Oregon Football: Way-too-early game-by-game predictions for 2022
![Nov 6, 2021; Seattle, Washington, USA; Oregon Ducks running back Byron Cardwell (21) runs the ball against Washington Huskies linebacker Jackson Sirmon (43) during the fourth quarter at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports Nov 6, 2021; Seattle, Washington, USA; Oregon Ducks running back Byron Cardwell (21) runs the ball against Washington Huskies linebacker Jackson Sirmon (43) during the fourth quarter at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/88cfafd318ce4ed1696d7e3b7a74fff5f092efaaf131e8a8750b01448946da79.jpg)
A rematch of a heck of a game last season, UCLA and Chip Kelly will make the trek up to Eugene for a huge conference battle in mid-October. This may be the Ducks’ first game against a true Pac-12 contender and that might even draw College GameDay.
I think UCLA will be ranked at this point in the season and it’ll be pushing for a conference title but Kelly will have to win on his old field in front of a hostile crowd which won’t be easy.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson is back for one final season which makes this matchup interesting, but Oregon will be the better team. This will be an instant classic.
Final Score: UCLA 31, Oregon 37 (6-1, 4-0)
Justin Wilcox was atop some fans’ lists of potential Mario Cristobal replacements and rumors swirled about him being targeted by the Ducks, but that never came to fruition. Some fans are happy that it never happened and this game will make them feel better about that stance.
Oregon is going to march into Berkeley in a likely weird Pac-12 After Dark game and pull off a resounding win. The Ducks’ defense is going to smother Cal and the Golden Bears may start thinking that their future at the coaching position isn’t quite as solid as they expected.
Final Score: Oregon 34, Cal 20 (7-1, 5-0)