Ducks in another Pac-12 showdown
Oregon (6-1, 3-1 Pac-12) at Utah (6-1, 3-1), 3:30 p.m. today (FOX)
Line: Oregon by 6 ½, according to
FanDuel Sportsbook
Series record: Oregon leads 24-12
KEY MATCHUP
Can Utah’s secondary keep Bo Nix in check? Nix is an efficient and dynamic passer. The Oregon QB is in contention for the Heisman Trophy after completing 78.4% of his passes through seven games. Nix has thrown for 19 touchdowns and just one interception while racking up 2,089 yards through the air.
No. 1 Georgia (7-0, 4-0 SEC) vs Florida (5-2, 3-1), 3:30 p.m. Saturday (CBS)
Line: Georgia by 14 ½.
Series record: Debatable. Georgia says it leads 55-44-2 and counts a victory in 1904. Florida insists that first meeting came two years before the school formally formed its football program and says it should be 54-44-2.
KEY MATCHUP Georgia RB Daijun Edwards versus Florida’s run
defense: The Gators’ defense was gashed by Kentucky and has allowed 4.31 yards a carry, 11th in the SEC. Edwards, who made his first career start at South Carolina last month, had a career-high 146 yards rushing and a touchdown in a 37-20 victory against Vanderbilt on Oct. 14. He leads Georgia with 460 yards rushing and five touchdowns despite missing the first two games while recovering from a sprained knee.
No. 20 Duke (5-2, 2-1 ACC) at No. 18 Louisville (6-1, 3-1), 3:30 p.m. Saturday (ESPN) Line: Louisville by 4½.
Series record: Louisville leads 3-0.
KEY MATCHUP Louisville quarterback Jack Plummer vs. Duke’s defense:
Plummer passed for 350 yards and two touchdowns at
Pitt but also had three interceptions, with one returned for a score. Duke’s defense ranks third in the ACC with nearly
316 yards allowed per game — just above Louisville, which is yielding nearly 318 per contest. That leaves Plummer no room for similar errors. The Blue Devils allowed 38 points in the Florida State loss but are giving up just 13.9 points per game to remain the league’s stingiest in scoring defense. No. 21 Tennessee (5-2, 2-2 SEC) at Kentucky (5-2, 2-2), 7 p.m. Saturday (ESPN) Line: Tennessee by 3 ½. Series record: Tennessee 83-26-9.
KEY MATCHUP
Run games: Ray Davis, the SEC’s rushing leader, averaging 111.6 yards per game, and Tennessee’s three-headed monster of Jaylen Wright, Jabari Small and Dylan Sampson, looks to garner the spotlight. Wright ranks fourth in the league averaging 84.71 yards and is a big reason Tennessee leads the league, averaging 217.29 yards rushing. Davis has the advantage of being backed by a Wildcats’ defense that ranks second in the SEC, giving up just 95.71 rushing yards per game. Pittsburgh (2-5) at No. 14 Notre Dame (6-2), 3:30 p.m. Saturday (NBC) Line: Notre Dame by 20 ½.
Series record: Notre Dame leads 50-21-1.
KEY MATCHUP
Pitt defense vs. Irish QB Sam Hartman: The Wake Forest transfer is considered one of the nation’s top passers.
He’s completing a career-high 64.5% of his throws with 1,838 yards, 18 TDs and three interceptions. itt may be experiencing a down season, but the Panthers still have a stout defense that allows 317.9 yards (26th in the FBS).
No. 3 Ohio State (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten) at Wisconsin (5-2, 3-1),
7:30 p.m. Saturday (NBC)
Line: Wisconsin by 14 ½.
Series record: Ohio State leads 27-11-2
KEY MATCHUP Wisconsin RB Braelon Allen vs. Ohio State run defense:
Allen leads the Big Ten with 100.57 yards rushing per game and is coming off a 145-yard performance in a 25-21 victory at Illinois. Allen rushed for a season-high 165 yards in a 52-21 loss at Ohio State last year. Ohio State ranks fifth in yards allowed per game (260.1), second in yards allowed per play (3.93) and 18th in yards rushing allowed per game (100.57).
KEEP AN EYE ON ...
Wisconsin WR Will Pauling: He has caught at least seven passes in each of his last three games. The only Big Ten player with more October receptions than Pauling’s 23 is Harrison with 25. Pauling had his first career touchdown catch last week in a come-from-behind win over Illinois.