NCAA Football Odds: 2010 Oregon Ducks
Mention the Oregon Ducks to a college football bettor these days and there's a good chance the first thought that crosses their mind will be the recent trouble several Oregon players have gotten into off the field. John Q. Public will also think the same way, and that could turn into profit for Ducks backers this season. A return to the Rose Bowl for Chip Kelly's crew could all hinge on an Oct. 30 date at Southern Cal.
Move over, University of Miami. Say hello to the Oregon Ducks.
The Hurricanes made headlines in the late 1980s and early 1990s for their trouble-making ways in addition to their success on the college football field. While the Ducks aren’t in The U territory, if this past offseason is any indication, they’re well on their way to getting there.
Oregon opened the offseason as a consensus top five team nationally, and was a sharp play to contend for the national championship. Well, a few arrests and some unfortunate PR later, and the Ducks have to content themselves with a shot at a conference title in a competitive Pac-10.
Would-be starting quarterback Jeremiah Masoli was arrested for burglary after a banner year last season, and was promptly suspended for the season by head coach Chip Kelly. Having been handed his walking papers in Eugene, Masoli is now a walk-on at Ole Miss.
If that wasn’t bad enough, star running back LaMichael James pleaded guilty to domestic abuse charges last winter. Kelly went a little easier on James, suspending him for the first game of the season against New Mexico.
In his second season at Oregon, Kelly is used to dealing with this garbage. Last year, starting RB LeGarrette Blount was benched for the season after sucker-punching an opposing player following the Ducks’ season-opening loss to Boise State.
The good news is James stepped in, and along with Masoli, led Oregon to the Pac-10 crown and a berth in the Rose Bowl. James finished with a Pac-10 freshman record 1,546 rushing yards and the best yards-per-carry average in the nation (6.9).
The Ducks went 10-3 SU and 7-6 ATS in 2009, going 9-4 O/U behind an offense that ranked eighth in scoring (36.1 PPG) and sixth in rushing (231.7 YPG).
Without a former Heisman Trophy candidate like Masoli, Oregon is set to take a step back, right? I wouldn’t be so sure. In fact, Masoli’s departure is the best thing to happen to the Ducks on the college football betting odds board.
Oregon was 11th in the preseason USA Today/Coaches’ Poll released last week, reflecting its descent in public perception since the news surrounding Masoli and James.
That’s a good thing, because even without Masoli, Kelly returns a veteran-laden, talented, deep roster that is the best team in the Pac-10 with a bullet.
In a sense, the Ducks are a little underrated. Nine starters return to one of the best offenses in the country, and eight starters are back in the mix on defense. Yes, there’s a a battle at quarterback between fifth-year senior Nate Costa and sophomore Darron Thomas, but both are capable of handling the load.
Costa, after all, was anointed as the starter following Dennis Dixon’s departure after the 2007 season, but he blew out his knee to open the door for Masoli. College QBs don’t normally get another chance in such a scenario, but here is Costa.
On defense, Oregon is loaded at linebacker. The Ducks are so deep that 11-game starter Eddie Pleasant has moved over to safety. Leading tackler John Boyett is the other safety after headlining the defense as a redshirt freshman last year.
If it gets decent play under center, the only issues facing Oregon are chemistry and leadership. Masoli is difficult – but not at all impossible – to replace, and there’s no clear leader on the team with him out of the picture. How the Ducks handle a trip to Rocky Top to take on Tennessee on September 11 could tell us a lot about this squad.
Other that that, Oregon has a backloaded schedule that gives it time to get its act together. Outside of their battle against the Volunteers, the Ducks’ biggest challenges come at USC on October 30 and at Oregon State the last week of the season.
Oregon’s season win total is set at nine, and the bigger return is on the ‘under’ (+125). Don’t bite. The Ducks should go at least 9-3, and 10 or 11 wins are in play.
College football futures have Oregon priced as a +150 favorite to win the Pac-10 outright, putting it ahead of Washington and Oregon State (both at +350). The Ducks are also set at +2500 to win the national title this season.
