Oregon Football: 7 Reasons Why the Ducks Will Not Lose Another Game This Season

As the Oregon Ducks fell apart Saturday night against the LSU Tigers, many across the country saw blood in the water.

The Ducks' air of invincibility has been completely blown away by two devastating defeats. The Ducks have followed their back-to-back conference championships, with back-to-back defeats. 

Many in the Pac-12 (and no doubt Nevada) think they see a chink in the Oregon armor. What they will really see is a third year of Oregon domination that will lead the Ducks to a third straight BCS bowl game. 

Here are seven reasons why the Ducks will not lose another game this year.

LaMichael James Will Get the Support He Needs

Let's face it, LaMichael James has not gotten a lot of help these last two games. Whether it is a tough SEC front four, or a new offensive line, James has been neutralized. 

Look for that to change as Oregon’s new offensive line gels following the tough lessons they learned from LSU. 

The O-line is more than a match for their remaining opponents and LaMichael James just needs a little room to do his work. Short of injuries, James will rush over 100 yards in every game left in his Oregon career.

Cliff Harris Will Return for the Home Opener

Last seen somewhere between Portland and Eugene, Cliff Harris is about to return to Duck Nation. 

Chip Kelly is mum on a timeline for the Harris return, but this is standard operating procedure for the Ducks. 

Cliff Harris will take the field against Nevada. And yet, his value is more than a couple interceptions and a regrettable quote or two: Harris is the swagger of the Ducks. 

When Cliff Harris steps on the field this Saturday, expect to see some swagger.

De’Anthony Thomas Is Ready to Play

In spite of consecutive fumbles against LSU, this kid has a huge upside. A little failure for a player of his skills is not necessarily a bad thing going forward. 

Arrogance will be replaced with focus as De’Anthony Thomas develops into a primary offensive weapon in Eugene. 

His running skills, along with his ability to make catches out of the backfield makes De’Anthony Thomas a perfect fit for Oregon football.  

Josh Huff Will Become the Next Jeff Maehl

No one receiver stood out against LSU. Darron Thomas threw 240 yards by connecting with eight different receivers. The Ducks need a receiver to step up and fill the void left by last year’s seniors.  That man is Josh Huff. 

As a true freshman last year, Huff got few touches but made the most of them by racking up 303 yards on just 19 receptions. 

Josh Huff also had some game-breaking runs, but his receiving skills will come front-and-center in this year's run to a third BCS appearance. 

Another Solid Year on the Defensive Front

The surprise story last year was the strength of the Oregon defense. While the high-octane offense made national headlines week-in and week-out, the defensive squad quietly took care of business. 

While Auburn’s front four slowed the Ducks offense to a standstill, the Ducks defense heroically held the Cam Newton lead attack to just 22 points. In the same token, the Ducks defense held strong against LSU, holding the Tigers to just 335 total yards. 

It was offensive and special teams mistakes that led to defeat, not defensive weakness. 

With the return of Kiko Alonso and Cliff Harris, this defense is going to be a force for the rest of the season.

Autzen Stadium, Home of the First Pac-12 Championship Game

Perhaps the most convincing reason that the Ducks will win out is a very favorable schedule.

After a trial-by-fire at the Cowboy Classic, the Ducks will spend seven of their next 11 games in the comfortable confines of Autzen Stadium. 

The Ducks currently hold a 16-game winning streak at home; their last loss there was September 20, 2008. Stanford and Arizona look to be the only difficult road games left on the Ducks schedule. 

On December, 3^rd the Ducks will play at Autzen Stadium in the first Pac-12 championship game defending a 20-game home winning streak.

Motivation

There is no program out there with more motivation than the Ducks.

Losing to Auburn to end their last season, followed by a loss to LSU to start this season means the Ducks have essentially lost two national titles in as many games (along with a significant degree of national respect). 

Few programs have had a rougher two-game spell. And that is the motivation that the Ducks carry on their shoulders as they fight their way back into the national stage. 

These fast Ducks are now playing with a chip on their shoulders.