Cover 3 Podcast Crew Goes Unanimous, Pegs Oregon to Hit the Over

This week on the Cover 3 Podcast Danny Kannell, Bud Elliott, Tom Fornelli and Chip Patterson of CBS Sports all picked Oregon to exceed their over/under win total of 10.5.

That translates to 11 or 12 wins, for those of us who are not degenerate gamblers.

Bud Elliott led off the segment and he was emphatic.  "I think they go 11-1 or 12-0," he said. The Big Ten is particularly top-heavy this season, he observed, with a wide gulf between the top four teams and everybody else, especially at quarterback. After Oregon, Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State, there's a dearth of top-flight quarterbacks.

"Usually when you talk about upsets, they are a product of great quarterback play." He said. He doesn't see much of that happening given Oregon's schedule. (Elliott didn't mention it, but the Ducks are markedly improved on the defensive line and secondary, which should also help them.)

Danny Kanell agrees. "I think there's a chance they go 12-0. I'm bullish on this team," the former All-American at Florida State said. "I have them beating Ohio State at home."

Kanell expressed confidence in Dillon Gabriel as the Ducks new signal caller.  "I think he's a perfect fit for this system. Very similar with what Bo Nix, skillset-wise, what they're going to ask them to do and I think he's going to execute the offense in a very similar fashion," he said.

At Oklahoma last year, the offensive attack relied heavily on the deep ball. Gabriel is accurate, a good leader with great pocket sense but doesn't have a big arm. Will Stein philosophy of taking the "Easy Money Throws" should maximize Gabriel's strengths, plus help keep him healthy.