(Photo: Clutchpoints)
Saturday Spotlight
(8) Oregon Ducks at (13) Utah Utes
Oregon: The last time I saw them play, they were on the end of a disappointing loss in Seattle against the Washington Huskies. The following week after that game, I remember saying on the radio that Washington was given time and they made one more play when it mattered most. If anything, Oregon did just about everything correctly to win that game. They ran the ball consistently, the Offensive Line allowed only one sack and Bo Nix didn’t turn the football over. Their brilliance begins with an offense that averages 553 yards per contest. I can’t imagine this attack without Bo Nix. He’s been phenomenal this year and if he keeps up his stellar play, he will receive an invitation to New York City for the Heisman Trophy Presentation. On the year, Bo has thrown for 2,089 yards passing with 19 touchdowns and only one interception. This is one of the more balanced offensive teams in the nation because how effective their passing attack is, the ground game is just as consistent as they average 227 rushing yards per game. They find ways to beat you in different capacities. No matter what they do, they are explosive and can attack at any given moment. I knew the defense would be one of the best under Dan Lanning’s eye. After all, you see what he did with the Georgia Bulldogs and when he took this job, I was excited for the possibilities of what this defense could be with Dan and they’ve allowed only 17 points per game and most importantly, they dominate when it comes to stopping the run. It’s an old school mentality that still works to this very day. Run the football and limit the opposing team’s ground attack. Today, they havre another big time showdown in the Pac-12.
Utah: There’s no way they could still win football games even without Cam Rising, right? Cam tore his ACL in the Rose Bowl win against the Penn State Nittany Lions and has yet to play this year and probably won’t. In football, what’s the saying? Having a strong backup Quarterback is so essential and they have just that with Bryson Barnes. It’s always something to come across a young Quarterback who’s so calm and collected in the pocket and that’s exactly what Bryson is. Against the USC Trojans last weekend, he took what was given to him and attacked a Trojans defense which isn’t difficult to do at all. He spreads the ball around to the open guy, but most importantly, he doesn’t force it and makes all his reads before making a decision with the football. This Utah offense hasn’t missed a beat this year. Even without Cam, the Utes have still be able to score points, not at the high volume it was with Rising, but they can punch the ball in the end zone. This group has relied heavily on running the ball and the ground attack is always a new Quarterback’s best friend to lean on. The rushing attack is averaging 183 yards per game and 11 of their touchdowns have come on the ground this year. The wins have been coming for them because of the defense they play. Utah allows only 15 points per game and they are stuffing the run along with making life miserable for Quarterbacks by sacking them 25 times on the season and holding them to a completion percentage of 55.4 percent. Also at home, no team has scored 20 points on them. Today, they will welcome the Ducks from Eugene, Oregon to town for a conference tilt.
Oregon X-Factor: Troy Franklin– This is Bo’s top target or one of his many targets. Put him wide on the perimeter and Troy is going to find a way to the football. At 6’3, he has the height advantage over anyone attempting to defend him. Troy knows how to maneuver himself up the field with the ball in his hands and knows how to make people miss. He can also be used in the slot and makes plays anywhere he’s lined up.
Utah X-Factor: Ja’Quinden Jackson– I could watch this kid run the football all day if it were possible. Before becoming a Running Back, Ja’Quinden was a Quarterback in High School. He can take the tiniest amount of space and still burst through the lanes untouched and into the second and third levels of the defense. Ja’Quinden can display the power and has never been afraid to run the ball up the middle. There’s no hesitation with him when it comes to lowering the shoulder and getting lower than his opponent.
Final Thoughts: This is a huge game in the Pac-12. Both teams enter with one loss each. The winner will have greener pastures and the loser will be eliminated from contention for the College Football Playoff. There are a few things I’m watching here. The first is the battle at the line. Winning the trenches is such a key ingredient to winning football games. Both the Ducks and Utes are amongst the best in the Pac-12 are applying pressure on the Quarterback. Both are tied for first in the conference in sacks and top five nationally with 25. Turnovers won’t be easy to come across in this one as both teams take tremendous care of the football. This Utah defense is about to get a test. You thought they got that last weekend, but Oregon is much more balanced as an offense compared to the Trojans. If they can keep Nix in the pocket and bottle up that ground attack, there’s a possibility. Can Oregon limit the Utes running game and put the game in the hands of Bryson Barnes? That’s the memo today. The young Quarterback is beating me and I’m daring him to throw over the top on me. This will be the best defense Bryson will have seen all year long. Between these two teams, Oregon is the far more balanced group and that’s what will help them prevail today. I like the Ducks on the road in Salt Lake City to win a thriller.
Prediction: Oregon 30, Utah 27
