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Oregon Football: 3 bold predictions for important UCLA battle

By Connor Muldowney

EUGENE, OREGON - SEPTEMBER 04: Running back Travis Dye #26 of the Oregon Ducks runs into the end zone for a touchdown during the first quarter of the game against the Fresno State Bulldogs at Autzen Stadium on September 04, 2021 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OREGON - SEPTEMBER 04: Running back Travis Dye #26 of the Oregon Ducks runs into the end zone for a touchdown during the first quarter of the game against the Fresno State Bulldogs at Autzen Stadium on September 04, 2021 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /
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College GameDay threw the Pac-12 a bone on Saturday as the UCLA vs. Oregon football matchup was chosen as the game of the week. It will be one of the best games from around the nation, but is it worthy of GameDay? I’m not so sure.

Oregon heads into this one fresh off a tight home win over a mediocre Cal team while the Bruins have won two straight since getting thumped by Arizona State.

The Ducks need to win this one in order to prove they are serious national title contenders and a loss would all but eliminate them from playoff contention.

Let’s get bold ahead of Saturday’s big game.

3. Kayvon Thibodeaux records three sacks

Just how bold is this prediction? It honestly might be the boldest on this entire list but Kayvon Thibodeaux is gaining some steam after missing some time early in the season.

On the year, he has 13 tackles and two sacks. He had a huge strip-sack against Jake Haener and Fresno State in the season opener before he went down with an injury that kept him out for about a month. Since coming back, he’s recorded 11 tackles and a sack in two weeks. He’s been on fire lately, and those numbers are even more impressive when you realize he missed the first half of the Cal game because of a targeting call in the second half against Stanford.

Three sacks would surpass his total on the year, but I truly think he’s going to be a menace on Saturday afternoon, especially with Dorian Thompson-Robinson trying to avoid pressure and making a misstep or two into Kayvon’s arms.

DTR has been sacked four times in three different games this season, so he’s not immune to pressure. He can be swallowed up and I think Tim DeRuyter dials up some blitz packages that allow the pocket to collapse and Thibodeaux takes advantage with three sacks of his own.

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