[4:00 PM] Oregon @ Oregon State

Who will WIN this matchup?

Oregon Ducks (4-7)

@ Oregon State Beavers (3-8)

 

• Oregon is fresh off a huge upset, clipping two-touchdown favorite and then-11th-ranked Utah 30-28 on Darren Carrington’s 17-yard scoring reception in the back corner of the end zone with two seconds remaining. The win not only knocked Utah out of contention for the Pac-12 South title, but it boosted embattled Oregon coach Mark Helfrich’s 2016 resume and kept alive the Ducks’ slim chances of making it to a bowl game with a 5-7 finish.

• The Beavers, meanwhile, snapped out of a five-game losing skid last Saturday with a 42-17 thrashing of visiting South Division cellar-dweller Arizona and now are aiming to put an end to their eight-game Civil War series losing streak.

• The Ducks struggled through a three point first half last Saturday, but caught fire behind freshman quarterback Justin Herbert who tossed three scoring passes and ran for another to rally his team. Tailback Royce Freeman, who was hampered by injury issues earlier in the season, also is coming off one of his best games of the year with 129 yards rushing and 36 more yards and a touchdown on eight receptions. The Oregon defense, led by standout freshman linebacker Troy Dye (83 total tackles, 6.5 sacks), still ranks 126th nationally with 42.1 points allowed per game, but kept a Pac-12 foe under 35 points for the first time in its last nine conference contests.

• The Beavers had their own impressive performance from a young quarterback last Saturday as sophomore Marcus McMaryion completed 16-of-19 passes for 265 yards and five TDs in the rout of Arizona. McMaryion has two solid weapons at his disposal in tailback Ryan Nall (team-leading 796 yards, nine TDs) and wide receiver Victor Bolden Jr. (856 total yards, four TDs). Linebackers Caleb Saulo and Manase Hungalu, with a combined average of 15.3 tackles per game, lead a defense which ranks in the middle of the Pac-12 pack at 31.1 points and 433.3 yards surrendered per game.

• Oregon State’s 42 points vs. Arizona last week marked the first time the Beavers have topped 40 in a Pac-12 game since a 49-17 win at California in 2013.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: Oregon Ducks

Confidence: 4/10

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