Oregon vs Stanford. Oregon Ducks fans over the last few years know that the Cardinal are not very liked around Eugene and with good reason. The Cardinal have been the starters of Oregon’s downfall the last two seasons. Entering the game on Saturday both teams are heading in the opposite direction. Oregon has won three in a row after a loss to Arizona at home. Stanford since the start of the season has lost three games including two against Pac-12 Conpetition(USC, Arizona State, and non-conference foe Notre Dame on the road).
There is plenty for Oregon fans to be exited about and the game today is about one player. It may not be the one you think. Here’s what I’ll Be Watching:
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Can Oregon Ducks Running Back Royce Freeman Break the Running Funk Over Stanford?
The Oregon Ducks running game the last two seasons has been solid, except for against one team. This season Oregon brings momentum and a bevy of talent at the position including an electifying young Freshman in Royce Freeman, who has three one hundred yard rushing performances the last three games thanks to a rejuvenated Offensive Line. He has been so good, with fellow team mate Thomas Tyner out with an injury that Running Back Byron Marshall has excelled as well, but not at Running Back – Oregon likes to have talent on the field in all positions and Marshall has found a spot at Wideout. It will be interesting to see how these two athletes perform against an injured, but still dangerous Stanford Defense.
Oregon Quarterback Marcus Mariota’s Last Stand Against Stanford
There is one team that the Oregon QB has not had much luck against, but luck of course is not a factor. He almost brought Oregon back last season with an injury he played through, but lost his second in a row to the Stanford Cardinal. Can Mariota lead the team to a win today, boost his Heisman hopes further and help the team continue to climb toward s chance to play for a National Title? Oregon is the Pac-12 Conference’s last stand for the Playoff. Win out and they are likely in, a loss would put not only the Oregon Ducks out, but the Conference as well. The next closest team is Arizona at 12th in the first release of the College Football Playoff Top 25 earlier this week.
Will the Oregon Ducks Defense Find A Personality Against Stanford?
This season we have seen several personalities from the Oregon Ducks Defense. The team that faced Michigan State was the ‘bend not break’, the team that faced Arizona and gave up a third and twenty was more ‘ditzy school girl. In between those to games the Oregon Ducks Offense put up enough points that it did not matter. Now, enter one of the stingiest defenses in the Pac-12 Conference in Stanford and a team that likes to eat up the clock. What version of the Oregon Defense will we see on Saturday? If the Oregon Defense can make a statement today it will go a long way moving forward.
The Oregon Ducks and Stanford Cardinal kickoff at 4:30pm Pacific Time on FOX. AutzenZoo will have Live Coverage of the game on the site, as well as on Twitter feed, @KPNWSports.