A short week shouldn’t be any reason to assume Oregon’s consistent play on both sides of the ball in its last two games will whither. With a road contest at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. the Ducks will face off against a reeling Cal team that has plenty of threats on the offensive side of the ball. With that, Associate Sports Editor Joseph Hoyt and Sports Editor Justin Wise answered a roundtable of questions about the matchup, offering insights, opinions and predictions.
Both Cal and Oregon are ranked in the top-10 of scoring offenses in the country. Over/Under: the Ducks and Golden Bears combine for 100 points? Why or why not?
Hoyt: Two weeks ago, the Washington Huskies limited the Golden Bears to seven points. Scoring fifty points on any team in college football is a tough task. Cal will get their points, but I don’t think Goff and Co., along with Oregon’s expected production against a deficient Cal defense, eclipse the century mark. Under.
Wise: The idea of this turning into an offensive assault is far-fetched. Although both Oregon and Cal pose as some of the more electrifying offenses in the nation, this game will have far more defensive impacts. Cal has been limited to just 367.5 yards of offense in its last two games and the fact is that much stiffer Pac-12 competition is managing Jared Goff and the air-raid the Bears like to incorporate.
Against UCLA, left tackle Jake Fisher returned and helped boost the Oregon rushing attack. Arik Armstead returned against Washington and the Ducks were able to stop the Huskies running game. Who’s the “X-Factor” for Oregon against Cal? Why?
Hoyt: In last year’s matchup, Bralon Addison returned two punts for touchdowns. He’s injured this year. Punt returner Charles Nelson has already shown that he has the ability to take it the distance whenever he touches the ball. Nelson has been held in check since week one, but that might change against Cal this weekend.
Wise: Hroniss Grasu. It’s not as if he hasn’t done his part each and every week, but for the offense to continue to meet the level of production it has produced in the two preceding weeks, it will start up front. Cal gives up 525 yards per game coming into this game, which clearly indicates the potential that Oregon has Friday night.
What’s your score prediction and why?
Hoyt: No rain, no problem for Oregon. Jared Goff gets a second chance at the Ducks and does well, but it’s not enough for the Golden Bears to win. Marcus Mariota does, Mariota things and Oregon wins 49-21.
Wise: 52-21 Oregon. Cal’s defense is currently allowing opponents to score an average of 38.4 points per game. Oregon should take care of any threat the Golden Bears may pose early and cruise to a victory behind the normal script of Marcus Mariota dazzling through the air and Royce Freeman dominating on the ground.
Follow Justin Wise on Twitter @JustinFWise
Follow Joseph Hoyt on Twitter @JoeJHoyt