Oregon
Oregon vs. Liberty: Predictions and latest odds for the Fiesta Bowl
After failing to clinch a Pac-12 championship, the No. 8 Oregon Ducks (11-2) will play in the Fiesta Bowl against the undefeated No. 20 Liberty Flames (13-0). The Flames are playing in their first season with Conference USA, and what a season it has been. They’ve earned a conference championship and have yet to lose a single game. That said, they have not yet played a top-50 offense in college football. Oregon will undoubtedly be the toughest competition Liberty has faced all season.
Not only will Oregon be a tough task for Liberty, but Oregon will also be playing with something to prove. Their two losses to Washington came by a combined six points. They were ever so close to earning a spot in the college football playoff, but came up just short in the end. They will be playing mad. Even without star wideout Troy Franklin, Oregon’s offense has the talent to roll any team in FBS.
Here’s everything you need to know about the 2024 Fiesta Bowl.
College Football Playoff: Yes, Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh can be odd and frustrating. But college football needs him.
Predictions for Oregon vs. Liberty:
Sportsbook Wire: Oregon (+17.5)
Sportsbook Wire points out that when the Ducks were 18-point favorites or bigger this season, the Ducks went 5-1 against the spread. With Oregon’s only losses this season coming to Washington, a win against Liberty shouldn’t be too difficult to imagine, even with the Flames’ perfect record.
CBS Sports: Oregon ML
The CBS Sports staff writes, “The Flames were not tested by this type of offense this season, as they did not face a top-50 scoring offense all year. Oregon not only has more talent, but it has also done a much better job of taking care of the ball this year. The Ducks committed the third-fewest turnovers in the country, while Liberty turned the ball over at the 14th highest rate. This adds up to a comfortable win for Oregon.”
FOX Sports: Oregon ML
Bryan Fischer writes, “Even if Bo Nix and a handful of other NFL players opt out of this one, stick around for the chess match that comes from Dan Lanning’s defense trying to stop what Jamey Chadwell does on offense, as the Flames try to cap off their first year in C-USA as an undefeated.”
Bleacher Report: Oregon 43, Liberty 24
David Keyon writes, “Between coach Jamey Chadwell’s unique system and quarterback Kaidon Salter’s dynamism, Liberty has a really fun offense. The team has scored 38-plus points in seven straight games. Oregon, however, has largely avoided the opt-out trend and expects Bo Nix to play. Not overthinking this one.”
Fiesta Bowl odds and moneyline:
The Ducks are favorites to defeat the Flames, according to the BetMGM NCAA odds. Looking to wager? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offering NCAA betting promos in 2023.
Betting odds, as of Sunday afternoon:
- Spread: Oregon (-17.5)
- Moneyline: Oregon (-1000); Liberty (+625)
- Over/under: 67.5
How to watch Fiesta Bowl: Oregon vs. Liberty
- When: Monday, January 1, 2024
- Where: State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona
- Time: 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT
- TV: ESPN
- Stream: Sling TV, FuboTV
Watch the Fiesta Bowl: Catch Oregon-Liberty with Fubo
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The biggest and final weekend of official visits is finally here for the Oregon Ducks. The program has made the most of its prior rounds of visits, adding five commitments this month alone.
Dan Lanning and his staff will get a chance to lock in a top-five recruiting class this cycle with another tremendous list of visitors this weekend. Oregon will welcome back a pair of committed gems in the class, including quarterback Will Mencl and edge rusher Rashad Streets. However, the biggest visitors are those who have yet to decide on their college future.
Here’s a look at which recruits are expected to be in Eugene this weekend, as well as where they rank in the Rivals Industry Ranking.
- 5-star WR Xavier Sabb (No. 30)
- 4-star QB Will Mencl (No. 46) (Oregon commit)
- 4-star EDGE Rashad Streets (No. 47) (Oregon commit)
- 4-star WR Tae Walden Jr. (No. 69)
- 4-star LB Brayton Feister (No. 135)
- 4-star DL Brayden Parks (No. 166)
- 4-star TE Anthony Cartwright III (No. 343)
- 4-star RB Caden Waye (No. 359)
- 3-star IOL Lex Mailangi (No. 697)
It’s a loaded weekend for the Ducks, and they are well positioned to land several of the visiting recruits this summer. With Mencl and Streets both in town as well, two of the most vocal recruiters in Oregon’s class, don’t be surprised if the Ducks manage to earn a commitment or two before the weekend is over.
On the heels of adding wideout Dakota Guerrant to their class, the Ducks are the frontrunners for Xavier Sabb, who is making the trip across the country from New Jersey. Sabb, whose brothers both play at Alabama, is one of Oregon’s favorite targets in the cycle, and one that Mencl has publicly called for the Ducks to bring to Eugene.
As a junior, Sabb played both receiver and safety at Glassboro High School. He made 59 catches for 896 yards and 13 touchdowns last season and was named Gatorade Player of the Year in New Jersey. After visiting Alabama last weekend, Oregon will get the last word on Sabb’s recruitment and could add a pair of elite receivers to pair with their star quarterback.
