Predicting the Final Score of No. 6 Oregon Ducks vs. USC Trojans
The No. 6 Oregon Ducks (8-1, 5-1 Pac-12) are on a collision course with the USC Trojans (7-3, 5-2 Pac-12) and the two teams will meet for the first time in three years on Saturday.
Oregon's offense is firing on all cylinders after hanging 63 on Cal last week, the most points they've ever scored against the Golden Bears. Quarterback Bo Nix is playing some of the best football in the country and that's got him in the thick of the Heisman Trophy race with Washington's Michael Penix Jr.
The duo of Bucky Irving and Jordan James has also been effective, and the Ducks should be able to run wild on a USC defense that's giving up 186.5 rushing yards per game and 4.8 yards per carry. I expect Oregon to dominate the line of scrimmage and take full advantage of a reeling defense that has given up 34.5 points per game.
Even with Grinch out as DC, you can't expect the defense to flip a switch and become good enough to slow down one of the best offenses in the country.
The continued emergence of wide receiver Tez Johnson will complement Nix's No. 1 option Troy Franklin and the Trojans don't have enough, at least on paper, to match up with the Ducks' skill talent. With Nix leading the offense, the Ducks should put up plenty of points.
The real question is the Oregon defense. And I don't say that because they're playing bad football. That couldn't be further from the truth.
It's more about the quarterback they're defending. It's not just any quarterback, it's reigning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams. Fortunately for Oregon, USC's offensive line hasn't been great this year and opposing defenses have brought Williams down 27 times.
He's the most elusive quarterback in the nation, but it also looks like he's been going off script and ad-libbing more than he did last year. The Ducks should be able to contain the Trojans' rushing attack, but with Williams and their collection of skill talent, a shootout is the last thing Oregon wants. Further aiding my confidence in the Oregon defense is that they've already faced some really good quarterbacks--Penix as a passer, and Ward as a scrambler.
They'll need the front seven to get pressure and hits on Williams early and often to prevent him from finding any sort of rhythm. If they can do that and get a few stops early, I don't think the Trojans will be able to stick around.
In the event that it becomes a shootout, which I don't think it will, it will come down to which team can get a stop, and the body of work we've seen from both teams gives Oregon the advantage.
While giving the respect to Caleb Williams and the USC offense that they've earned, one-dimensional teams aren't enough to get the job done. Also, USC hasn't faced a defense like Oregon's, which should has a clear claim to the No. 1 spot in the Pac-12.
I see Oregon winning big at home this week and the Ducks continue to surge as one of the best teams in college football.
Prediction: Oregon 56 USC 27
