It’s been a while since Chip Kelly coached a significant game in Autzen Stadium, but it’s time for another one. This time, Kelly will be coaching the other team as his 6-0 No. 9 UCLA football travels to Eugene to face 5-1 No. 10 Oregon football. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, though. Both teams are presently atop the Pac 12, both quarterbacks are Heisman contenders, and both might face off in Las Vegas for the conference championship.
We’re keeping Saturday, and our attention is on the hosts. After being humiliated in Week 1, Oregon has recovered and has appeared to be a potential Playoff candidate. Bo Nix has also emerged as a Heisman Trophy contender. They now aim to maintain their five-game winning streak and their chances of making the playoffs. Here are three audacious predictions for UCLA’s top-10 matchup with Oregon.
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3. Ducks cling In control of Dorian Thompson-Robinson
Dorian Thompson-Robinson, the great quarterback for UCLA, is the team’s lifeblood, and Oregon football cannot afford to let him dictate the pace of play. To ensure that DTR is maintained a secret, be prepared for spies, exotic blitzes, and everything else they can conjure up.
He’ll undoubtedly get his, but if the Ducks can lessen the damage he does and perhaps force a few turnovers, they can retake the ball for their own explosive attack and change the momentum. When trying to control the game on Saturday, that will be Oregon’s defense’s key play.
Bo Nix experiences his Heisman moment.
Stats are frequently insufficient for Heisman candidates. Voters choose candidates based on who had the greatest impact on the whole college football season by looking at the biggest moments. In this match, DTR and Bo Nix each had their chances. Bo Nix, though, will be the one to take centre stage.
Expect the former Auburn quarterback to demonstrate why he’s considered one of the best in the nation and lead Oregon football to a statement win that strengthens their Playoff prospects and puts them on the right track to earning a place in Las Vegas for the conference championship. If they triumph, they will claim first place in the conference, and Utah, USC, and UCLA will all be vying for second place in that matchup. Additionally, it would give them some breathing room since, provided they defeat Utah on November 19, they could afford to lose one game.
1. Oregon wins by a margin of two
Not that I’m implying that this game won’t be closely contested. These are both incredibly talented and expertly coached teams, so it will. I’m not even suggesting a 14-point victory here; rather, I’m proposing a close game late in the fourth quarter, say, with a margin of 3 points, where Oregon finds a game-winning score, whether it be by a turnover, a protracted offensive drive, or a combination of circumstances.
Ultimately, I have the Ducks winning by about 10, but as I previously stated, anticipate this game to be competitive for a substantial chunk of the time. Don’t completely write off the Bruins at any point, though. Chip Kelly can run an offence as well as anyone in the nation, so don’t write them off completely. However, I believe Oregon football has the slightest edge due to home field advantage and the weapons surrounding Bo Nix. They also score a late touchdown to make the score look much worse than it actually is for UCLA. In either case, we’re in for a fantastic match between two fantastic teams in a fantastic setting.
Oregon football: 3 audacious Ducks predictions for Pac-12 matchup vs. UCLA first appeared on ClutchPoints.
