welcome to The Sports Bank 77 in 77. We’re previewing one team a day everyday as the college football season approaches. And we’re doing it in rapid fire sequence. Today, the Oregon Ducks
2011 was: a national title banner year-almost, they were the last team standing in the Pac-12 and the Rose Bowl winner
2012 will go smoothly if: the offense simply reloads and rebuilds as it returns just 4 starters. The O was among the best 5 nationally in many major categories, and quite a few are in the NFL now or will be soon. Also the OL returns half in tact. The Ducks also have the fastest backfield in the nation.
2012 will be rough if new receivers, new starters all over the offense- plenty of questions. But this is Oregon, where the new guys stepping up are all top recruits and you replace the nation’s leading rusher LaMichael James with Kenjon Barner, a guy that averaged more yards, and Hesiman hopeful Da’Anthony Thomas, the southern California product who wowed ’em at his hometown Rose Bowl. He also plays receiver. Look for the Ducks to keep averaging 45 points a game and 500 yards with their high speed quack attack
BMOC: all the dudes I mentioned plus the two new QBs, both are burners Marcus Mariota and Bryan Bennett. DEs Arik Armstead and Dion Jordan, FS Josh Boyett, and LB Kiko Alonso
All Name team: C Karrington Armstrong, TE Pharaoh Brown
Bottom Line: 10-11 wins looks likely. They might be deserving of more, but it all depends on if they stay healthy at the positions where they have little depth. They dodged a bullet when coach and fan of this site’s name Chip Kelly decided to turn down the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and settle some unfinished business in college football.
All the 77s
#9 Florida
#19 Oklahoma State
#36 UCF
#40 Penn State
#45 Mississippi State
#47 Northwestern
#67 Southern Miss
#73 Kansas
#74 Maryland
Paul M. Banks is CEO of The Sports Bank.net, an official Google News site generating millions of unique visitors. He’s also a regular contributor to Chicago Now, Chicago Tribune.com, Fox Sports, Walter Football and Yardbarker
A Fulbright scholar and MBA, Banks has appeared on live radio all over the world; and he’s a member of the Football Writers Association of America, U.S. Basketball Writers Association, and Society of Professional Journalists. The President of the United States follows him on Twitter (@Paul_M_BanksTSB) You should too