Oregon State Is The Dark Horse Of College Football In 2023
College football season is getting closer by the second my friends! We still have a little ways to go but to blood pumping and our college football brains cooking for the start of Week 0 and ultimately Week 1 in September….. Win Total Wednesday on Picks Central is BACK.
My first pick (and my favorite pick) is over 8.5 wins +115 for the Oregon State Beavers. This Oregon State team is coming off a 9-3 regular season, a dominant bowl game win over Florida and brings back a ton of talent on offense. The offensive line has a chance to maybe be the best unit at the position in the country. They had one of the best run games in the nation last year, bring back all five starters on the offensive line and stud running back Damian Martinez who was PAC12 Freshman of the Year in 2022 ending the year with six straight 100 yard rushing games.
That alone should keep the floor of this team pretty high but with the addition of DJ Uiagalelei at QB I really believe the sky is the limit. He’s been a very controversial figure in college football the last couple years, especially last season where many felt he was underwhelming at Clemson. Well fortunately for him and Oregon State, his ”underwhelming” would be a massive upgrade for the Beavers. If he can just do what he did last year and not turn the ball over, Oregon State has chance to win what seems to be a very competitive conference at the top. They also add a prolific tight end from Cal Jermaine Terry II and bring back Jake Overman.
On defense last year Oregon State had the best defense in the conference when it came to total defense (333 yards per game). They lost some significant talent at corner but bring back elite talent at the safety spots and on the defensive line and add a great pass rusher from Wyoming in Oluwaseyi Omotosho who had 6.5 sacks last season.
This is a team that brings back a ton of talent, has added talent and is very well coached by Johnathon Smith. I think they’ve being significantly undervalued not only to win 9+ games but to win the conference as well.
12/1 to win this conference is great value for the Beavers. The schedule works out well for them not having to play USC (in the regular season), and getting to play Utah and Washington at home. They could technically lose both those home games, lose in their rivalry game at Oregon to end the season and still go over 8.5 wins. I think there’s a damn good chance they could go 2-1 or minimum 1-2 in those games. 10 regular season wins would be a hell of a come up for Oregon State.
I love the way this team os coached, constructed and they way the season has been laid out for their potential success. I’m balls deep in the Beav. Let’s go Oregon State.
