Predicting the 2013 College Football Season: Oregon Ducks

For the next couple of weeks, I will be covering just a few non-SEC teams who might be in the mix for the final BCS Championship. If you are wondering what this has to do with the Crimson Tide, know that one of these teams may be an opponent in January or a spoiler who takes a spot away from the Tide. Believe it or not, there are some people out there who absolutely do not want Alabama in this coming season's championship game at all costs. Know thine enemy:

Is time running out on Oregon?

Oregon Ducks 12-1 (8-1) in 2012*

Synopsis: With the NCAA darkening the Oregon door, Chip Kelly skipped town and left his Offensive Coordinator Mark Helfrich in charge. This hire seems like a risky move in that Helfrich has never held a head coaching position and he is only 39 years of age. I don't doubt his coaching talents. It is the lack of top-man experience the Ducks should be concerned about. Longtime Defensive Coordinator Nick Aliotti and most of Kelly's staff have been retained. Can the Quack Attack keep up the Kelly level of winning? The Marcus Mariota-led offense is pretty stacked but the defense lost four of their front seven and the defensive backfield suffered a rash of injuries in 2012.

Key Losses: Head coach Chip Kelly, DE Dion Jordan, OG Kyle Long, LB Kiko Alonso, RB Kenjon Barner, SS John Boyett, LB Michael Clay, DT Isaac Remington, 1 scholarship for each of the next 3 years.

Key Returners: QB Marcus Mariota, RB De'Anthony Thomas, WR Bralon Addison, LB Tyson Coleman, CB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, C Hroniss Grasu

Newcomers: The 3 Ty's - RB Thomas Tyner, LB Tyrell Robinson, ATH Tyree Robinson

The Schedule:
8/31/13 Nicholls State (Eugene, OR) - The mighty Colonels look to improve on their 1-10 record from 2012! - Win
9/7/13 at Virginia (Charlottesville, VA) - Win
9/14/13 Tennessee (Eugene, OR) - Can Butch's Vols hang with the Quackers? Probably not - Win
9/21/13 bye
9/28/13 California (Eugene, OR) - Win
10/5/13 at Colorado (Boulder, CO) - Nanu-Nanu! - Win
10/12/13 at Washington (Seattle, WA) - Win
10/19/13 Washington State (Eugene, OR) - Win
10/26/13 UCLA (Eugene, OR) - This could get interesting but I don't think the Bruins are there yet - Win
11/2/13 bye
11/7/13 at Stanford (Palo Alto, CA) - The Cardinal ruined the Ducks' season last year and in 2009. Might they do it again? Yep - Loss
11/16/13 Utah (Eugene, OR) - How is life in a Big Boy conference, Utes? - Win
11/23/13 at Arizona (Tucson, AZ) - Once again RichRod, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for turning down the Bama job. Now back to your mediocrity - Win
11/29/13 Oregon State (Eugene, OR) - it's a short week for both these teams as this game is on Friday. Who is less beat up and more inspired? Win

Let's go Bowling! Probably in Pasadena. But will they play Jan 1 or Jan 6?