the Ducks’ season. Washington or Oregon have won the Pac-12 North division three of the past four years. Oregon has dominated the rivalry recently winning 14 of the last 16 matchups. The last two games were decided by a total of seven points. The Ducks won last year 35-31 and in 2018 they won 30-27 in double overtime.

If you like smash-mouth defensive football, this game is for you. Oregon and Washington have two of the strongest defenses in the conference and both could end up having some of the better units in the country.

The Huskies are led by cornerback Elijah Molden and defensive tackle Levi Onwuzirike. This defense has a lot of experience and ended last season strong, giving up 11.75 points over their last four games. Washington’s former defensive coordinator and new head coach Jimmy Lake could earn his biggest win of the season if the Huskies beat the Ducks.

I still give the defensive edge to Oregon but this Huskies group might be the toughest defense the Ducks’ offense faces all year.

The biggest edge for this game is Oregon’s offense over Washington’s. Hopefully Tyler Shough will be comfortable in the offense by this point. He has plenty of weapons to get the ball to, while Washington’s quarterback, whether it be Jacob Sirmon or Ethan Garbers, doesn’t have the weapons the Ducks possess on offense.

In a close defensive game, give me the Ducks to continue rolling in this heated rivalry.

Final Score: Oregon 20, Washington 17 (6-0)