Oregon Ducks vs Washington: Third Down Battles Could Be Key to Victory

A healthy Keith Price welcomes the Ducks into Seattle on Saturday. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

The Oregon Ducks 2013 Pac 12 Schedule has been pretty easy up to this point. The Ducks have faced two lower tier opponents in Cal and Colorado and Coach Helfrich and Company have easily beaten both. Now things get a little interesting starting this week. Oregon heads north to Seattle to face the Washington Huskies.

Now we all know, or at least I think we do that the Huskies have not beaten the Ducks in a very very long time. Last time there was a Washington Victory people liked Nickelback and ‘How You Remind Me’ was a hit on the radio, according to AddictedtoQuack. The year was 2001.

Flash forward to now and the ‘Game of the Week’ according to ESPN. Their signature College Football Pregame show is on site in Seattle this weekend. There is one name who is the difference maker in this game and one alone. It’s not Marcus Mariota or Bralon Addison. It is Washington Quarterback Keith Price.

The Junior Signal caller is facing the Oregon Ducks healthy – for the most part. He did bang up his thumb against Stanford last weekend, but should be good to go in this one. Price enters the game ranked in the Top 10 for Completion Percentage(#9) and ranks 16th in passing efficiency on the season.  Most notable is Oregon Quarterback Marcus Mariota this season ranks 8th in Passing Efficiency. He is also responsible for seven touchdowns, including two of his own in the win last week against Colorado.

When it comes to the ground game that can be a difference maker for the Huskies. Junior Running Back Bishop Sankey who led the NCAA in Rushing earlier this season. He is responsible for 732 yards and 7 touchdowns so far this season. He is averaging just over 144 yards per game.

Washington will have to pick its poison against the Ducks as the Oregon Defense has been playing well to this point. One specific area to look at is on Third Down. The Huskies are tied for 3rd in the Nation completing close to 60 percent of passes. On the other side of the ball the Ducks are holding opponents to a 26 percent completion rate on Third down. This will be one battle to worth watching on Saturday in Seattle.

The Oregon Ducks take on the Huskies at 1pm PT on Fox Sports 1.

Oregon Ducks This Week:

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