Free NCAA Football Prediction: Cougars vs. Ducks Odds
Looking for BYU Cougars vs. Oregon Ducks free picks? College football betting sees the Cougars taking on the Ducks on Saturday, September 17th at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, OR. Cappers Picks provides complimentary handicapping picks all NCAA football season long so stay tuned for more FREE college football game Week 1 predictions like this BYU-Oregon free pick.
College Football Handicapping Analysis: Week 3
(2-0) (12) BYU Cougars vs. Oregon Ducks (1-1)
Date: Saturday, September 17th, 2022
Time: 3:30 pm EST
Venue: Autzen Stadium, Eugene, Oregon
NCAA Football ATS Spread Odds: BYU +3.5 | ORE -3.5 (Bet Now!)
NCAA Football Moneyline Odds: Cougars +146 | Ducks -178
NCAA Betting Total Odds: O/U 56.5
The BYU Cougars will travel to Eugene and take on the Oregon Ducks from Autzen Stadium this Saturday afternoon on FOX. Oregon will open as three-point favorites here at home, with the total opening at 56.5.
Oregon and BYU have met six times, with each school winning three games apiece. The Cougars won the last meeting, which was the 2006 Las Vegas Bowl, behind big performances from BYU greats John Beck and Johnny Hartline.
BYU Cougars
BYU was able to seek revenge and make a statement to the country with a win over number nine-ranked Baylor in Provo last weekend. The Cougars dominated USF in their season opener, and followed things up with a hard-fought double overtime victory over the Bears. BYU nearly won the game in regulation after a late rally from Baylor, but despite missing a chip shot, Kalani Sitake’s team held it together.
BYU defeated Baylor, 26-20, covering their second spread of the 2022 season.
Jaren Hall did just enough to get the job done last weekend, throwing for 261 passing yards for the second consecutive game, with a touchdown pass. He only completed 59% of his passes, and he’ll have to be much more sharper in what should be a hostile ‘Zoo-like’ crowd at Autzen.
Hall has thrown for 522 passing yards, with three touchdowns to one interception, while adding 45 yards on the ground through two games.
Christopher Brooks has received the first crack at replacing record-breaking back Tyler Allgeier, and he delivered in Week 1, rushing for 135 yards and a touchdown in the win over USF. The Cal transfer only gained 44 yards on 16 touches, but look for Kalani Sitake to get him going against an Oregon team he faced three times as a Golden Bear.
BYU impressively won last week without both of their top two receivers in Puka Nacua and Gunner Romney, leading to a breakout performance from Chase Roberts. The freshman wideout caught eight passes for 122 yards, including a 22-yard touchdown. His emergence, along with the returns of Nacua and Romney, could give the Cougars a talented trio to lean on vertically. Their statuses for this high stakes non-conference bout will be worth monitoring.
Oregon Ducks
The Oregon Ducks were able to jump back into the win column with an authorative win over FCS-power Eastern Washington. The Ducks were overwhelmed by the defending champion Georgia Bulldogs in Week 1, but they were able to pick up some momentum with a wire-to-wire win last weekend.
Oregon defeated Eastern Washington, 70-14, covering the large 27-point spread.
It feels like Bo Nix has been around forever, and that exact experience is what will come in handy this weekend. Nix struggled in his third career start against the Bulldogs, but the Auburn transfer was sharp against Eastern Washington. Nix tossed for 277 passing yards and posted career-best in completion percentage (84.8) and touchdowns (5).
Nix has thrown for for 450 passing yards, with five touchdowns to two interceptions, while adding 55 yards on the ground through two games.
The Ducks have taken a committee approach in efforts to replace Travis Dye thus far. Minnesota transfer Mar’Keise Irving led the team in rushing against the Eagles with 74 yards and a touchdown. Leading returning rusher Byron Cardwell had 74 total yards (48 rush, 26 rec), while rushing for a touchdown and catching a score as well.
Sophomores Troy Franklin and Dont’e Thornton give Nix a pair of physical receivers on the outside. Franklin caught a career-high 10 passes for 84 yards and a touchdown against EWU, and figures to be Nix’ favorite target going forward. Tight end Terrance Ferguson has caught three passes in each of the first two games, and he scored twice last weekend, demonstrating some red zone reliability.
NCAA Football Handicapping Trends
- ORE are 4-2 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
- BYU are 4-2 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
- Ducks are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 home games.
- Cougars are 4-4 ATS in their last 8 road games.
Free Week 3 NCAA Football Pick
When BYU broke away from the Mountain West to become an Independent school, these are the matchups Cougar nation envisioned.
4* Free Week 3 NCAA Betting Pick: Oregon -3.5
The Zoo will be rocking, and this one has game of the week potential. A win for BYU here will catapult them into the top ten, and into the CFB playoff picture with a favorable schedule remaining. As ideal as that would be for them, it’s very hard to come into Autzen Stadium and walk out as the winners. Dan Lanning’s team has won 20-straight games at home, and with their own CFB Playoff hopes on the line here, expect a sharp Oregon squad to come to play. We get to find out how real BYU is this weekend.
Take Oregon’s spread for this high stakes non-conference bout this weekend.
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