Oregon Ducks Fly Past Georgia State, Open Pac-12 Play Next Weekend
Oregon returns to Autzen Stadium following their first loss of 2015 on the road last weekend at Michigan State. The Ducks lost by three points and fell out of the top ten, but respect kept them as the only one-loss team ranked in the top fifteen of this week’s polls. Much of the conversation this week centered around how the Oregon Ducks are handling the broken finger of Starting Quarterback Vernon Adams. He had a cortisone shot before the game against the Spartans and threw two interceptions in the loss. Who will start this week against Georgia State? Backup Quarterback Jeff Lockie will get the start this week against Georgia State allowing Adams to rest for the long haul of the Pac-12 season that begins next week with Utah.
Sep 12, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; Oregon Ducks running back Royce Freeman (21) runs for yards after a catch during the 1st half of a game against the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
When you look at Georgia State on paper, they are 1-1 on the season, and 1-0 in the Sun Belt Conference. Through two games, the Panthers are averaging three hundred thirty five yards passing and one hundred fifty one yards rushing which seems impressive, but if you look at Oregon they tend to double, even triple those numbers. Consider Eastern Washington where Running Back Royce Freeman and one-hundred eighty yards on his own. As a team Oregon had four hundred eighty five yards on the ground and seven hundred thirty one yards overall.
Georgia State is spending their second week in a row out West after beating New Mexico State last weekend 34-32. Oregon cannot get caught looking ahead to Utah next week and they won’t. Oregon has more weapons on Offense than the Panthers and the Ducks Defense stepped up in the loss to Michigan State, even with the loss. The Panthers enter the game without two Running Backs, including the team leader in Taz Bateman who was lost for the season with a broken arm and is expected to miss the next six weeks.
Georgia State Quarterback Nick Arbuckle may find himself making plays with his legs while also being chased by Defensive End DeForest Buckner. Not a good proposition to be in. The Ducks will look to fine tune things following the loss to the Spartans and enter the Pac-12 schedule next week on a positive note.
In The Know:
- Oregon Ducks vs Georgia State: Three Things I’ll Be Watching -Autzen Zoo
- Georgia State Will Look To Play Competitive vs Oregon – Autzen Zoo
- Should Oregon Ducks Sit Vernon Adams vs Georgia State – Autzen Zoo
- Vernon Adams Must Get Up To Speed If Ducks Are To Stay In Playoff Contention – Bleacher Report
- Ranking the 30 Best College Quarterbacks Of All Time (Mariota High On The List) – Saturday Blitz
Building The Hype:
- Oregon Has A Chance To Shape Up vs Georgia State – ESPN Pac-12 Blog
- Throwback Thursday: A Look Back At 1918 – Oregonian
- What’s Adams? Impressive For Oregon Ducks Football – Austin Meek, Register Guard
- Everyone Wins If Oregon Sits Vernon Adams – Bryant Knox, Seattle PI
Weather:
Kickoff: 65 and Sunny, Light Wind // Final, 77 and Sunny // Suggested Attire: Light Jacket/Jeans
Kickoff is set for 11am Pacific Time and Autzen Zoo will have Live Coverage of the Game on this page (at the top) starting at 10am Pacific Time.