#9 UCLA @ #10 Oregon (Oct. 22, Sat 12:30 PM Fox)

[QuackininBama]

I honestly have total confidence in this team.

Oregon 44
UCLA 24

[greenyellow]

[greenyellow]

[OrTDuck]

Lots of UCLA love from the college football punditry today.

Obviously, UCLA is capable of winning; and, one could put together some scenarios where it could occur: turnovers and penalties from the offense, red zone miscues, a leaky Duck secondary and troubles defending the middle portion of the field, Charbonnet running wild, etc.

Personally, as the game approaches I feel pretty confident.

With GameDay (and a top 10 matchup) and really a lack of this kind of game for several seasons, Autzen is going to to start the day at boil and be rocking. As we have seen in situations such as this, teams often come out with a lot of energy and confidence.

UCLA is going to have to show me they are even close to the same team going on the road instead of playing in front of an often 75% empty Rose Bowl.

Going on the road in college for a big game is no joke - how is Alabama feeling this week after experiencing a GameDay home crowd in Tennessee? Think Oregon running into a buzz saw first half against WSU and their GameDay crowd in 2018. Not GameDay, but how about just a couple weeks ago Utah going down to UCLA and just not looking or playing particularly well? Look at them get punched in the mouth early by USC the next week at home, and claw and fight their way to a win. Look at USC going to Corvallis and really just barely escaping with a win in a game OSU had every chance to take.

I'm not really buying UW on the road this year, so UCLA is mostly buzzing on the Utah game. It's not Bowling Green, Alabama State, or South Alabama, nor is it really their one road game at Colorado where Colorado was about to fire its HC (and I believe it's starting QB had walked out of the program the week before the game).

I think UCLA has shown to be improved. Having a 5th year starting QB, a future NFL RB, a bunch of productive portal additions, and a largely veteran starting group is a good recipe for a strong college football season; but, I see the Duck OL as a strong stabilizing force; and, I think the Ducks should (again) be able to run the ball.

This version of the Duck offense can move the ball through the air, especially is a team is going try to load up against the run. Nix has probably seen more of these games than DTR (despite DTR being in his 5th year). The Duck defense hasn't probably reached expectations yet this year - but seems to slowly be making steps (I mean it's got some dudes). Playing at home in a big game usually provides juice to a defense (and noise for the first time this year for UCLA likely will be something new we will have to see them manage - and likely helps the Duck side at least a couple times during the game).

[Duck07]

Current Weather Forecast for Eugene on Saturday

Rainfall amounts around .20 Inches from 11A-5P with temperatures around/below 50 degrees.

Whenever anybody has ever talked about the rain in Oregon being a negative in recruiting, I'm always reminded of what NFL Playoff football looks like.

[Greenblood]

The NWS has now extended the AQA. Didn't see this coming given the continued forecast of rainy conditions. Don't know if this could impact the game.

"An Air Quality Advisory for Smoke remains in effect. Wildfires
burning in the region combined with forecasted conditions will cause
air quality to reach unhealthy levels at times through Monday
afternoon."

Edit: It looks like this is based on the Cedar Creek fire. It's really affecting Oakridge (apparently "Hazardous" air quality right now) and somewhat east Springfield (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups). But Eugene at last check was in the Moderate range and continuing to improve, a trend I would think would continue as the system pushes through beginning later today (Friday) and into tomorrow.

[Duck07]

The NWS has now extended the AQA. Didn't see this coming given the continued forecast of rainy conditions. Don't know if this could impact the game.

"An Air Quality Advisory for Smoke remains in effect. Wildfires
burning in the region combined with forecasted conditions will cause
air quality to reach unhealthy levels at times through Monday
afternoon."

Edit: It looks like this is based on the Cedar Creek fire. It's really affecting Oakridge (apparently "Hazardous" air quality right now) and somewhat east Springfield (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups). But Eugene at last check was in the Moderate range and continuing to improve, a trend I would think would continue as the system pushes through beginning later today (Friday) and into tomorrow.

The rain will dramatically improve the air quality conditions and I'd expect by tonight its mostly fine.

[Alan]

The NWS has now extended the AQA. Didn't see this coming given the continued forecast of rainy conditions. Don't know if this could impact the game.

"An Air Quality Advisory for Smoke remains in effect. Wildfires
burning in the region combined with forecasted conditions will cause
air quality to reach unhealthy levels at times through Monday
afternoon."

Edit: It looks like this is based on the Cedar Creek fire. It's really affecting Oakridge (apparently "Hazardous" air quality right now) and somewhat east Springfield (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups). But Eugene at last check was in the Moderate range and continuing to improve, a trend I would think would continue as the system pushes through beginning later today (Friday) and into tomorrow.

The rain will dramatically improve the air quality conditions and I'd expect by tonight its mostly fine.

Ditto, not worried about air quality effecting the game rain or not. Also feeling good about a Duck win tomorrow.

[UOducksTK1]

We have an opportunity to tie our all time home game winning streak. This would be the one to do it on!

[GrandpaDuck]

Fun fact. Of the nine PAC-12 teams that have started the season 6-0, 5 of the 9 lost game 7.

[Greenblood]

I'll admit I'm somewhat concerned about what Chip could have "up his sleeve" and how motivated he probably is to win such a big game at Autzen. Some of you have probably seen what a UCLA beat writer predicted in answer to Crepea's query:

"Bolch: “It’s tempting to say that the first team to get a defensive stop wins, but all jokes aside this should be one of those epic high-scoring shootouts where the team that makes the fewest mistakes — turnovers, failed third-down conversions — is probably going to prevail. Thompson-Robinson has been playing not just with poise but with some pugnaciousness in big wins over Washington and Utah, and I expect that to continue. He’s eager to check beating Oregon off his to-do list and does just that in a 41-38 Bruins victory.”

[duckfan22]

If Mario and gang were still here id give Chip the slight edge. Mario would not
be willing to change schemes. This team always seems to attack the other teams
weakness and also make the changes at halftime. They also arn't afraid to keep the
pedal to the metal. If Oregon does not make mistakes they wont be stopped on
offense. I think ucla will make mistakes that will cost them. 45-21 ducks

[Duck07]

I should go to the casino and put money on the under since I really think this is going to be a fast game with a lot of running which will mean fewer possessions. I think we're going to Stanford them and force DTR to win the game with his arm which will be the same strategy they try to employ but I think our Defensive front is up for the task.

Winner scores in the 30s, loser in the 20s.

[buckmarkduck]

I’ve listened to a lot of the talking heads this week, and not one has brought up the fact we held to 35 yards rushing last year. What else is funny, most people act as though the UCLA OOC didn’t happen. I think our O hits 580 yards tomorrow and 45 points.

[dthomas=ddixon]

I’ve listened to a lot of the talking heads this week, and not one has brought up the fact we held to 35 yards rushing last year. What else is funny, most people act as though the UCLA OOC didn’t happen. I think our O hits 580 yards tomorrow and 45 points.

All the hype is from them beating UW and Utah. There’s something about looking good against a team with a number next to their name that people can’t get out of their heads. The short-lived UW hype was the same story; they beat a MSU team everyone knew was bad but that #11 next to their name turned peoples brains off. And I haven’t heard a single talking head bring up UCLA needing a FG as time expired to beat Southern Alabama at home.

There’s some things to like when you dig into the advanced stats and analytics but this game just has the feel of and over-hyped team in UCLA coming to get a reality check. I think it’ll be relatively close but a game that Oregon controls all the way through.


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