Mike Bellotti says Marcus Mariota will be better than Cam Newton

The Oregon Ducks look like a freight train right now as they steamroll through anyone in their path in hopes of landing in Pasadena this January in the BCS National Championship game. If they make it there, it will be because of their quarterback and likely Heisman winner, Marcus Mariota.

And now former Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti, now an analyst for ESPN, says he think Mariota will be better than Carolina Panthers QB Newton at the next level.

"“I think he’ll be a fine quarterback at the (NFL) level, much like a (Colin) Kaepernick-type guy … better than Carolina’s quarterback right now,” Belotti told WFNZ-FM’s “The Drive” on Tuesday.“Cam has never had to work as hard, and I think he is finally now starting to get it and spend time in the classroom with the coaches,” Bellotti said. “A lot of things come really easy to Cam. I think he still thinks he can just go out there and do it. I think Marcus is a combination of the athlete and the student.”"

Mariota this season has passed for 2,281 yards with 20 touchdowns and no interceptions and rushing for 511 yards and nine touchdowns, and the Ducks are No. 2 in the BCS standings with an 8-0 record.