Stanford at No. 5 Oregon (-7.5) 7:30 pm FOX
Daniel: Oregon is among the best teams in the nation and has a legitimate chance to make the College Football Playoffs. That means Stanford has the Ducks just where it wants them. Stanford has knocked Oregon off two consecutive times, significantly damaging championship hopes both times. I think this is the year that Oregon and Heisman contender Marcus Mariota get over the hump. Stanford doesn’t have any high-quality wins this season and it’s a little much to ask of them to pick up its first one in Eugene. . Winner: Oregon 34-21
Houston: This game can be summed up very easily in two phrases. Oregon’s offense is terrific, as is Stanford’s defense. Oregon’s defense is average, but Stanford’s offense is atrocious. Stanford’s offensive ineptitude has wasted one of the counry’s best defenses all season long and I think it continues this weekend. Stanford’s defense will cause Oregon some trouble at times, but, in the end, their lack of consistency on offense will doom the Cardinal in this game and Marcus Mariota will be able to make enough plays for the Ducks to get the W. Winner: Ducks 31-16
Reed: I really, really, really want to pick Stanford. They lead the nation in yards allowed per play and have been dominant on the defensive side of the ball. Their offense, however, has been inept in big moments. Stanford always plays Oregon tough, though, and that defense has been Mariota’s kryptonite… but Oregon’s offensive line is playing much better of late and Mariota should finally have a big game against The Cardinal. The Ducks won’t put up a ton of points, but they’ll score enough to beat Stanford comfortably. Winner: Ducks 24-14
Brad: One of the most overrated teams in the nation takes on one of the most disappointing ones in this Pac-12 showdown. Though the Ducks normally reserve laying an egg for the Cardinal, they’ve gone ahead and gotten it out of the way against Arizona. As for Stanford, David Shaw’s team looked completely lifeless until it dominated Oregon State last week just in time for the game the Cardinal always seems to win. Not this year. Though Marcus Mariotta’s offensive line has its issues, so does Stanford’s D-line. Kevin Hogan’s disappointing season has bottlenecked Stanford’s offense, but Ty Montgomery continues to prove he’s one of the nation’s top weapons. It won’t be enough against an Oregon team that’s too strong for the Cardinal’s down year. Winner: Oregon: 31-20
