Nicholls State @ Oregon preview

High-flying Oregon no longer has Chip Kelly in charge and familiar ringmaster Mark Helfrich makes his head-coaching debut when the No. 3 Ducks host overmatched Nicholls State on Saturday. Helfrich was promoted from offensive coordinator after helping Oregon go 46-7 in his four seasons in that role, including a 12-1 mark last season before Kelly left to become head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles. Nicholls State’s lone win a season ago was against NAIA school Evangel.

Sophomore quarterback Marcus Mariota is a leading Heisman Trophy candidate after throwing a school-record 32 touchdowns passes and setting another Oregon mark with a 68.5 completion percentage in 2012. The Ducks averaged 44.7 points and 501.1 yards in Helfrich’s four seasons of overseeing the offense, and the new offensive coordinator is former Nebraska quarterback Scott Frost. Nicholls State’s last visit to the state of Oregon didn’t go well – the FCS Colonels lost 77-3 to Oregon State to end their 2012 campaign.

TV: 4 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1. LINE: None.

ABOUT NICHOLLS STATE (2012: 1-10, 0-7 Southland): Senior quarterback Landry Klann (2,049 yards, eight touchdowns in 2012) suffered a season-ending shoulder injury so junior Beaux Hebert – son of former NFL signal caller Bobby Hebert – will guide the offense. Senior Marcus Washington (598 yards, six TDs) will be the primary ball-carrier and junior tight end Nick Scelfo (22 receptions for 300 yards) is a capable receiving threat. Eight starting defenders are back, led by senior linebacker Chris Bermond (64 tackles) and senior safety Siegan Vergenal (50 stops, three forced fumbles).

ABOUT OREGON (2012: 12-1, 8-1 Pac-12): The Ducks averaged 49.5 points and 537.4 yards of total offense last season, and versatile junior De'Anthony Thomas (11 rushing touchdowns, five receiving scores in 2012) is also back to torture defenses and will again line up anywhere on the field as well as handle kickoff and punt return duties. Oregon scored a school-record 89 touchdowns last season with four coming on interception returns and two on returns from Thomas. Junior cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu (four interceptions, six forced fumbles) and senior safety Brian Jackson (69 tackles, two interceptions) are back as part of a strong secondary.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Oregon’s last home-opening defeat was a 30-24 loss to Indiana in 2004.

2. Hebert isn’t the only son of a popular former New Orleans Saints player on the Nicholls State roster – senior RB Dalton Hilliard Jr. is the son of the former NFL back.

3. The Ducks had 23 touchdown drives that took 60 seconds or less last season.

PREDICTION: Oregon 70, Nicholls State 6