Saturday’s matchup between No. 6 Oregon and No. 16 Oregon State on Saturday will be like many recent editions of the Civil War and take a place as one of the highlights of Rivalry Week. This year’s battle brings added excitement as the Ducks have implications for the Pac-12 Championship, the College Football Playoff and the Heisman Trophy.
Oregon remained at No. 6 in the most recent College Football Playoff rankings, and despite being the second-ranked Pac-12 team, it has not yet secured a spot in the Pac-12 Championship Game. A win against Oregon State would set up a rematch against Washington on Dec. 1, but a loss coupled with an Arizona win against Arizona State sends the Wildcats to Las Vegas instead.
Winning the Pac-12 is crucial to Oregon’s playoff profile as it could avenge its three-point loss to Washington earlier in the season. A 12-1 record with a conference championship and wins against every team on the schedule would make Oregon a strong candidate for promotion if undefeated teams lose in the next two weeks. A loss to Oregon State drops the Ducks to 10-2 and ends their playoff hopes.
For Oregon State, pride is at stake: playing spoilsport for a hated rival and competing for bowl positioning. The Beavers enter the game with a record of 8-3 after a hard loss to Washington, 22-20, in pouring rain last Saturday night. But spoiling a rival, especially one leaving the conference after this year, could be the motivation Oregon State needs.
How to watch Oregon vs. Oregon State live
Date: Friday November 24th | Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
Location: Autzen Stadium – Eugene, Oregon
TV: fox | Live broadcast: Fubo (Try for free)
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Oregon vs. Oregon State: What you need to know
Bo Nix is the Heisman Trophy favorite: Nix leads the nation with a 78.1% completion rate and is currently on pace to break the NCAA single-season record of 77.4%. But there are plenty of other reasons for Heisman voters to get involved, even if they’re not impressed with Nix’s historic ability to complete passes. Nix ranks second in passing touchdowns (35) and passer rating (191.35). He ranks third nationally in passing yards per game (321.7) and total touchdowns (40). He’s also the most important player in an offense that ranks No. 2 nationally, averaging 46.5 points per game. The Ducks are also the only FBS team to score at least 30 points in every game. Oddsmakers recently moved Nix to the top of the rankings, and now he has a chance to live up to the title of Heisman Trophy front-runner on a big stage Friday night.
Ducks looking for revenge: Although Oregon holds a 67-49-10 edge in the all-time series, Ducks coach Dan Lanning is 0-1 against Jonathan Smith and Oregon State after losing 38-34 last season. The Beavers rallied from a 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter thanks to a series of Oregon errors. The loss caused the Ducks to miss a chance at the Pac-12 Championship. Oregon is also trying to defend its home opener, as Oregon State hasn’t won at Autzen Stadium since an overtime result in 2007.
Oregon’s offensive line sets the tone: While Bo Nix is getting praise for his performance this year, Oregon owes a lot of its offensive success to the guys up front. The group was named a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award, given to the best offensive line in the country. The Ducks lead the nation with just five sacks allowed on the season, and their work has helped pave the way for an Oregon rushing attack that leads the Pac-12 in yards per attempt (5.98). ranks first and second in the conference in rushing yards per game (196.6).
Oregon vs. Oregon State Prediction, Tips
SportsLine consensus odds
I think the touchdowns Oregon State lacked in last weekend’s deluge will also show up against an Oregon team that might be happy with a higher scoring affair. Assuming Oregon comes close to its average and scores at least 40 points, the Beavers should be able to score enough points to surpass the point total. Selection: Over 62.5
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