Mention the Oregon Ducks to a college football bettor these days and there's a good chance the first thought that crosses their mind will be the recent trouble several Oregon players have gotten into off the field. John Q. Public will also think the same way, and that could turn into profit for Ducks backers this season. A return to the Rose Bowl for Chip Kelly's crew could all hinge on an Oct. 30 date at Southern Cal.
Move over, University of Miami. Say hello to the Oregon Ducks.
The Hurricanes made headlines in the late 1980s and early 1990s for their trouble-making ways in addition to their success on the college football field. While the Ducks aren’t in The U territory, if this past offseason is any indication, they’re well on their way to getting there.
Oregon opened the offseason as a consensus top five team nationally, and was a sharp play to contend for the national championship. Well, a few arrests and some unfortunate PR later, and the Ducks have to content themselves with a shot at a conference title in a competitive Pac-10.
Would-be starting quarterback Jeremiah Masoli was arrested for burglary after a banner year last season, and was promptly suspended for the season by head coach Chip Kelly. Having been handed his walking papers in Eugene, Masoli is now a walk-on at Ole Miss.
If that wasn’t bad enough, star running back LaMichael James pleaded guilty to domestic abuse charges last winter. Kelly went a little easier on James, suspending him for the first game of the season against New Mexico.
In his second season at Oregon, Kelly is used to dealing with this garbage. Last year, starting RB LeGarrette Blount was benched for the season after sucker-punching an opposing player following the Ducks’ season-opening loss to Boise State.
The good news is James stepped in, and along with Masoli, led Oregon to the Pac-10 crown and a berth in the Rose Bowl. James finished with a Pac-10 freshman record 1,546 rushing yards and the best yards-per-carry average in the nation (6.9).
The Ducks went 10-3 SU and 7-6 ATS in 2009, going 9-4 O/U behind an offense that ranked eighth in scoring (36.1 PPG) and sixth in rushing (231.7 YPG).
Without a former Heisman Trophy candidate like Masoli, Oregon is set to take a step back, right? I wouldn’t be so sure. In fact, Masoli’s departure is the best thing to happen to the Ducks on the college football betting odds board.
Oregon was 11th in the preseason USA Today/Coaches’ Poll released last week, reflecting its descent in public perception since the news surrounding Masoli and James.
That’s a good thing, because even without Masoli, Kelly returns a veteran-laden, talented, deep roster that is the best team in the Pac-10 with a bullet.
In a sense, the Ducks are a little underrated. Nine starters return to one of the best offenses in the country, and eight starters are back in the mix on defense. Yes, there’s a a battle at quarterback between fifth-year senior Nate Costa and sophomore Darron Thomas, but both are capable of handling the load.
Costa, after all, was anointed as the starter following Dennis Dixon’s departure after the 2007 season, but he blew out his knee to open the door for Masoli. College QBs don’t normally get another chance in such a scenario, but here is Costa.
On defense, Oregon is loaded at linebacker. The Ducks are so deep that 11-game starter Eddie Pleasant has moved over to safety. Leading tackler John Boyett is the other safety after headlining the defense as a redshirt freshman last year.
If it gets decent play under center, the only issues facing Oregon are chemistry and leadership. Masoli is difficult – but not at all impossible – to replace, and there’s no clear leader on the team with him out of the picture. How the Ducks handle a trip to Rocky Top to take on Tennessee on September 11 could tell us a lot about this squad.
Other that that, Oregon has a backloaded schedule that gives it time to get its act together. Outside of their battle against the Volunteers, the Ducks’ biggest challenges come at USC on October 30 and at Oregon State the last week of the season.
Oregon’s season win total is set at nine, and the bigger return is on the ‘under’ (+125). Don’t bite. The Ducks should go at least 9-3, and 10 or 11 wins are in play.
College football futures have Oregon priced as a +150 favorite to win the Pac-10 outright, putting it ahead of Washington and Oregon State (both at +350). The Ducks are also set at +2500 to win the national title this season.
