Predicting the Remaining Games on Oregon's Schedule
The Oregon Ducks have taken care of business in the first six weeks of the season and looking ahead, they are now in a position where if they win, they could be in. However, with a few tough games left on the schedule, winning out may not be as easy as it seems, and road games at No, 25 Washington, at USC and at No. 17 Arizona State could complicate things.
Ahead of this week's showdown with the Huskies, ESPN's Football Power Index took a look at the Ducks' schedule and predicted the remaining games, giving them a 19% chance to win-out, and a 65.4% chance to win the Pac-12. With this in mind, we decided to hash out the next couple of months an offer our own thoughts and predictions.
At No. 25 Washington | Win (27-10)
Oregon has opened up as a 3-point favorite over their rival Huskies, which tells you that Vegas thinks they are a far better team, despite playing on the road in a tough environment. Washington has been a disappointment so far this year after they had aspirations of a CFP or Rose Bowl birth when all is said and done, but things haven't quite panned out that way. Though the Ducks suffered some injuries last week, their defense should be able to continue the elite level of play we've seen so far, and they'll likely shut down the Huskies offense while Justin Herbert and the run game gets the job done.
Vs. Washington State | Win (38-9)
The days of Washington State being a dominant force in the Pac-12 may have been short-lived as a mundane 2019 season has seen them fall from relevance both in the Pac-12 and the national rankings. Mike Leach's high-flying offense is still dangerous but remains wildly inconsistent under QB Anthony Gordon.
At USC | Win (27-17)
I expect the Ducks to leave LA with a victory, but there's a chance that it could be closer than expected. This Trojans team tends to get up for big games, as shown by a win over No. 13 Utah, and a close loss to No. 8 Notre Dame this week. If USC was more consistent, they could actually make some waves in the Pac-12, but they are still too mistake-prone to string several wins together. Still, they could very well get up for this game against the Ducks and make it a tough contest, though still a win for Oregon.
Vs. Arizona | Win (49-13)
Like USC, the Wildcats are a frisky team capable of upsetting a giant — they even have a history of knocking the Ducks off of the top spot in the conference. However, Arizona just doesn't have the firepower to hang with Oregon, and this could get ugly.
At No. 17 Arizona State | Win (28-21)
This is likely the biggest roadblock for the Ducks, as they'll have to travel down to Tempe and take on the Fighting-Herm Edwards, who will undoubtedly be up for this game. The Sun Devils have a solid defense and are highly capable with the ball in their hands, and I expect them to put up a fight against Oregon.
Vs. Oregon State | Win (52-6)
The Ducks' little brother is having yet another little brother type of season. What more can you say? This one won't even be close.
