A perusal of predictions conjured by a passle of gridiron expert witnesses leads to their consensus that there are four PAC10 squads worthy of title aspirations…Washington, USC, Arizona State and Oregon State.  We beg to differ after analyzing conference member schedules. 

Both Oregon and Oregon State slipped slightly last season from their winning pace that placed both squads among the nation’s elite elevens.  This time around, we expect Oregon to bounce back boisterously while OSU fails to justify lofty expectations.  Here’s our game by game forecast:

OREGON—Coach Mike Bellotti enters his ninth season at the Ducks’ helm.  Last year his minions compiled a 6-0 winning start before collapsing into a 7-6 season.  Not since 1997 had Bellotti’s strategies failed to win more than seven games.  From 2000 to midway last season, the 
Ducks dazzled with a 26-2 record.  Bellotti will be back.

        Aug. 30 at Mississipi State—Ducks won this matchup easily last year in Eugene.  It will be a closer contest this time, but the southerners still 
don’t have the horses to dump an Oregon squad dedicated to erase bad 2002 schedule memories.  We predict a good debut for Webfoot sophomore QB Kellen Clemens.  Oregon by 14.

        Sept. 6 Nevada—a real “gimme” as Oregon parades touchdowns in its home opener.  Both Clemens and senior Jason Fife should shine as signal callers.  Oregon by 28.

        Sept.13 at Arizona—Arizona coach John Mackovic had a sorry 4-8 debut in 2001 (1-7 in PAC     10 play) barely endured a player mutiny and hasn’t enough returning player talent to improve his shaky stance.  Oregon by 20.

        Sept. 20 Michigan—biggest contest ever booked for Autzen stadium, with the visiting Wolverines picked for a top five national finish.  However, 
Michigan faces Notre Dame the week before, while the Ducks will be pumped to play before a national TV audience.  An upset…Oregon by 3.

        Sept. 27 Washington State—home field advantage favors the Ducks 
against a WSU group that lost the mainstays of their 2002 succes (10-3). 
Providing Oregon can shake off its historic win of the week before, the Ducks will improve to 2-0 in conference play.  Oregon by 7.

        Oct. 4 at Utah—a coaching change and a 5-6 record last year spell 2003 trouble for the Utes, whose Mountain West conference ranks well below the PAC10 competitive level.  Oregon by 17.

Oct. 11 at Arizona State—the Sun Devils began Oregon’s slide into mediocrity last year.  Devil QB Andrew Walter returns to add more luster to his aerial accomplishments and will engineer the Ducks’first league loss, a narrow one.  Arizona State by 6.

        Oct. 25 Stanford—the Cardinal soundly whomped (41-14) Oregon in Autzen last year…enough incentive for the Webfoots to destroy a foe whose lack of veteran talent should consign it to the PAC10 depths.  Oregon by 28.

        Nov. 1 at Washington—Husky stadium is not a friendly place for 
visitors to play and we believeWashington coach Keith Gilbertson will echo past Dawg home triumphs, but narrowly.  Washington by
7.

        Nov. 8 California—the Bears were golden in 2002 under Bellotti 
disciple Jeff  Tedford, but graduated their best offensive performers. 
Shedding the Ducks’ disappointment in Seattle, we see…
Oregon by 21.

        Nov. 15 at UCLA—the Bruins are breaking in a new coach this season, which should give Bellotti an edge.  Oregon’s reliance on southern California-bred squad members tends to inspire these transplants to shine in the historic confines of the Rose Bowl.  Oregon by 3.

        Nov. 22 Oregon State—the host role in this traditional grudge match 
usually brings victory.  A Duck victory before the home folks can be 
expected.  It will give the Webfoots a glittering 10-2 season and an 
invitation to one of the New Year’s Day bowl spectaculars.  Oregon by 10

OREGON STATE—Coach Mike Riley returns for his second stint as Beaver head man and inherits a veteran squad.  It won’t be enough to solidify the seers’ ranking of OSU as a title contender.  Riley has yet to compile a winning record as a head man in college and NFL positions.  We have yet to see experienced QB Derek Anderson perform consistently.  We forecast Oregon to surprise, Oregon State to disappoint, but the Bevos have a schedule that should project them into the holiday bowl game ranks.

        Aug. 30 Sacramento State—no contest here, and the Orange & Black will be off to a certain winning start.  Oregon State by 35.

        Sept. 6 at Fresno State—we expect overconfidence gained from their 
opener will have the Beavers unprepared for a talented Bulldog squad.  Fresno opens at Tennessee before coming home to host OSU, and will be spoiling to even their record, which in recent seasons has been a winning one vs. PAC10 opponents.Fresno State by 6.

        Sept, 13 New Mexico State—this will be a solid Beavers’ rebound from their Fresno fate.  OSU by 21.

        Sept. 20 Boise State—last season the Broncos burst onto the national 
scene with a 12-1 record.  They are expected to easily best home state rivals Idaho State and Idaho before coming to Corvallis.  This could be close, but the Beavers should triumph.  Oregon State by 10.

        Sept. 27 Arizona State—will OSU be ready for its first conference 
clash?  We don’t think so, and the Sun Devils should maintain their hopes for a PAC10 crown.  Arizona State by 7.

Oct. 4 at California—Oregon State has the edge in both talent and experience here, but it could be close.  The Bears are no longer a patsy, as proven in 2002.  Beavers by 14.

Oct. 18 Washington—the Dawgs are a better ball-moving club than their hosts, but this will be a barn burner with definite bearing on a PAC10 championship. Washington by 1.

Oct, 25 at Washington State—a very tough challenge for the Bevos after hosting Washington, but OSU should survive with its superior margin of experience.  Oregon State by 7.

        Nov. 1 Arizona—this should be a very solid OSU victory, with the 
Beaver defense having a hey day with an undermanned Wildcat crew.  Oregon State by 17.

        Nov. 15 Stanford—another one sided expectation for an OSU triumph. OSU by 20.

        Nov. 22 at Oregon—as predicted above, this match favors Ducks.  Oregon by 10.

        Dec. 6 at USC—we expect this to be a capper to another stellar Trojan season.  SC by 14. 

So, there you have it…Oregon at 10-2 for the season, Oregon State at 7-5.  We see SC, Washington and Oregon as the leading PAC10 title aspirants.  SC has a pair of away matches with Auburn and Notre Dame which do not bode well for the Trojans’ BCS ambitions.  Washington opens at Ohio State, otherwise has a favorable schedule, with SC and Oregon the major obstaclez. 

Let’s strap on the headgear and pop s!!

© 2003 Oregon Magazine