ESPN Experts Favor USC Over Oregon Ducks For 2015 Pac-12 Title
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The good folks of ESPN have spoken and once again the Oregon Ducks appear to be holding the short end of the stick. The 2015 season will be a great one in the Pac-12 and the USC Trojans are the Network of Champions pick to win the Conference by close to twice the ‘experts’, by a ten to six margin in comparing the two schools. Several other Pac-12 schools were also chosen including UCLA, Arizona and Arizona State. Former Oregon Head Coach Mike Bellotti went against his former school and chose the USC Trojans to win the Conference.
Of course if there is a year for the Oregon Ducks to make a statement over the Trojans, it will be 2015. Mark Helfrich may have the advantage of playing Southern California twice, after not seeing them since 2009 on the regular season schedule. The first meeting is November 21st in Eugene and will likely be the game of the year in the Pac-12 Conference. Oregon may also meet up with the Trojans again in Santa Clara a few weeks later for the Pac-12 Championship Game with the winner possibly landing a place in the second College Football Playoff. The stakes are high in both meetings, but Oregon has the early homefield advantage in Autzen Stadium.
Three of the ESPN Experts see the Oregon Ducks getting to the College Football Playoff in 2015 including Todd McShay, Lee Corso, and Rocky Boiman, most see the Ducks in a rematch with Ohio State in the first semifinal. Todd McShay has the Oregon Ducks getting to and winning the National Championship. Eleven of the twenty experts pick the Buckeyes to win it all.
The season kicks off for Oregon on Saturday against Eastern Washington (5pm Pacific Time, Pac-12 Networks). Ohio State visits Virginia Tech in a rematch from 2014 on Labor Day evening at 5pm Pacific Time on ABC.
Next: Oregon Ducks To Watch In 2015: Running Back Royce Freeman