Tennessee’s 52-49 win over Alabama in week seven was an instant classic, and on paper, it looks like the #9 UCLA Bruins visiting the #10 Oregon Ducks seems poised to deliver the encore. The 6-0 Bruins try to continue their rise up the rankings while 5-1 Oregon goes for their sixth straight victory.
Both teams are coming off a bye last weekend and are the last two teams undefeated in conference play. Oregon has won three straight in the series and nine of the last ten, which is a big reason why they are -6.5 favorites on Saturday afternoon.
UCLA Ready to Pad Heisman Resumes
Hendon Hooker rose to the top of the Heisman odds by navigating the win over Alabama last week, but his 1,817 pass yards, 15 TDs, one INT, and three rushing TDs really aren’t that far off from UCLA QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson’s numbers (1,510 /15/ 2 / 4). DTR has to be considered a viable Heisman candidate if he leads the win in Eugene to keep the Bruins undefeated.
What makes UCLA so great this season is that Thompson-Robinson might not be their only Heisman contender, with RB Zach Charbonnet coming off 198 yards on the ground against Utah. That’s three straight games over 100 yards for Charbonnet, but he’s got a challenge Saturday against an Oregon defense, giving up just 98.0 ypg on the ground.
UCLA seems ready for a shootout in their week eight matchup because although they’ve scored 40+ points in five of six games this season, their defense has also allowed 30+ in three of the last four, and the Ducks can put some points on the board themselves (O/U 70.5).
Nix Coming Around Nicely
When Oregon QB Bo Nix was just 21/37 for 173 yards with two INTs in the season-opening 49-3 loss to Georgia, it was a “here we go again” type of moment. Nix was often maligned during his three seasons at Auburn, but the change of scenery has suited him well since the loss to UGA.
It turns out that Georgia is just kind of good and the season opener was not an indictment on Nix. Since week one, the Oregon QB has thrown 12 TDs to just one INT and is completing 70.4% of his passes in this new offense.
Nix has led Oregon to putting up 42.0 ppg, which is ninth most in the country, but the backfield duo of Mar’Keise Irving and Noah Whittington have combined for 785 yards on the ground. Nix has ran for 330 yards and eight TDs also, which has helped the Ducks boast a top-10 rushing attack (241.7 ypg).
Bruins at Ducks Pick and Prediction
This game looks like it’s set to be another great QB duel, kind of like Hooker vs. Bryce Young last weekend. Both Thompson-Robinson and Nix can throw the ball all over the field, don’t make mistakes, and can run the ball when needed.
Oregon has been dominant in the series the last decade, but there’s something special about this Bruins team this season. It’s always tough to get a win at Autzen Stadium, but +6.5 is too many points in a #10 vs. #9 matchup.
Pick: UCLA +6.5
