With school soccer kicking off in simply two months, it is time to assess how profitable — or how unsuccessful — groups shall be this upcoming season.
There may be one staff whose win complete stood out to me specifically: the Oregon Ducks.
And primarily based on what we find out about this staff from final 12 months and its offseason strikes, I am able to throw down some money on these Geese.
Let’s check out what I believe Oregon’s regular-season win complete shall be.
Oregon Geese Over/Beneath 11 wins
Dan Lanning returns to Eugene for his fourth season as head coach of the Oregon Geese after three profitable years. At 38 years previous, this first-time head coach has an total report of 35-6: 2022: 10-3, 2023: 12-2 and 2024: 13-1. For the sake of a regular-season win complete, his report in simply 12 regular-season video games is 32-4, with three losses coming from his first season.
One attribute of Lanning’s groups is their play in opposition to opponents they need to beat. Other than a loss to Oregon State on the finish of the 2022 season, the Geese haven’t misplaced a regular-season recreation they shouldn’t have. Their three different regular-season losses are to Georgia and twice to Washington.
Nevertheless, there have been shut video games. A late comeback in opposition to Washington State in 2022, a late pick-six to seal the sport at Texas Tech in 2023 and a three-point win in opposition to Boise State and Wisconsin had been Oregon’s closest wins final season. In any other case, it’s a bunch of lopsided scores the place Oregon was in no hazard of dropping. This mindset of respecting each opponent is welcome whenever you’re wagering Over 10.5 wins on a staff. They can’t be upset. There’s no margin for error.
The Oregon schedule permits for the Geese to win most of their video games. The non-conference slate consists of three house video games in opposition to Montana State, Oklahoma State and Oregon State. Oregon shall be multiple-touchdown favorites in opposition to all three. Whereas Montana State did play for the FCS championship, I anticipate the Geese to be on excessive alert after their earlier season opener in opposition to Idaho. Oklahoma State went 0-9 within the Huge 12 final season, and the Beavers simply don’t have the horses to compete.
In convention play, Oregon hosts Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota and USC. Oregon hardly ever loses at house, and none of those groups pose a menace proper now. Indiana might be feisty with Mendoza and its teaching employees, whereas USC might be peaking close to the tip of the season if issues break proper. Nonetheless, these video games are at house, the place the Geese often win.
Oregon will face convention street video games at Northwestern, Penn State, Rutgers, Iowa and Washington. The Penn State recreation shall be tough, and Oregon could lose that recreation. Within the different 4 video games, Oregon shall be a landing favourite or extra, however taking part in at Washington to finish the season is a rivalry recreation — one I am hesitant to mark as a win forward of time. If the Geese are 10-1 and also you’re afraid to lose the Over wager, then take Washington moneyline.
The Geese’ profitable methods during the last three seasons have included among the best rosters within the nation. They’ve fielded two straight Heisman finalists and over a dozen gamers drafted into the NFL. The final draft included their beginning quarterback, operating again, tight finish, greatest receiver, beginning defensive tackles and extra. Oregon shall be changing plenty of expertise and might want to mesh rapidly for fulfillment.
Oregon’s quarterback shall be Dante Moore, a former five-star recruit who transferred from UCLA final winter. He redshirted final season and has a gifted arm. There have been additionally switch portal additions at operating again, left deal with and left guard. Each of the offensive linemen may see their names known as within the first spherical of the 2026 NFL Draft. The Geese protection noticed main additions within the defensive again finish as nicely. Oregon has stockpiled expertise on the defensive position and at linebacker, and can want these guys to step up this season. I’ve little doubt the teaching employees — with years of outcomes to again it up — will get these guys taking part in nicely early within the season.
For all these causes, I’m taking Oregon to win 11 video games or extra. The Penn State recreation shall be robust, and I’m undecided Oregon will win. The margin of error is slim if the Geese lose, however they’ve proven no historical past of dropping video games that they shouldn’t. It’s a proficient roster with a training employees who’s getting higher every season.
PICK: Oregon Geese Over 11 wins
Geoff Schwartz is an NFL analyst for FOX Sports activities. He performed eight seasons within the NFL for 5 completely different groups. He began at proper deal with for the College of Oregon for 3 seasons and was a second-team All-Pac-12 choice his senior 12 months. Comply with him on Twitter @GeoffSchwartz.
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