The No. 12 BYU Cougars (2-0) take on the No. 25 Oregon Ducks (1-1) in a televised game this weekend. Oregon has scored 73 points in their two games for an average of 36.5, which is looks pretty good. However, they put up 70 against Big Sky opponent Eastern Washington and got embarrassed by No. 3 Georgia, 49-3.
Meanwhile, opponent BYU has shown that they can hang in two different types of games. They won their first game 50-21 at USF and showed they can put up some points. In Week 2 they took down No. 9 Baylor 26-20 in double overtime, a weird game that featured 11 punts, six sacks, four missed field goals, a missed extra point and surprisingly no turnovers.
The total for this game is currently 58, with Oregon favored by 3.5 points. Can BYU take down another ranked opponent from a Power Five conference? The last time these teams met was in the 2006 Las Vegas Bowl. BYU won 38-8 when former NFL running back Jonathan Stewart was suiting up for the Ducks. More recently, the Cougars were 5-0 against the Pac-12 in 2021 and look to extend that winning streak to six.
BYU vs. Oregon Week 3 Prediction
BYU Offense
The Cougars offense is led by junior quarterback Jaren Hall, who passed for 2,583 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2021. He also averaged 5 yards a carry and scored three touchdowns on the ground. He’s off to a terrific start in 2022, averaging 261 yards in the air and completing 67% of his passes. This is a balanced offense that has spread the ball around to 13 different pass catchers in two games. BYU also has a pretty good run game that averages 5.7 yards a carry, top 25 in the nation.
The Cougars are the second-best pass-blocking team in the nation, which bodes really well against an Oregon team that has the fourth-worst pass coverage and gives up 263 yards passing a game, second worst in the Pac-12. It’s tough to gauge a team that just got rolled by Georgia, who will likely be in the college football playoff.
The Oregon defense only has two sacks and zero quarterback hurries in their two games. This is a team coached by Dan Lanning, 2021 defensive coordinator for Georgia. Where is the pressure? Jaren Hall may have a lot of time to decide what he wants to do if the Ducks don’t fly together.
Oregon Offense
Auburn Transfer Bo Nix leads Oregon, and he is hoping to improve his NFL draft capital under Lanning. Oregon has high hopes for Nix, who rushed for 18 touchdowns during his three seasons in the SEC. He is protected by a solid offensive line that includes two players named pre-season Pac-12 All-Conference, Alex Forsyth and T.J. Bass. They held up nicely against Georgia not allowing a sack or any quarterback hurries.
There are no proven pass catchers for Nix, as last year’s leading receivers, Travis Dye (USC) and Devin Williams (NFL), are both gone. They combined for only 81 catches anyway. Nix has his work cut out for him, with no standout weapon to go to. BYU held No. 9 Baylor to 137 yards passing last week in double-overtime. It’s not going to be easy for Nix through the air.
On the ground, BYU held Baylor to 2.9 yards a carry. It will be up to Sean Dollars and Byron Cardwell, who only have 24 carries between the two of them to get it done on the ground.
BYU vs. Oregon Prediction
BYU is 5-0 in their last five games against the Pac-12. Oregon is generally a powerhouse and should finish the season with a winning record and go to a bowl game, but it might take a few games to get going with a new coach, quarterback and running backs. The experience and camaraderie for BYU will get it done and send the Ducks flying south a bit earlier than normal. Oregon has only attempted one field goal this season, so BYU gets the edge if it ends up being close and coming down to the kicking game.
NCAAF Best Bet: BYU Moneyline (+140)
