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No. 2 Oregon favored big at WSU Saturday
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Published: 9/20/2014  at  5:43:00 AM
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OREGON DUCKS (3-0)
at WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS (1-2)

Kickoff: Saturday, 10:30 p.m. ET
Line: Oregon -23, Total: 75

No. 2 Oregon looks to roll over another opponent on Saturday when it visits Washington State.

Here is the BetDSI Sportsbook betting preview for this matchup:

The Ducks have dominated this series as of late, winning seven straight meetings (3-4 ATS) by at least 15 points each time, with the average score being 52.4 to 20.3. The seven-game winning streak is the third longest for the team in the conference (Washington 10, Arizona State 8). Oregon (1-2 ATS, 2-1 UNDER) has lost only one conference game on the road to an unranked team since 2009, and that was to Arizona last season. Washington State (1-2 ATS, 2-1 OVER) picked up its first win of the year last week with a 59-21 victory against Portland State. In two Pac-12 games at home against ranked teams last season, the Cougars allowed 55 points to both Stanford and Arizona State. The team’s last home victory against a ranked team was a 34-23 victory against Oregon in 2006, but favorites of 21.5 to 31 points, after gaining 6.75+ yards per play in two straight contests, with eight offensive starters returning from the previous season are 27-3 ATS (90%) since 1992. However, all is not hopeless for Washington State, whose head coach Mike Leach is 20-6 ATS (77%) versus teams with 200+ rushing YPG. The Ducks will be a bit thin on the offensive line with OLs Andre Yruretagoyena (foot) and Jake Fisher (knee) both out, but the Cougars could be without four players in S Teondray Caldwell and WR Gabe Marks, who are both out indefinitely due to undisclosed circumstances, plus RB Theron West (legal problems) and WR Kristoff Williams (undisclosed) who are both questionable.

Can Oregon cover the large spread on the road? For the answer, connect to College Football Best Bets for all the StatFox Experts picks throughout the 2014 regular season and bowl season. During the 2013 season, StatFox Dave led the experts with a 55% ATS mark (38-31-2), while Gary and Brian both finished with another winning season (51% ATS). StatFox Scott saved his best for last with a 5-2 ATS mark (71%) in college football bowl Best Bets.

Oregon always have an explosive offense, and this year, it appears to be no different. Everything starts with QB Marcus Mariota (806 passing yards, 11.4 YPA, 8 TD, 0 INT; 156 rushing yards, 7.8 YPC, 3 TD), who continues to get better. While he is a special playmaker, what makes him so good is how he limits mistakes. He is completing 70.4 percent of his passes, while also not turning the ball over. However, it is not just a one-man show for this offense that ranks fifth in FBS scoring (52.0 PPG), 18th in passing (330.3 YPG) and 29th in rushing (243 YPG). Freshman RB Royce Freeman (186 rush yards, 6.6 YPC, 5 TD) is a bruiser, complementing the other speedy running backs with the power to wear defenses out. RBs Byron Marshall (179 rush yards, 9.4 YPC, 1 TD) and Thomas Tyner (155 rush yards, 4.4 YPC, 1 TD) are also capable of making big plays from the backfield. Marshall is also the team’s top receiving threat in both catches (12) and receiving yards (190), and has caught 2 TD passes. The offense has been clicking on all cylinders, while the defense continues to improve (18.0 PPG allowed, 27th in FBS). The defense will be tested by an offense that loves to throw the ball around. Luckily for the Ducks, they have one of the elite cornerbacks in the country in Ifo Ekpre-Olomu (11 tackles, 1 INT). While he is only 5-foot-10 and 195 pounds, he is physical enough to battle bigger receivers, while possessing the game-changing ability if he gets the ball in his hands. Another guy to watch is DL DeForest Buckner (17 tackles). He will have to help the Ducks get some pressure on the quarterback in Washington State's "Air Raid" offense.

When teams face Washington State, they know they are going to see a ton of passes. The Cougars lead the nation in passing (517.0 YPG), while ranking 46th in scoring (36.7 PPG). QB Connor Halliday (1,465 passing yards, 8.4 YPA, 12 TD, 5 INT) has developed into a very good signal caller, completing 68% of his passes this year. WR Isiah Myers (26 catches, 423 yards, 5 TD) ranks fourth in the country in receiving yards as a downfield threat, and is capable of getting behind the defense at any time. However, a guy that will need to have a big game on Saturday night is RB Jamal Morrow (87 rush yards, 3.8 YPC), as WSU should be able to move the ball against the Ducks, but will also need to control the clock to avoid a track meet with Oregon. The defense enters the game ranked 89th in FBS scoring (28.7 PPG), and will be very challenged against its opponent's potent offense. In the past seven matchups against the Ducks, the Cougars have surrendered 62, 51, 43, 43, 52, 63 and 53 points. Senior LB Cyrus Coen (17 tackles, 1 sack) has played some terrific football early in the season, and has very good speed at the position. The Ducks are looking to get to the outside, so the Washington State linebackers are going to have to be able to run sideline-to-sideline.


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