The Big Ten football schedule stops for no one. After a much-needed rivalry win over the Michigan State Spartans, the 5-3 Michigan Wolverines host the No. 1 team in the country in the Oregon Ducks, who are legit national title contenders.
It has been tumultuous season on the field for Michigan, but pulling off an upset against one of the best teams in the country could certainly help Michigan fans forget some of those struggles.
Here are three keys to victory against the Ducks.
Avoid chunk plays in the passing game
Airing out the ball is a huge part of Oregon’s offense, with Heisman candidate Dillon Gabriel entering Week 10 ranked eighth in the country in total passing yards (2,371). In press conferences this week, Michigan’s secondary spoke highly of Oregon’s receiving core, with Tez Johnson, Traeshon Holden and Evan Stewart combining for 1,397 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns on 113 catches this year.
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“We just want to make sure to limit the explosive plays and try to turn the ball over to give it back to our offense. That’s a key focus for us, especially for this game coming up,” cornerback Aamir Hall said. “They have very fast guys that like to get into space and just make plays using their speed and quickness. Them coming into the Big House will be exciting.”
Big plays are the easiest way for teams to gain momentum and crush the spirits of an underdog. It’s a tall task — especially if Will Johnson isn’t healthy — but Michigan has to do its best to limit Oregon’s passing attack.
Feed Colston Loveland again and again
On the other side of the ball, it’s going to be crucial for Michigan to keep utilizing future NFL tight end Colston Loveland. After the offense had been pathetic most of the season, offensive coordinator Kirk Campbell called his best game of the year against MSU. Loveland played a big role in that, racking up 67 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
Loveland is likely one of the names towards the top of Oregon’s scouting report, so Michigan will have to be creative when it comes to getting him the ball. The Wolverines need to use the run game to set him up in the passing game. Loveland being able to pick up a few chunk plays increases Michigan’s upset chances immensely.
Michigan cannot turn the ball over
As it has for the Wolverines all season long, the turnover margin is going to play a big factor. Oregon is far ahead of them in that category this season (+3 vs -6). The easiest way to turn a potential upset into a blowout is by turning the ball over, just ask Navy after turning the ball over six times in a 51-14 loss to Notre Dame last week.
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Michigan did a great job taking care of the ball a week ago. Quarterback Davis Warren wasn’t a star by any means, but he did just enough to help lead Michigan to victory. I am not so sure that victory happens if he throws a pick or two.
As Jared Stormer and Andrew Bailey pointed out on Out of the Blue this week, the Wolverines have to win the turnover battle to win this game, and they probably have to win it by two takeaways or more. A few second-half picks by Gabriel can certainly swing things.
What else does Michigan have to do to pull off this upset? Let us know in the comments.
After years of talk and anticipation, the 12-team College Football Playoff is finally here, and it brought a lot of intrigue and entertainment over the weekend.
We got big wins for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Penn State Nittany Lions, Texas Longhorns, and Ohio State Buckeyes, while others like the Indiana Hoosiers, SMU Mustangs, Clemson Tigers, and Tennessee Volunteers saw their seasons come to an end short of the national championship.
While this first round of action whittled down the playing field to eight teams, it also gave us a good look at what some of these teams are capable of in the postseason environment.
Which ones are capable of winning the national championship, though?
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That’s a different question. There are still some heavyweights in the conversation, but also some long shots who may have stated their case to be considered as a longshot option.
Let’s take a look at the latest numbers, according to BetMGM.
Here’s a look at the full odds:
We will take a look at the full odds again next week after the quarterfinal games are played.
GAINESVILLE. Fla. — Former Oregon signee Dallas Wilson, a five-star receiver from Tampa, is getting the full-court press from Florida.
A day after Wilson watched the Gators beat Tulane in the Gasparilla Bowl in Tampa, he made an official visit to Gainesville and was given a front-row seat to Florida’s basketball game against North Florida.
Wilson was decked out in royal blue — shorts, beanie and Jordan-brand basketball shoes — as he watched the Gators (12-0) remain undefeated in convincing fashion, 99-45.
