Note: If you’re
looking for the 2013 Week 8 game between these teams, please go here: Washington
St. Cougars vs. Oregon Ducks Pick.
Oregon Ducks (3-1) -19.5 at Washington State Cougars (1-3) +19.5 Saturday September 27 Pullman, Washington Martin Stadium (35, 117) 6:15 p.m. EST
by Wilson of Predictem.com
The Oregon Ducks make the trip into the Palouse of Pullman, Washington this weekend in an effort to restore their season. The Ducks were upset at home last week by the Boise State Broncos. The Broncos galloped into Autzen stadium and put on a passing clinic behind the arm of true freshman Kellen Moore who threw for nearly 400 yards and three touchdowns on just one interception.
Oregon did turn the ball over four times by way of one fumble and three interceptions.
Also, the Ducks have had trouble with quarterback injuries as they started their third string QB Jeremiah Masoli who would leave the game with a concussion. The Ducks ended up putting in redshirt freshman Darron Thomas who completed 13-of-25 passes for 210 yards and a touchdown.
The Ducks were bumped from the AP top 25 this morning, but are still on USA Today’s list at No. 22. If the Ducks want to continue winning they must find a steady QB, which is not easy to do these days in Eugene. Perhaps Thomas will be the answer as he did seem to rally his team and play well.
No matter the circumstances, the Ducks are simply a better team than the WSU Cougars. They have better athletes and can be very explosive on both sides of the ball. Oregon has a balanced attack as they passed for 237 yards while gaining 227 on the ground. Ducks receiver Ed Dickson pulled in 7 catches for 103 yards and a TD while Duck’s running back Legarrette Blount carried 18 times for 99 yards.
Oregon is 2-2 ATS, and 2-2 O/U.
The Washington State Cougars (0-3 ATS, 1-1 O/U) are coming off of a much needed win at home against Portland State. Granted the Vikings of Portland State have never beaten a PAC-10 school, but after WSU’s first three losses it was nice for them to build some sort of confidence going into the Oregon game.
WSU faces some of the same challenges as Oregon, mainly at the quarterback position. The Cougars lost their first and second string QB’s to injury in the Portland State game, and therefore were forced to bring in the third string QB Marshall Lobbestael out of Oak Harbor, Washington. Lobbestael did a great job for his first time outside of a few plays he took under center in the California Bears game. He completed 9-of-12 passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns.
Cougar All-American receiver Brandon Gibson finally showed what he is capable of doing as he pulled in a fifteen yard catch and took it to the house after putting two quick moves on the Vikings secondary.
The Cougars will need to clean up their game as they had 10 penalties for 120 yards and four turnovers against Portland State; they cannot afford to repeat these numbers against a stronger PAC-10 school. Oregon will eat them alive if they make too many mistakes. Before the Portland State game the Cougars had lost to Oklahoma State, California, and Baylor by a combined score of 150-33.
The Cougars will need every seat filled this Saturday to cheer them on, but then again, WSU fans had trouble filling the seats during both of their last Rose Bowl seasons (1998 & 2003). I think it’s the location! People have a tough time driving to the middle of a wheat field- how hard would’ve it been to put the campus in Spokane?
Wilson’s Pick: Both teams are in a funk right now, and searching for a leader behind center. I would love to see the Cougs pull the upset at home but I know better. Oregon figures it out and hands the Cougars another beating- and it’s Homecoming weekend too! Ducks win 42-17.
