While spring games and practices are winding down, the college football predictions continue to heat up at this time of the year. Many are wondering after an offseason of controversy, can the Oregon Ducks return to the BCS Championship Game after coming up a last second field goal short against the Auburn Tigers last season?
The Ducks return a very potent offense behind two Heisman hopefuls in running back LaMichael James and quarterback Darren Thomas. They are looking to repeat as Pac-12 champions, but would now have to win a conference championship game as well in order to get back to the national championship game.
Oregon may have a great returning team, but they are not the only ones in the conference who can score some points.
Andrew Luck and the Stanford Cardinal expect to be a preseason top five team entering the 2011 college football season, and Arizona and Arizona State will also be very competitive. Don't look past the UCLA Bruins this year either, as they figure to be a team with upset potential.
But make no mistake about the fact that this is Oregon's conference to lose. James is one of the best rushers in the country, and Thomas does an excellent job at leading this fast paced offense.
But according toMitch Coffmanof the National Football Authority, this is not a Ducks defense to be taken lightly.
"Not to be overlooked is a defense structured much the same as the offense," writes Coffman. "The defenders are not overly large, but they run and they hit. They sell-out with a blitz or man coverage on a lot of plays, occasionally giving up a big play, but often putting the opponent in a bad down-and-distance equation – and that’s where turnovers and good field position result for the Ducks."
Coffman makes an interesting point. While many criticize the Ducks for being small of the defensive side of the ball, they are extremely quick. They can get after the opposing quarterback, and are always in position to cause turnovers. That gives their offense an even smaller field to work with, which is something that opposing defenses cannot afford.
Oregon will not have it easy if they are to return to the BCS Championship Game this coming season. Right from the start, they will be tested against the LSU Tigers in a huge kick-off opener in Cowboys Stadium. The rest of their non-conference schedule is nothing to worry about, but trips to Arizona and Stanford will be no easy task, nor will home games against California, Arizona State, USC and Oregon State.
The Ducks have the talent in place for another shot at a national championship. But if they are to get back to the BCS Championship Game, they may need even more lucky breaks in the 2011 college football season than they got last year.
For more on the Oregon Ducks and the rest of the best from a year ago, make sure to check out Bleacher Report Contributor Pat Marrujo, who takes a look at theCollege Football Rankings: Predicting the Records for Top 25 Teams From 2010.
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