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Pac 12 Week 1: Ducks vs. Tigers Preview & Prediction

On Saturday September 3rd its the Oregon Ducks vs. LSU Tigers. Odds have the Tigers listed as 3-point favorites The game’s total is set at 55 here is a free pick plus the college football betting angle.

Oregon vs LSU Free Week 1 College Football Pick + Betting Preview

College football’s opening weekend marquee matchup will kick off on Saturday night in front the legions of fans that are expected to pack Cowboys Stadium in Arlington Texas, as the No. 3 Oregon Ducks square off against No. 4 Louisiana State.

Oregon v LSU
Venue/Stadium: Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Time/Date: 8:00 PM ET, Saturday, September 3, 2011
CFB Odds From: 5 Dimes
Moneyline: OFF
Spread (ATS): LSU 3 -110
Over/Under: 55 -110

Click here for the ATS Gambling Report for this game!

But a few things will be missing.

Oregon will arrive in the Lone Star State less star cornerback Cliff Harris who was suspended indefinitely because of an off-season speeding incident, while Tigers’ quarterback Jordan Jefferson will miss the entire season after being arrested on second-degree felony battery charges following a recent exchange outside a local bar.

After losing to Auburn in last season’s BCS National Championship Game, the Ducks will be determined to return to college football’s big dance, and will bring its explosive offense that includes two seasoned junior starters that will essential in reaching that goal.

First is powerhouse running back LaMichael James who after rushing for 1,731 yards and finishing third in the Heisman Trophy balloting, is poised to have outstanding season starting this weekend.

The other is dual threat quarterback Darron Thomas who passed for 30 touchdowns — two shy of the school record set by Akili Smith in 1998– last season, and when mixed with James, could have a breakout day against a Tigers’ defense that yielded 315 yards per game in 2010. [soliloquy id=”82219″]

However, despite all the Ducks offensive firepower, the defense will need to be just as sharp in Saturday’s contest and will lean on senior middle linebacker Dewitt Stuckey who will be counted on to lead the defense after the offseason arrest of Kiko Alonso.

Meanwhile, after appearing in just one game in the past two seasons, Tigers senior quarterback Jarrett Lee is back in the spotlight after starting in eight games in 2008, but had an up-and-down campaign in which he passed for 14 touchdowns and was intercepted 16 times.

Like the Ducks, LSU will need a good outing from its defense, and All-American candidate cornerback Morris Claiborne (five interceptions) will need to come up big after playing in the shadow of shutdown corner Patrick Peterson, the fifth overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft. Senior linebacker Ryan Baker had seven sacks in 2010 and his performance will be a huge factor in Saturday’s contest.

This is the fourth meeting between the Tigers and Ducks, with LSU winning the most recent contest, 56-17 in 1977.

NCAA Gambling Trends:

Over is 21-7-2 in ORE last 30 games in September.
Over is 14-6 in ORE last 20 games overall.

Matt’s Prediction: Oregon 38, LSU 31

While the Tigers will hang in for the first three quarters, I expect the Ducks blinding offense to wear down LSU’s defense, while Oregon’s defense limits Lee just enough to win this one.

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