The Oregon Ducks are about to face their toughest test yet to date this weekend, when they welcome No. 9 Stanford Cardinal at home. Both teams have been undefeated through the first three weeks of the season, though, they picked up wins against teams of varying degrees of strength. Will the Cardinal rake in their fourth consecutive win? Or will the Ducks give Stanford’s College Football Playoffs chances a huge blow?
Betting on the Stanford Cardinal (3-0 Overall / 1-0 Conference)
The Cardinal notched their third-straight win to start the season last Saturday, as they made a mincemeat out of UC Davis, 30-10. Stanford quarterback K.J. Costello threw for 214 yards with touchdowns against a pair of interceptions. Costello can’t be described as accurate so far this season, as he has thrown a total of three interceptions with seven touchdown passes. Hopefully for the Cardinal, they will have star running back and Heisman Trophy contender Bryce Love, who missed the UC Davis game with an undisclosed injury he apparently sustained in the win over USC back in Week 2. In the Cardinal’s last meeting with Oregon last year, Love ran circles around the Ducks’ defense and rushed for 147 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries in a 49-7 victory. In case Love will remain out, junior tailback Trevor Speights will be left with most of the load in the backfield again after racking up 87 rushing yards on 87 attempts in the UC Davis game.
The under is 4-0 in Stanford’s last four road games
Betting on the Oregon Ducks (3-0 Overall / 0-0 Conference)
It’s time what to know what Oregon is all about this season. After picking three-straight wins against lowly programs, the Ducks are set to face their first ranked opponent in the form of Stanford. The Ducks, however, haven’t been winning games in the fashion sportsbooks expected them to, as they have yet to cover a spread this season. Last Saturday, the took down San Jose State, 35-23. The margin was way off the 43-point spread given to Oregon as a favorite. Ducks quarterback Justin Herbert passed for 309 yards and three touchdowns, but two of his passes also landed into the opposing team’s hands. The defense stepped up for Oregon, though, to keep San Jose State at bay, as the Spartans were picked off twice. The Ducks also held San Jose State to just 29 rushing yards. The Spartans need to throw their weight around on defense this coming weekend, especially if Love plays.
The Ducks are 6-4 ATS in their last 10 home games against Stanford.
