PAC-12 Football Preview | Oregon v Arizona
After losing to LSU in their opener, the Ducks offense found its mojo and whopped its next two lesser foes into submission, outscoring them 125-27, but will now face its toughest opponent so far, as they head to Tucson to tangle with an Arizona Wildcats who have been pounded by a pair of top-10 teams.
Ducks vs Wildcats
Venue/Stadium: Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Arizona
Time/Date: 10:15 PM EDT, Saturday, September 24, 2011
NFL Odds From: 5 Dimes
Moneyline: OFF
Spread (ATS): Oregon -16
Over/Under: 64.5
Oregon running back LaMichael James carried the ball just 12 times while topping 100 yards for the 19th time in his career, scoring three touchdowns and delivering the second-longest run in school history–a 50-yard run early in the third quarter– to help No. 14 Oregon to a 56-7 rout of visiting Football Championship Subdivision
Quarterback Darron Thomas also had a standout game as he threw three touchdowns passes as Oregon cruised its 18th consecutive home victory.
Now the real test begins, as the Ducks play its Pac-12 opener at Arizona who flashed just enough potential to suggest this team is good enough to beat quality opponents.
But can their defense contain an Oregon offense that is averaging nearly 8-yards every time they run a play, and have 21 TDS, good enough for second in the nation?
Probably not, giving up nearly 40 points in their last two contests to top 10 ranked teams including a 37-10 loss to No. 6 Stanford on Saturday.
It was Heisman Trophy favorite Andrew Luck who won the quarterback duel over Arizona’s Nick Foles who completed his first 17 passes en route to finishing the day 24-of-33, for 239 yards, while connecting with Juron Criner on a 6-yard lone scoring pass in the second quarter.
But it wasn’t Foles’ performance that did the Wildcats in, it was special teams, an extinct rushing attack, and under-achieving defense that left the future NFL prospect to do it alone. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
The Arizona’s secondary yielded 325 yards through the air and kicker Jaime Salazar missed two field goals (45 and 36 yards). Salazar, who made a 27-yarder, is 1-for-4 this season.
Let’s also not forget an o-line that wasn’t much help either, allowing Foles to be sacked five times.
The Wildcats, who also have one of the nation’s worst rushing teams, had another anemic game on the ground, netting just 51 yards rushing on 23 carries in their sixth straight loss to an FBS team.
Something they will need to change quickly if they want to go bowling at the end of the season.
Matt’s Prediction: Oregon 39, Arizona 24–They way I see it, the Ducks will on their ears back and come after Foles hard, fast and often in this one. And while Foles is good for probably 250-300 yards, he won’t be able to pull this one off alone.
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One reply on “Pac 12 Week 4: Ducks vs. Wildcats Preview & Prediction”
Get your stats together… LaMike rushed for over TWO hundred yards on 12 carries, with a NINETY yard run in the third. Do you really think a 50 yarder is the 2nd longest run in UO history? SMH.