Take the Ducks (-13) to flex before their bye week
The Oregon Ducks will take on the Arizona Wildcats in a Pac-12 battle Saturday night at 9:00 ET. The Ducks haven't played in Tuscon, Arizona since 2018, a game in which they lost 44-15.
Things are a bit different this year as the Ducks have scored 40 or more points in every game after getting embarrassed on opening night to Georgia 49-3. That punch in the mouth may have been what the doctor ordered to set this team straight as the offense has exploded for 2,495 yards (13th most in NCAA), 24 touchdowns (18th), and QB Bo Nix has a 82.2 QBR; good for 12th best in college.
Arizona comes into this matchup riding a high horse at 3-2, good enough to cash their season win total on the year already (2.5).
The Wildcats are lead by transfer QB Jayden de Laura, who has accounted for 338 total offense per game which is good for 6th best nationally. Jayden comes from Washington State where he was 0-2 as a starter against Oregon. His best attribute is his ability to run but the Oregon coaching staff should feel confident in creating a game plan to slow him down as they have seen him plenty in his career.
The ultimate difference maker in this contest will be how effective the Ducks rushing attack will be. Arizona ranks second worse in rushing defense, allowing 213 yards per game. Oregon ran for 315 yards last week against Stanford. The Ducks rack up 6 yards a carry, good for 8th best in the country.
Expect Oregon to pull the game away late by running it down their throats and chewing clock. 13 points feels like a lot to give but with the Over/Under being set at 70, Vegas is projecting this to be a high scoring game, forcing a bigger spread. Since Oregon's bye week is next week, the Ducks ought to bring it before the break.
Arizona gave up 39 to Mississippi St, 28 to North Dakota State, and 49 to Cal. While this has been a feel good story for the Wildcats, the balloon will pop eventually and this feels like a good spot for it to happen.
I don't hate Oregon's team total going over at 42.5 but I trust Oregon to win by more than 2 touchdowns more in a comfortable matter. All we need is the defense to get a few stops because Arizona won't force a single punt all game.
Expect the Ducks coaching staff to gas up the players to make sure they come out firing in a revenge game. Oregon can't afford to sleep walk or take this opponent lightly and they won't. I'm betting the Ducks to display a max effort in bringing the Wildcats back to Earth.
Bet: Oregon Ducks (-13), bet up to (-14.5)
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