The numbers favor the Ducks. Oddsmakers say they are a 23.5-point favorite, an eyebrow-raising difference since UCLA hasn’t allowed more than 24 points in any game this season. That total came last week in a 24-10 loss to Stanford.
A lot has been written about Anthony Barr, UCLA’s relentlessly athletic, NFL-bound outside linebacker, 6-4, 248, in the number 11 jersey. He’s a great player, with 43 tackles and 4.5 sacks this season, a 2nd team All-American last year, but Oregon’s Tony Washington has 35 tackles and 6.5 sacks, and may have just as much impact on the game. Derrick Malone, another of Don Pellum’s crew, has racked up 59 tackles.
Barr none: Anthony Barr of UCLA leads NFL draft boards and wreaks havoc in pass rush, but the Ducks should be able to keep pace (Jonathan Moore photo).
The Bruins rightly get a lot of credit for their physical defense. The Webfoots, regularly overshadowed by a flashy offense that ramps up the scoring pace, may be equally good. They get their most serious test of the season so far from quarterback Brett Hundley and his offense, a unit capable of both sustained drives and big plays. The 12th-ranked Bruins score 39.8 points and average 301.7 passing yards a game.
They have two major problems Saturday. Lead running back Jordan James has a bum ankle, and they’ve suffered three key injuries on the offensive line, forcing three true freshman into the starting lineup. Keeping pace with Oregon’s offense is a chore on a good day. This has the potential to be a bad one.
Nothing out of the Oregon camp sounds like arrogance or overconfidence. The Ducks are prepared, concerned but undistracted by the troubles of their former teammate, bent on playing with purpose on a weekend ESPN Game Day, Brent Musburger and Kirk Herbstreit come to Autzen Stadium and the Oregon campus. Five years in a row the Ducks have been a part of college football’s premier showcase, 8 times in their history.
It speaks to the appeal and success of the Oregon program, but that all starts with execution and urgency on the actual game day. Saturday afternoon at Autzen Stadium under perfect weather with an energized crowd all in green, the Ducks will do that thing they do with more class and precision than anyone in the country.
Oregon 53, UCLA 27.
This week’s prediction contest is for a $10 merchandise certificate at the DSH Store, a concept being developed reader Rgyle and Montana ThreadWorks, a company that specializes in hats, tee shirts and other brand-building apparel for teams and businesses.
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