No. 12 Oregon (-3) @ No. 18 UCLA TV: FOX 3:30pm Saturday
Daniel: Both teams were thought to be among the Pac-12’s best chances to make the College Football Playoff this year. Now both are pretty much in must-win mode if that dream is to still be a reality after the Ducks and Bruins fell last week to Arizona and Utah, respectively. Watch this game, if for no other reason, for the quarterback play. Oregon’s Marcus Mariota and UCLA’s Brett Hundley will both on Sundays. And whichever one plays better on Saturday will give their team the best chance to win. I think it’s Mariota that gets the job done in this case. Winner: Oregon 42-31
Houston: Oregon travels down the coast to face the Bruins with both teams coming off of surprising losses last week. UCLA has been surprisingly lackluster at times this season – especially last week against Utah – while the Ducks were rolling until their slip-up against Arizona last Thursday. I think that UCLA’s struggles are more indicative of where that program is right now, whereas Oregon’s loss seems more like an abberation. I think Marcus Mariota and the ‘Quack Attack’ get back on the winning side of things this week. Ducks roll. Winner: Oregon 41-24
Reed: The Ducks were shocked at home last Thursday by Arizona. They’ve had some extra time to think about that loss and prep for a massive game with UCLA, who also lost last weekend. If you like QB play, this is the game for you as Hundley and Mariota face off in a battle of likely first round draft picks. The Bruins are at home and Oregon’s defense ranks near the bottom of the conference. Both teams have atrocious offensive lines but this one has the making of a classic Pac-12 shootout. I like the home team with the better defense which means the Ducks lose back-to-back games for the first time in a season since 2007 (Chip Kelly’s first year as OC). Winner: Bruins 38-35
Kyle: These teams are mirror images of each other right now. The quarterbacks are playing much better than they’re given credit for, but playing behind offensive lines held together with old chewing gum makes Brett Hundley and Marcus Mariota’s jobs a lot more difficult.
Oregon’s defense got to Hundley in the second half last year, and with the Bruins coming off a game with 10 allowed sacks, I suspect the Ducks will bring plenty of pressure once again. But the same is true on the opposite side of the ball. And, since UCLA has the superior front seven, I give the edge to the Bruins. Winner: UCLA 34-31
