Oregon Keeps CFP Hopes Alive with Road Win at Washington; Nat’l Title Odds Now +2500

• The Oregon Ducks’ National Championship odds have improved to +2500
• They’re fresh off a comeback victory over Washington and moved up to #11 in the AP top-25 rankings
• Is Oregon a good bet to win the 2020 CFP?

Don’t look now but the Oregon Ducks are right back in the National Title conversation. After a close loss in their season opener to Auburn, Oregon has reeled off six straight wins, including Saturday’s come from behind victory at Washington.

2020 CFP National Championship Odds

Odds taken on 10/20/19.

The Ducks’ National Championship odds have been slashed in half, from +5000 to +2500, and they’ve moved up to #11 in the AP rankings, ahead of Wisconsin, which fell to Illinois as a 30-point favorite. Oregon’s remaining schedule is very favorable, and unless something completely unexpected happens, they’ll be playing for the Pac-12 title in December.

Smooth Sailing Ahead

The Ducks will be favored in each of their final five games beginning next week versus Washington State. Their lone remaining matchup versus a ranked team is five weeks from now at Arizona State, but Oregon is exponentially more talented on both sides of the ball, and the Sun Devils haven’t beaten a top tier program all season. Indeed, after a 27-3 drubbing at the hands of Utah, they’re somewhat fortunate to still be #24 (a seven-spot drop from Week 7).

Final from Seattle!

No. 12 Oregon comes from behind to take down No. 25 Washington! #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/kcVC9DVyKu

— Oregon Football (@oregonfootball) October 19, 2019

The Ducks are 4-0 in Pac-12 play and rank first or second in the conference in nearly every major offensive and defensive category. They’ve racked up 230 points since the season opener, and quarterback Justin Herbert has played himself right back into the Heisman Trophy discussion.

Herbert has been Incredible

Oregon’s senior QB put on a clinic Saturday night, throwing for 280 yards and four touchdowns in the biggest comeback victory of his career. It was his seventh career four-TD game and he’s one of only two FBS quarterbacks (along with Justin Fields) who’s thrown 21 touchdowns and only one interception.

No big deal.

Just Justin Herbert defying the laws of nature.pic.twitter.com/ndoobXd3cW

— Carter Donnick (@CDonnick3) October 19, 2019

In 13 career conference road games, he has a 30-2 TD-to-INT ratio, and he’s now thrown a touchdown in 35 straight games, the longest active streak in the FBS.

He’s living up to his billing as a potential first-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft, and he has an excellent chance to strengthen his Heisman case next week against a Cougars team that allows nearly 30 points a game and surrendered a preposterous 67 to UCLA back in September.

The Ducks Are Legit Playoff Contenders

Oregon is certainly a long shot to make the College Football Playoff, but if they win the Pac-12 and one or two of the top contenders stumble, they could easily find themselves among the final four. All they can do is win their conference and hope for the best, but their current National Championship odds don’t reflect a team with a realistic path to the title.

This is the most physical Oregon football team in 20 years. They are championship caliber. And not just the PAC 12….

— Danny Kanell (@dannykanell) October 19, 2019

They were much more enticing a week ago at +5000, but even at +2500, they’re worth a small wager. Their schedule is favorable, their offense is humming, and they have a reasonable shot to be a one-loss power-conference champion. (Yes, the Pac-12 still counts as a power conference.)