The No. 4 Oregon Ducks will try to keep their rejuvenated BCS Championship hopes
alive when they host the USC Trojans in college
football betting action this Saturday night in
Eugene.
Trojans have nothing to
lose
With last Saturday's big college
football betting win over previously unbeaten Stanford, Oregon has climbed
back into the BCS Championship conversation. The Ducks are currently ranked No.
4 in the BCS standings, and like Alabama, their only loss of the season came
against top-ranked LSU.
Some would argue that since the Ducks' loss was
at a neutral location (instead of at home), and that Oregon will have the Pac-12
Championship while Alabama will be idle, Oregon could jump Alabama in the BCS
standings. If that were to happen, Oregon would be in position for a rematch
against LSU in the National Championship - if undefeated and No. 2-ranked
Oklahoma State was to stumble.
Meanwhile, the USC Trojans are leading the
Pac-12 South, but they won't be representing the division in the Pac-12
Championship or be going bowling this season due to NCAA restrictions. As a
result, they don't have anything to lose in this game - which makes them very
dangerous. The same was true when USC embraced the spoiler role and pushed
Stanford to their limits in a triple-overtime thriller several weeks
ago.
No doubt Oregon will be focused, but they still have the Pac-12
Championship and the Rose Bowl or BCS Championship coming down the pipe. This is
the biggest game remaining on the Trojans' schedule, so they'll be treating it
like a bowl game.
Oregon loves home
cooking
Autzen Stadium in Eugene is widely known as one of the
loudest and most intense stadiums in all of college football. As Oregon has
built its program up to an elite level over the last few years, the stadium's
home advantage has become even more decisive.
Since a loss to Boise State
back in 2008, Oregon has reeled off 21 straight wins at home in college
football betting results. The Ducks have won each of their last 11 home
games by at least two touchdowns, and beat USC 47-20 the last time they faced
them in Eugene back in 2009.
Not only does Autzen's crowd noise affect
opposing offenses, but it also impacts opposition defensive units. Oregon feeds
off the home crowd when on the attack, and the noise makes it difficult for
opposing defenses to communicate - which is essential when facing a quick
no-huddle attack like Oregon's.
Not only have the Ducks been dominant at
home, but they've also been unstoppable in conference play. Oregon's win over
Stanford brought their winning streak against Pac-12 opponents to 19 straight
games. If Oregon wins this week, they'll be one step closer to breaking USC's
all-time record conference winning streak of 27 games, set from 2003 to
2006.
Meanwhile, the Trojans are 3-1 SU and ATS on the road this season
including a win over Notre Dame as a 10-point underdog.
USC
defense under fire
Despite facing the third-best rushing defense
in the nation last Saturday, Oregon made it look easy against Stanford.
LaMichael James rushed for 146 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries, adding
yet another explosive game to his resume this season and perhaps getting his
name back into the Heisman Trophy conversation.
USC has been solid
against the run this season allowing just 100.4 rushing yards per game, and
they've given up 17 points or less in seven of their ten games. But in each of
those games in which the Trojans have given up more than 17 points, they've
given up more than 40 points: 41 to Arizona, 43 to Arizona State, and 56 to
Stanford. Considering the Ducks average 46.7 points per game (third-best in the
nation), you have to figure they are more likely to be in the “over 40” category
than they are the “under 17”.
Oregon is listed as a 15-point favorite on
the college
football betting lines. USC is averaging a competitive 34.1 points per game
on offense, but the big question is whether or not they'll be able to slow
Oregon down at home with their defense. The Ducks are 3-1 both SU and ATS in
their last four games against USC, and have won each of their last two meetings
by at least three touchdowns.
***
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