Writers Predictions: Who Will Stand Out, and Who Will Ultimately Win Oregon vs. Auburn?

The time for previews is over — now it's time for predictions. Here's how our writers at Ducks Maven think things will play out between Oregon and Auburn on Saturday.

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In arguably the biggest Oregon game since the CFP National Championship against Ohio State in 2015, the No. 11 Ducks will take the national state on Saturday night to face off against the No. 16 Auburn Tigers.

As with any Week 1 Blockbuster in college football, there are storylines aplenty; Oregon vs. Auburn, a decade later; Senior vs. Freshman quarterback play; Pac-12 vs. SEC dominance. We've been tracking the narratives all summer, and now it's finally time to get down to business. 

Our writers at Ducks Maven took the time to highlight what will stand out in Saturday's game, and gave their predictions on who will emerge victorious. Let's take a look.

Oregon is returning 10 starters on offense, and the defense has a couple of young recruits sprinkled throughout a veteran unit. If you had to guess which side of the ball will have a more of an impact on the game, who would you take?

Zachary Neel: The Ducks are going to need their defense to step up if they have any chance of outlasting the Tigers, but I think in the end it will be the Oregon O who wins the day. Herbert and WR Juwan Johnson are going to have a coming out party, while CJ Verdell and Travis Dye run loose out of the backfield. By no means do I think the Ducks D will struggle, but if Oregon wants to win they will need to do it by putting points on the board.

Eli Moon: With a core of savvy veterans and new faces with explosive talent (see: Kayvon Thibodeaux), my money is on the Ducks’ defense to have the largest impact. With Auburn quarterback Bo Nix making his first collegiate start, it is imperative that the Ducks dominate early and set the tone for what will be a gladiatorial matchup. The Ducks will look to avenge their loss to Auburn in the 2011 BCS National Championship, and production from the defensive unit will dictate if they will be successful in that endeavor.

Cameron Lindsey: This game is going to be a defensive battle that will be won on the ground. I expect a slow paced game in which both teams will be so excited that it will take at least a half for the nerves to die down and get comfortable. I could see the top-rated Auburn front 7 having a tough time stopping the Ducks’ run attack, but with so many receivers out on offense it will be up to our defense to protect and win this game for us.

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Justin Herbert and Bo Nix are the two biggest names coming into this game, and for good reason. Who leaves Saturday holding all of the narratives?

Neel: This is not to knock Nix at all, but there is no way he leaves Saturday with more buzz than Herbert. Oregon’s senior QB is already entrenched in Heisman chatter, and most NFL Scouts have him pegged to go off the board early next April. While I’m sure that Nix is a great player and will have a nice career at Auburn, I’m going to need to see more than a single game from him in order to rank him among the nation’s best.

Moon: Herbert already has the pedigree: a top-10 draft profile, Heisman buzz, and three full years of experience. Because of his resume, he inevitably leaves Arlington with a higher profile, but he also has much more to lose. Bo Nix can spoil the start of Herbert’s senior campaign and endear himself to Auburn faithful with a win. If Nix dominates and leads the Tigers to a victory, he will thrust himself onto the national stage and begin his career on a high note.

Lindsey: If Auburn wins this game and Bo Nix has anywhere near a decent outing, his name will be in circulation across the country. With that said, Herbert doesn’t have a ton to lose concerning his profile, seeing that the Ducks went 9-4 last season and he was still the highest projected QB on Kiper’s draft board. Barring an absolute disaster of a performance, Herbert’s profile is more-or-less untouchable and will remain higher than that of Nix.

This magnitude of a game can make or break a season for many teams. Give me your prediction — who do you see winning, what will the final score be, and who gets your game ball?

Neel: I would be remiss if I didn’t pick the Ducks to start the season 1-0. Head coach Mario Cristobal came from the SEC, and he has embedded that type of physical mentality deep in the locker room as an ethos of this team. Oregon has struggled in the past with teams from down south, but I think they kick that narrative on Saturday. Give me the Ducks, 31-24, and Juwan Johnson bursting onto the scene with two touchdown grabs.

Moon: The Tigers may enter the game with a true freshman quarterback, but he has some established weapons surrounding him. Nevertheless, I envision the Ducks successfully countering the big play ability of receiver Seth Williams and slowing running back JaTarvious Whitlow enough to escape with a win, 24-21 Oregon. The unsung hero of the Oregon defense, nose tackle Jordon Scott, gets my game ball for clogging up running lanes and making the Tigers offense earn every yard on the ground.

Lindsey: The Oregon Ducks will win this game in semi-close, semi-boring fashion. I don’t expect to see either team get much going on the ground, and usually the more experienced team will find a way to win in slow-paced grinders. I expect the Ducks to win 23-16 in a game that will end much closer than it really was, with Herbert throwing two TD’s and a pick. Game ball goes to Deommodore Lenoir and/or the Oregon secondary.