The 6-foot-3 Wilson, who caught 41 passes for 677 yards and nine touchdowns at Tampa Bay Tech this season, initially committed to Oregon in January 2023. But his mother died later that year and now his grandmother has an illness that contributed to his decision to ask for his release from the Ducks and play closer to home.
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Wilson would be another solid piece for Florida coach Billy Napier, whose recruiting class vaulted roughly 40 spots to No. 11 in 247 Sports’ final composite rankings.
The Gators already added former UCLA receiver J. Michael Sturdivant in the transfer portal. He joined an incoming recruiting class that includes receivers Vernell Brown III, Naeshaun Montgomery and Muizz Tounkara.
Wilson’s agent is Vernell Brown Jr., who played for the Gators and previously worked under Napier in a player development role.
Former Oregon football signee Dallas Wilson attends a Florida basketball gamer against North Florida Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Gainesville, Fla. Wilson, a five-star receiver is considering signing with the Florida. Credit: AP/Alan Youngblood
Florida must replace starting receivers Chimere Dike and Elijhah Badger, both seniors who transferred to Gainesville last season. Dike caught a team-high 42 passes for 783 yards and two touchdowns. Badger finished with 39 receptions for 806 yards and four scores.
Prospective homebuyers considering the real estate market had a range of options in various neighborhoods throughout the region between Dec. 9 and Dec. 15. In this article, we outline recent property sales in the northern Oregon coast, all of which featured homes under $500,000.
Below, we provide an overview of the top six properties in each area, chosen for their proximity to the desired price range and the largest living spaces.
Please note that the properties in the list below are for real estate sales where the title was recorded during the week of Dec. 9, even if the property may have been sold earlier.
1. $500K, 3 bedrooms / 2 baths
Situated in the 61000 block of N.W. Cochran Rd., Timber, this single-family home, consisting of three bedrooms and two baths, was sold in December for a price of $500,000, translating to $285 per square foot. The property, constructed in 1981, offers a living area of 1,755 square feet and sits on a 1.8-acre lot. The deal was finalized on Dec. 6.
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2. $497K, 2 bedrooms / 1 bathroom
For a price tag of $497,000 ($248 per square foot), the single-family home, built in 1900 and located in the 37700 block of Parker Lane, Astoria changed hands in December. The home spans 2,004 square feet of living area, with two bedrooms and one bathroom. The property comprises a 0.5-acre lot. The deal was finalized on Dec. 6.
3. $484K, 3 bedrooms / 3 bathrooms
Priced at $484,000 (equivalent to $294 per square foot), this detached house, constructed in 2023 and situated in the 700 block of Quail Glenn Dr., Philomath, was sold in December. The home spans 1,648 square feet of living area, with three bedrooms and three bathrooms. The property comprises a 5,663-square-foot lot. The deal was finalized on Dec. 3.
$484K, single-family home in the 700 block of Quail Glenn Dr., Philomath
4. $475K, 2 bedrooms / 2 baths
At $475,000 ($270 per square foot), the detached house located in the first block of Whealdon Rd., Naselle offered another opportunity below the targeted price range when it changed hands in November. This property, built in 1981, provides 1,760 square feet of living space, featuring two bedrooms and two bathrooms, and sits on a 20.9-acre lot. The deal was finalized on Nov. 27.
5. $460K, 4 bedrooms / 1 bathroom
This single-family house, featuring four bedrooms and one bathroom, underwent a change of ownership in December. Located in the 24000 block of Highway 20, Philomath, the home spans 1,512 square feet and was sold for $460,000, or $304 per square foot. The property sits on a lot measuring 0.9-acre, and it was built in 1952. The deal was finalized on Dec. 3.
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$460K, single-family house in the 24000 block of Highway 20, Philomath
6. $445K, 4 bedrooms / 1 bath
In December, a detached house, with four bedrooms and one bath, located in the 36800 block of Happy Hollow Rd., Blodgett, changed ownership. The property, covering 1,436 square feet, was built in 1943 and was sold for $445,000, which calculates to $310 per square foot. The lot size encompasses 1.2-acre. The deal was finalized on Dec. 3.
Real Estate Newswire is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to generate analysis of data from Propmix, an aggregator of national real-estate data.
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