Ducks projected to make ‘Fiesta Bowl’ appearance

With a blowout win in Saturday’s Civil War, defeating the Beavers 48-24, Oregon is expected to play in another BCS bowl game.

After Oregon lost to Stanford earlier this month and with other top teams not stumbling this past week, the Ducks’ chances of playing the national championship game are all but gone. Finishing the regular season with an 11-1 record, the team is widely expected to play in the Fiesta Bowl, which falls on Jan. 3 in Glendale, Ariz. Projected opponents are either the Kansas State Wildcats or Oklahoma Sooners.

Despite Oregon’s one loss, the team has had a successful season, averaging 50.8 points per game, which is second in the country. Freshmen quarterback Marcus Mariota finished the regular season with 30 passing touchdowns and 2,511 passing yards. He also finished top 10 in the nation with a QB rating of 165.4. Senior running back Kenjon Barner is a finalist for the Doak Walker award, which goes to the nation’s best running back.

Last January, Oregon won the Rose Bowl, beating Wisconsin 45-38. But after Stanford beat UCLA last Saturday, Oregon will not return to Pac-12 title game, and will see its three-year conference championship run end. However, next season should be better for the Ducks, if that is possible to believe.

If Oregon were to have a consistent placekicker throughout this season, they would be in the national championship. Sophomore kicker Alejandro Maldonado was 1-for-4 on the season kicking field goals and missed two in Oregon’s loss to Stanford. The Ducks ended up losing in overtime by a field goal. That wasn’t the first time Maldonado missed a clutch field goal for the Ducks. Last season, he missed a 37-yard field goal to force overtime against USC and Oregon lost, 38-35.

I would expect the Duck coaching staff would encourage Maldonado to transfer elsewhere before next season, due to his inconsistency.

I predict that whomever Oregon plays in the Fiesta Bowl, will be an easy victory for the Ducks.