2015 PAC-12 | WEEK 5 Showcase Game
Sat Oct 3, 2015 | 10:05 PM | ESPNFolsom Field | Boulder, Colorado
OREGON DUCKS 2-2 (0-1 Conf)
COLORADO BUFFALOES 3-1
Ducks are in unfamiliar territory following a 62-20 Week 4 home loss vs UU
ORE is unranked in AP Top 25 Poll for the first time in 98 Weeks
ORE suffered their worst loss in 13 seasons
ORE allowed the highest point total (62) in 30 seasons
ORE suffered the worst home loss in 38 seasons
Now, these Ducks are trying to avoid losing to Utah 'twice'
A road game vs Conference opponent w/ sparse talent - CU could be the tonic for UO
Assuming Locke gets the start under Center for Oregon,
The Ducks profess to go back to the original spread Offense Option #1 and #1-B
Pre-Mariota/Thomas/Massoli/Smith basics of seal-block running
ORE RB So 5-11 | 232 Royce Freeman should move to center stage
Freeman carried the ball ½ as much in 2 games since
His 24 demanding carries for 92 yards in ORE near-upset at Michigan State
(Spartans were #1 FBS Rush Defense in 2014)
Freeman is set-up to be Oregon’s workhorse from the outset of 2015
Getting 24 carries in the last TWO games is illogical and will have to change
ORE less likely to throw into 2nd seams w ORE WR Marshall out (inj)
CU Defensive Front-7 should be hard-pressed to withstand the forthcoming ORE grind
As we have all seen, ORE Secondary has been lit-up this season
CU Passing game should provide a lit-up ORE Secondary a lot of improvement opportunities
CU’s banged up QB Sefo Liufau is lowest rated PAC-12 passer vs FBS opponents
Liufau is passing just 58% completion rate w/just 6.0 Yards per pass attempt net
CU WR Spruce is top-notch Senior Receiver
Yet teams have successfully limited Spruce illustrious big play capabilities
Spruce averages just 9.8 yards per catch (vs FBS Teams)
CU Soph 5-11 | 175 WR Shay Fields is the only Buff receiver in the PAC-12 Top 50 receivers
Boiling it down:
For such an eyeball test mismatch, ORE as single digit favorite is unthinkable
Perspective:
ORE lost to two exceptional teams
ORE nearly upset MSU in E Lansing and lost to a supremely prepared UU team
Utes brought a brilliant game plan to Eugene,
Filled with jigger-plays & gadgets – that all clicked into place & worked
YES, it appeared that ORE players ‘quit’ last week while being gashed
It was a new situation for these players & this program
Yet, ORE has arrived at their ‘get-well’ segment of their schedule
CU has played far less challenging schedule than all other PAC-12 Teams
Yet these Buffs have statistically underwhelmed & underperformed
CU lost as a road favorite in the Islands to start the year
Then mounted a comeback in rivalry game vs Colorado State
CU did beat Colorado State in Overtime
Despite Buffs being thoroughly outgained (-155 yards | -9 First Downs) by re-tooling CSU
Reminder:
Colorado was 0-9 in PAC-12 last season (2-25 last 3 years)
Pure value w/Ducks this week
TOP PREDICTION
OREGON 44
COLORADO 26
__________
PREDICTION
WASHINGTON STATE 31
CALIFORNIA 42
All the best, guys
W-O-W
