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Pac-12 rewind: Oregon rolls, WSU topples Arizona and UCLA staggers as unconventional weekend schedule unfolds

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Pac-12 rewind: Oregon rolls, WSU topples Arizona and UCLA staggers as unconventional weekend schedule unfolds


Recapping the weekend action across the Pac-12 …

Theme of the week I: Schedule change

The third weekend of round-robin play lacked the normal travel pairings. For example, Stanford visited Oregon State and played host to Utah, while Cal was at home against Colorado and on the road against Oregon. Also, Washington played ASU at home and UCLA on the road, but WSU played USC on the road and Arizona at home. The remaining eight weeks of conference play will feature the traditional home-road pairings.

Theme of the week II: Deteriorating outlook

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The Pac-12’s prospects for the NCAA Tournament are growing darker by the week as the wrong teams win, and lose. As of Sunday morning, the conference had just two teams (Arizona and Utah) in the top 40 of the NET rankings — the target range for receiving at-large bids to the NCAAs. Beyond that duo, Oregon and Colorado have the best chance to reach the field. From here, this looks like a three-bid league.

Team of the week: Washington State

The Cougars recorded an impressive weekend sweep with a victory at USC (72-64) on Wednesday and a home upset of Arizona (73-70) on Saturday. It was the Cougars’ first victory over Arizona in … 53 weeks. That’s right, WSU beat Arizona last season, as well — although that upset was in Tucson. (The Wildcats were ranked in the top 10 both times.) The Cougars held Arizona’s high-octane offense to 34.7 percent shooting and its lowest point total of the season.

Team of the season: Oregon

Picked fourth in the preseason media poll, the Ducks (5-0) are alone at the top through three weeks of play. They have a one-game lead on Arizona State — of note: the only head-to-head matchup between the Ducks and Sun Devils this season is in Eugene — and a two-game lead (in the loss column) over Stanford and Arizona. However, the Ducks’ remaining road schedule is rugged. We don’t expect them to control the race from start to finish.

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Player of the week: WSU’s Isaac Jones

The Cougars’ big week would not have been possible without first-rate work from the 6-foot-9 senior, who scored 26 points at USC and 24 against Arizona and combined for 24 rebounds. (He also made 15-of-25 field goal attempts and was 20-of-25 from the foul line.) Jones spent three seasons in junior college, then one year at Idaho before transferring to WSU last spring. He leads the Cougars in scoring (14.8 ppg) and rebounding (8.5 rpg).

Game of the week: Stanford 88, Oregon State 84 (OT)

The Cardinal won twice this week, beginning with a narrow escape in Corvallis in which they rallied from a double-digit deficit in the second half and took a brief lead in the final minute. OSU forced overtime, but a 3-pointer by Stanford’s Brandon Angel in the extra period was decisive. The Cardinal collected its second win of the weekend on Sunday afternoon, with a 79-73 victory over Utah.

Misleading score of the week: WSU 73, Arizona 70

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The result looks worse than it is for Arizona’s resume, and here’s why: Although they played a soft non-conference schedule, the Cougars were well within the top 75 of the NET rankings, thus leaving the defeat as a Quadrant I loss for the Wildcats. Their NET ranking did not budge overnight from the No. 2 position.

Comeback of the week: Cal 82, Colorado 78

The Bears continue to produce surprising results (in a positive fashion) under first-year coach Mark Madsen. Their latest eye-opener: Rallying from a 19-point deficit early in the second half to topple CU. With star guard Jaylon Tyson leading the way (a career-high 30 points), Cal outscored the Buffaloes 51-28 over the final 17 minutes. The Bears have two  wins in six conference games — as many as they produced last season in 20.

Wipeout of the week: Utah 90, UCLA 44

Just when you thought things could not get worse — after a home loss to Cal — the Bruins produced the second-worst loss in school history. Some fans might remember the ‘Maples Massacre,’ a 48-point wipeout at Stanford in 1997. Well, the pummeling in Salt Lake City could have been worse: The Utes led by 49 points with two minutes left, before UCLA trimmed the margin. The Bruins were outscored by 36 points in the second half and out-rebounded 50-28 for the game. “As you get into this and it gets more physical,” coach Mick Cronin said, “we haven’t met that challenge at all.” UCLA beat Washington on Sunday but has lost eight of its last 10.

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Depleted roster of the week: USC

The reeling Trojans lost at Colorado without three players who combine for 40 points and 11 rebounds per game: Guards Boogie Ellis and Isaiah Collier and big man Joshua Morgan. Collier will miss at least a month (hand injury); Ellis was sidelined with a bad hamstring; and Morgan sat out because of a respiratory infection. The Trojans have dropped seven of their past 10 and have no chance to make the NCAA Tournament through the at-large pool.