The Ducks are also in great position to finalize a commitment with both linebacker Brayton Feister and tight end Anthony Cartwright III. Cartwright will commit on June 28, and Oregon is already viewed as the leader in the race for the 6-foot-5 pass-catcher from Detroit. Feister is fresh off a visit to Georgia, and the Bulldogs made a big push. However, the Ohio native and No. 10 linebacker in the class has always been strongly linked to the Ducks. An official visit this weekend could be enough to push the recruitment to the finish line.
There are a couple of question marks making their way to campus as well. Wide receiver Tae Walden Jr. and defensive lineman Brayden Parks are both leaning elsewhere, but the Ducks have a reasonable shot in both recruitments. Auburn has led the way for Walden, but a strong visit to LSU last week did make a difference. Oregon could do something similar this week, but as of now, he is thought to wind up in SEC territory.
Parks has been a Notre Dame lean, but the momentum over the past few months has swung between the Irish and the Ducks. Oregon gets the final say this weekend, and it could make the difference. Parks didn’t commit after he visited South Bend last weekend, leaving the door open for the Ducks to swoop in at the final hour before the dead period.
Oregon has been a leader for Mater Dei offensive lineman Lex Mailangi as well, but recent visits to Cal and UCLA have narrowed the gap. The Ducks could use another lineman in their class, with Gus Corsair being the only interior lineman committed. The Ducks have some work to do to regain the lead in the race.
Caden Waye is a late add to the list. Although he has had the Ducks at the top of his list since he narrowed his recruitment in the winter, his list has changed after a trip to UCF last weekend put the Knights in his top three. Oregon already has four-star running back CaDarius McMiller committed and is pushing hard for four-star Landen Williams-Callis. Waye is a bit of a wild card for the Ducks, so it will be interesting to see how his visit to Eugene goes.
Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Oregon State Police are investigating a deadly officer-involved shooting that took place in Lincoln County on Wednesday.
Officers from the Newport Police Department, as well as OSP, responded to the 1500 block of the Siletz River Highway just before 4 p.m. to conduct a follow-up investigation, which later escalated into a fatal shooting.
The suspect is dead, and no officers or members of the community were injured, OSP said.
The investigation is ongoing.
The 2026 MLB Draft is around the corner, which means the Oregon Ducks will soon get the answer to some big questions surrounding next season’s roster. Who will be drafted and sign with an MLB team, and who will opt to suit up for the Ducks in 2027?
The Ducks could have a better idea of where they stand next week, when the program watches three stars and a committed prospect participate in the 2026 MLB Draft Combine in Phoenix, Arizona. The combine is set to begin on June 23 at Chase Field and will showcase 335 draft prospects during the four-day event.
Many of those prospects are collegiate stars. Oregon will watch second baseman Ryan Cooney, shortstop Maddox Molony and right-handed pitcher Cal Scolari all suit up for the combine to solidify their draft position less than a month away from the big day.
The second baseman for the Ducks slashed 331/.420/.524 and led the team in hits (82), doubles (22) and extra-base hits (31) while swiping 13 bases. Cooney also earned first-team All-Big Ten honors and a spot on the Eugene Regional all-tournament team. He is likely to be the first Duck selected in the upcoming draft, but he could return for his final season of eligibility.
Molony is also able to return to his hometown team for one final season, and he remains one of the biggest questions for the Ducks after an unusually poor season at the plate. Entering the season, Molony was a top-50 prospect for the 2026 MLB Draft with the potential to sneak into the first round. However, Molony put together his worst season at the plate in his three seasons with the Ducks, hitting for just a .233 average with 12 home runs and 39 RBIs. The most recent prospect rankings slid Molony to No. 173 overall. His outstanding defense is still enough to warrant a high selection.
Scolari dominated down the stretch for the Ducks, landing him on MLB draft prospect watch lists. He finished the season with a 3.32 ERA and 85 strikeouts. Scolari’s mid-90s fastball paired with a wipeout slider has elevated him as a prospect. He also throws a changeup and a slow curveball. The Nevada native could also return to Oregon, still with two seasons of eligibility.
One Oregon commit will also make the trip to the desert for the combine, putting his potential future with the Ducks on the rocks. Outfielder Andruw Giles from Basic Academy in Henderson, Nevada, will take the field and potentially boost his draft stock enough to skip the college path altogether. The left-handed outfielder has a smooth swing at the plate, hitting for average and power, and he has a strong arm to play a corner outfield spot. Giles was named the Prep Baseball Nevada Co-Player of the Year, despite limited action at the plate.
“The numbers don’t lie as (Giles) put up a .494 batting average, collecting 38 hits in just 77 at-bats,” Prep Baseball’s Brett Harrison wrote. “He proved to be a legitimate extra-base machine, spraying the field with 11 doubles, 4 triples, and 5 home runs while crossing the plate 28 times and driving in 23 runs. His ability to drive the ball while maintaining discipline allowed him to reach base at a .606 clip, making him one of the most consistent table-setters not only in the state, but the west region.”
Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
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