#18 Utah @ #5 UW (12:30 pm, FOX)

[Greenblood]

UW about a 9-10 point favorite, which seems about right. Utah has beaten UW in Seattle in the recent past, so not unprecedented (a close game in 2019, so, especially given the extra scholarship year available due to COVID, probably a few current Utes' players who were there).

As if what anyone of us "want" to happen will affect the outcome (or the CFP rankings or anything else), but I can't help but root for the Utes, just as I did for USC. It still seems like we'd want as many Duck opponents ranked as possible. A 1-loss Duck team after the CCG has already lost USC in the final rankings, and a Utah loss here, at least if followed by another loss next week at Arizona, would assuredly push the Utes out of the final 25 as well.

Whether it's this week or next week at Oregon State, I really do want UW to have experienced defeat before a second meeting with the Ducks. I think there's an intangible that commonly goes with an undefeated team, a real confidence and belief in themselves that they WILL finish on top in any game they're in. I don't think that should be taken lightly. Should UW be undefeated going into the CCG, won't they be at about 20 straight victories over the last two seasons at that point? That's significant.

Of course, perhaps I should also point out that I'm probably a great deal older than the vast majority of you and thus have an acute memory of the Ducks being dominated by UW back in the day until the Pick. So maybe I'm worrying over nothing!

[Phalanx]

I think you make a good point about wanting multiple ranked teams on Oregon's resume. I was listening to a talking head try his best to minimize Oregon's accomplishments to date by talking about the lack of strong teams other than Utah in the win column. That kind of talk will only be exacerbated if Utah loses again.

I date my own Oregon fanhood to Jerry and Jorgy's first year on the radio (circa 1987) so I totally hear you on the UW hate thing. Of course, that 12-game winning streak did exorcise a lot of those demons for me.

[Greenblood]

Actually the 1987 season was, arguably, the year the Ducks began turning it around vs. UW with the help of a freshman QB named Bill Musgrave, being the first of two consecutive victories over UW, both at Autzen, after UW had won 12 of the previous 13 in the series. Though UW then proceeded to win the next five (1989-1993), four of which were at Husky Stadium. (The conference schedules were screwed up for a number of years after the Pac-8 became the Pac-10 with the additions of the Arizona schools.)

But as far as this year goes, if the Ducks are able to continue to look dominant, I suspect it will be difficult for the Committee to keep them out of the Playoff, even if their résumé isn't quite what we'd like.

[squintsdd]

More and more I'm starting think the Washington win was a massive fluke. Utah is currently taking it to them at the half

[nogerO]

Last team with the ball wins.

[Alan]

Utah leads 28-24 at half

[5$]

Kinda looked like a legit fumble on that return...oh nm it's targeting

[rodentslayer]

Absolute cheap shot on the Utah QB there. Fuskies are a completely dirty team.

[rodentslayer]

Lol! Fuskie player pulls a Kaelin Clay and drops the ball before the goal line. I love it!

[Everythingsducky]

Worst offensive PI call, maybe ever. Typical.

[Phalanx]

Wow, blocked FG, and Utah still has a chance.

[5$]

LFG

[Tray Dub]

Washington yet again looks very beatable. And while I always root for them to lose on principle, it's probably good for the Ducks that they stay unbeaten to set up a huge game to impress the committee with.

[Alan]

Washington yet again looks very beatable. And while I always root for them to lose on principle, it's probably good for the Ducks that they stay unbeaten to set up a huge game to impress the committee with.

I am conflicted with this very thing, my heart wants them to get beat badly, my head wants them to go into Vegas highly ranked and unbeaten then get beat by the Ducks very badly.

[squintsdd]

Washington yet again looks very beatable. And while I always root for them to lose on principle, it's probably good for the Ducks that they stay unbeaten to set up a huge game to impress the committee with.

Oregon will not be jumping into the top 5 unless someone above them loses; however, it is very possible that they drop in the standings even if they continue to win. If Oregon stays at 6 for the remainder of the season, they need Washington to go unbeaten until the title game. A lot of analysts are starting to say that Texas and Alabama quite possibly deserve to be ahead of Oregon based off of strength of schedule