Non-Conference play has come to an end, and now the Oregon Ducks turn their attention toward the grind of the Big Ten schedule. The Ducks' loss to Oklahoma State during the non-conference stretch was a major setback given how tough league play will be, but Dan Lanning has a team that's talented enough to go on a run.
Big Ten play opens with a big test for the Ducks as Oregon faces another Playoff hopeful in the USC Trojans. A loss for Oregon would push the Ducks to the brink, as 10-2 is typically the benchmark for making the Playoff, while a win would get the team back on track while dealing a setback to a rival.
Opening line for Oregon vs USC predicts disaster for Lincoln Riley
On Saturday, Oregon faces off against USC as the Trojans are still looking for their first College Football Playoff appearance under Lincoln Riley. The game is a "must win" for the Trojans as their team has to show they're capable of winning a big game.
As of Sunday Afternoon, the Oregon Ducks open game week as 2.5 point (-110) favorites over the USC Trojans. The total indicates that FanDuel Sportsbook is expecting a high-scoring affair, with the over/under set at 62.5 points (-110). The Ducks are -128 favorites to win the game, while the Trojans open as +106 underdogs.
The Ducks entering the week as favorites is notable, given that the Trojans are the home team in this game. This isn't the same Oregon team that entered the season as the Nation's No. 2 ranked team either as the Ducks have already lost a game while the AP Poll votes have the Trojans ranked ahead of Oregon.
The opening line tells you that the oddsmakers don't believe in USC at this point, even with their non-conference wins to open the season and beating Rutgers on Saturday. Oregon hasn't given the oddsmakers a ton to rely on either, but history will tell you that Dan Lanning has Lincoln Riley's number.
The game is going to come down to which defense can gel together in their biggest game of the season, and get stops. Oregon had trouble stopping Oklahoma State, while the Trojans have always struggled on defense with a great offense under Lincoln Riley. In a game that has massive College Football Playoff implications, the Ducks are going to have to play their best game yet to leave Los Angeles with a win.
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