Bryson Blue
Writer
The No. 3 Oregon Ducks (5-0, 2-0) will host the No. 7 Indiana Hoosiers (5-0, 2-0) in a major Big Ten face-off. Both teams are undefeated this season and ranked in the top 10. ESPN’s College Gameday will be live from Eugene, OR.
As the Ducks come off a bye week after defeating Penn State, they hope fresh legs will aid them against the Hoosiers. As for Indiana, knocking off the No. 3 team in the country is the massive prize it’s been looking for.
Date: Saturday, October 11th
Time: 12:30 PM PT
Location: Eugene, OR
TV: CBS
The Ducks have been majorly impressive so far, led by quarterback Dante Moore. The country has been buzzing about the Ducks’ QB after their thrilling win over Penn State. Labeled as the Heisman favorite by FanDuel, all eyes will be on him in this game. This season, Moore has thrown for 1,210 yards, 14 touchdowns and one interception. The only question for Moore was if he could win the big ones, and that was answered just two weeks ago. If the Ducks want to continue to soar, it will be under the wing of Moore.
The defense was a major factor in the Ducks’ massive win against Penn State. If they want to win, head coach Dan Lanning’s group will have to be stout once again. In the Penn State game, defensive lineman Bear Alexander had a breakout game. Alexander was everywhere, racking up five tackles. His impact was not fully represented by the box score, and his plays were particularly effective at key moments. If Alexander can continue to build on his previous outing, Indiana is going to have a hard time on offense.
The Hoosiers have a Heisman candidate of their own in Fernando Mendoza. The Hoosiers’ QB has surpassed expectations. Securing a win against a brand like the Ducks could do wonders for his draft stock and evaluation. Mendoza has thrown for 1,208 yards, 16 TDs and one INT. The Ducks’ secondary will have their hands full.
Look out for defensive back Louis Moore as a key player on defense. Oregon has a plethora of wide receivers, and Moore can keep them in check. Moore leads the team in tackles with 30 and already has 3 INTs. If the Ducks’ Moore makes an errant pass, the Hoosiers’ Moore could come down with it.
This is a huge point in both schools’ seasons. As it stands, the Hoosiers are the toughest opponent left for the Ducks. Oregon is just more talented on both sides of the ball. Autzen is one of the toughest environments to play in, and the crowd is sure to be rowdy. Lanning has no trouble finding motivation for his squad, and the Hoosiers’ head coach, Curt Cignetti, is doing an outstanding job in his own right.
Prediction: Oregon beats Indiana.
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