Revenge for Ducks doesn’t Wash.
This weekend will feature three games in which both teams are ranked in the Top 25. The one you’ll hear the least about takes place in Eugene, Ore., where No. 17 Oregon will host No. 7 Washington in a burgeoning Pac-12 rivalry.
PROPHET MARGIN Chris Letourneau
Oregon dominated this series for more than a decade, winning 12 straight through the tenures of quarterbacks Kellen Clemens, Dennis Dixon and Marcus Mariota. But the past two meetings have gone to the Huskies on the strength of coach Chris Petersen’s outstanding defense.
Ducks QB Justin Herbert, the potential No. 1 pick in next year’s NFL draft, did not play in last year’s 38-3 loss at Washington, but he was under center as a freshman for an embarrassing 70-21 loss at home in 2016. He’ll be ready for some revenge in front of 54,000 screaming fans at Autzen Stadium.
A couple issues: The Huskies defense is good. They returned almost the entire unit from last year, and even though Herbert didn’t play in that game, it was a complete mismatch, especially up front. Washington will get its hands on Herbert and force mistakes.
Perhaps more important is the quarterback on the other side. Senior Jake Browning has been through plenty of tough games, is as accurate as any passer in the country and is facing a defense that is suspect at best.
The Huskies, favored by 31⁄2 points, will score at will, and the defense will contain Herbert enough to win by a touchdown.
In other games:
TONIGHT Utah (-131⁄2) vs. Arizona — The Utes have some momentum after dismantling Stanford last week. Arizona quarterback Khalil Tate, a revelation last year as a sophomore, is playing on a bad ankle and has taken a huge step back. The Wildcats will struggle on the road in a short week.
TOMORROW Duke (+21⁄2) at Georgia Tech — The Blue Devils held Georgia Tech’s offense to 277 rushing yards in a win last year. They also handled Army’s funky option attack with ease in the season opener. Duke’s offense will bounce back from last week’s loss to Virginia Tech with a straight-up win in Atlanta.
Louisville (+13) at Boston College — The Eagles are the better team and should win, but their suspect defense has allowed at least 28 points in each of the past four games. Throw in the uncertainty surrounding AJ Dillon’s ankle, and the Cardinals will be able to stay within single digits.
Army (-15) at San Jose State — Coach Jeff Monken’s quirky offense has posed all kinds of problems for opposing defenses, including then-undefeated Oklahoma in a near upset. The winless Spartans are allowing 488.4 yards per game. Recipe for a blowout.
Central Florida (-41⁄2) at Memphis — I’m loading up on road teams this week, so why not add the No. 9 Golden Knights, who scored 102 points in two meetings with the Tigers last season and are seeking the program’s 19th consecutive victory. UCF quarterback McKenzie Milton is the real deal and knows how to attack this defense. The Knights should be double-digit favorites.
Georgia at LSU (under 51) — The game of the week happens in the bayou where the No. 2 Bulldogs and No. 13 Tigers have tons of NFL talent on the defensive side. Georgia has scored at least 38 points in every game this season, but those six opponents couldn’t join forces and create a defense as tough as LSU’s. The Dawgs should win, but it will take a while for the offenses to find a rhythm.
Penn State (-131⁄2) vs. Michigan State — The No. 8 Nittany Lions have had two weeks to prepare after their gut-wrenching loss to Ohio State. They also want revenge for last year’s 27-24 loss in East Lansing. The Spartans’ weaknesses were on display in a brutal loss to Northwestern, and their defense is not ready for what’s about to hit them.
Michigan (-91⁄2) vs. Wisconsin — With QB Shea Patterson comfortable at the controls and a defense that’s one of the best in the country, now is the time for Jim Harbaugh’s No. 12 Wolverines to win a big game. They made too many early mistakes in the opener against Notre Dame, but they won’t against the No. 15 Badgers, whose offense just isn’t dynamic enough to keep pace.
Colorado (+7) vs. USC — The No. 19 Buffaloes, at 5-0, are one of the most underrated teams in the country. The Trojans should have lost to Arizona last week and are ripe for an upset.
Last week: 6-4-0 Season: 18-26-2