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3 bold predictions for Oregon football vs. Idaho in Week 1

By Connor Muldowney

Oregon wide receiver Tez Johnson celebrates a touchdown as the No. 6 Oregon Ducks host California Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore.
Oregon wide receiver Tez Johnson celebrates a touchdown as the No. 6 Oregon Ducks host California Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. / Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK
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Dan Lanning is getting his Oregon football team ready to take on one of the better teams from the FCS which has improved drastically over the past couple of seasons.

The Ducks have plenty to be excited about heading into Saturday night's opener as they return some key pieces from a 12-win team a year ago as well as bringing in the No. 2 transfer class in the country, led by Dillon Gabriel, Evan Stewart, Jamaree Caldwell, and Jabbar Muhammad. This team is actually loaded from top to bottom so the -46 line makes sense.

Before the game kicks off, though, let's dive into our boldest predictions for the matchup.

3. The Ducks win the turnover battle, 6-0

Oregon has one of the best defenses in the country and the Big Ten is about to find that out soon enough. Whether it's Jamaree Caldwell, Jordan Burch, and Matayo Uiagalelei up front, Jeffrey Bassa at linebacker, or Jabbar Muhammad in the defensive backfield, this team is loaded.

With that being said, I think we'll see the Ducks force six (!!) turnovers on Saturday evening.

That may not seem that bold because Idaho is an FCS program, but six turnovers is a lot any way you slice it. I see four interceptions (one from Bassa, two from Muhammad, and one from Kobe Savage) and two fumbles (one forced by Bassa and the other forced on a strip-sack by Burch). The Ducks will also keep it clean on offense with no turnovers.

2. Evan Stewart, Tez Johnson each have over 100 yards

With Dillon Gabriel tossing them the ball for the first time in live action, Evan Stewart and Tez Johnson are going to go off on Saturday night for 100 yards each. I think the rapport that Gabriel will have with his top two receivers will be obvious.

Johnson will finish as the leading receiver with six catches for 120 yards and a touchdown and Stewart will post five catches for 101 yards in his first game with the Ducks.

1. Dillon Gabriel has more touchdown passes than incompletions

While I obviously think Oregon wins this game big (55-13), I decided to save my boldest prediction for the quarterback rather than a margin of victory.

So that's why I'm predicting that Gabriel will finish the game with more touchdown passes (5) than incompletions (4). He's going to pass for 310 yards and five touchdowns on 17-of-21 completions. He's going to have a huge game and fans will be more than please.

What a way to start 2024 and that quest for the Heisman.

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