Game of next week: Oregon at Utah (Jan. 21)

The duel in Salt Lake City lost a bit of luster Sunday when the Utes were hit with their third conference loss (at Stanford). But the storyline remains solid on Oregon’s side: The Ducks don’t need to sweep the Mountain trip, but they must avoid getting swept.


*** Send suggestions, comments and tips (confidentiality guaranteed) to pac12hotline@bayareanewsgroup.com or call 408-920-5716

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*** Follow me on Twitter: @WilnerHotline

*** Pac-12 Hotline is not endorsed or sponsored by the Pac-12 Conference, and the views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views of the Conference.

 

 

 

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Rewalking Oregon’s path to College Football Playoff

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Rewalking Oregon’s path to College Football Playoff


No. 1 Oregon will face No. 8 Ohio State in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.

With the rematch officially set, we’re taking a look back at the path the Ducks (13-0) took to reach the CFP as the top seed.

The season began with a clunky 24-14 win over Idaho. The right side of the offensive line was responsible for multiple penalties and three sacks to an FCS opponent that made for an unnecessarily difficult opener, even as Dillon Gabriel threw for 380 yards with two touchdowns to Tez Johnson.

Special teams rescued the Ducks in a 37-34 comeback over Boise State. Ashton Jeanty had 192 yards and three touchdowns to legitimize his Heisman candidacy. An 85-yard punt return touchdown by Johnson and a 100-yard kickoff return by Noah Whittington and recovery in the end zone by Jayden Limar erased a fourth quarter deficit. The offensive line made constant changes while allowing four sacks and committing five penalties in the unit’s most disjointed performance in years.

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The early issues up front were gone as Iapani Laloulu took over at center in a 49-14 plastering of Oregon State. Gabriel threw for two touchdowns and ran for one as the offense gained 546 yards with 10 plays of 20-plus. The defense shutdown the Beavers ground game in the second half and UO secured its first win in Corvallis since 2018.

Following its first bye week of the season, Oregon officially opened Big Ten play at UCLA with a 34-13 rout at the Rose Bowl. A 28-3 lead was more than enough for the Ducks to coast and they held the Bruins to just 47 rushing yards.

Jordan James and Jordan Burch took center stage in a 31-10 Friday night drubbing of Michigan State at Autzen Stadium. James had 166 yards and a touchdown and Burch had 2.5 sacks and recovered a fumble. Two red zone interceptions by Gabriel made things briefly more competitive but the Ducks pulled away to setup a clash of undefeated titans.

The Oct. 12 game with Ohio State lived up to the billing as the top game of the season. There were seven lead changes in the 32-31 Ducks win over the Buckeyes, who were driving in the closing seconds and Will Howard slid at the UO 26 with time expiring. A deliberate 12 men on the field penalty by Oregon led to an in-season rules interpretation by the NCAA and provided further evidence of Dan Lanning’s preparation relative to Ryan Day. Even without Burch, who suffered a knee injury two days before the game, the Ducks were able to generate some pressure on Howard.

A Friday night trip to West Lafayette, Ind. will be remembered as Oregon’s first shutout since 2012. Purdue was hapless, throwing for less than 100 yards. Even with Traeshon Holden suspended and Terrance Ferguson out following an appendectomy, the Ducks were vastly better in every facet.

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A 38-9 blowout of Illinois was filled with physicality in all phases. The defense had seven tackles for loss with three sacks, two interceptions and eight pass breakups to help build a 35-3 halftime lead.

Ferguson and Burch returned in a 38-17 beat down of Michigan at the Big House. The Ducks also suffered injuries to Johnson and Marcus Harper II but still managed to gain 470 yards and did not allow a sack against one of the best defensive lines in college football.

Gabriel broke the NCAA career touchdown record in a 39-18 win over Maryland. A season-high 12 penalties, particularly a couple of pass interference calls in the end zone, made the game more competitive than it truly was and Burch sprained his ankle.

Another fourth quarter comeback was required to escape Wisconsin with a 16-13 win. Gabriel found Ferguson on fourth and nine to open the fourth quarter and the defense closed it out with back-to-back three-and-outs, a fourth down stop and interception by Matayo Uiagalelei to cap an eighth straight conference win in as many weeks.

The second bye week allowed for Johnson to return for a 49-21 rout of Washington to cap a 12-0 regular season with Dan Lanning’s first win in the rivalry. Burch had 2.5 of Oregon’s 10 sacks and Uiagalelei had two. The Huskies ran for just 43 yards and could not stretch the field vertically.

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A battle of top 10 defenses instead was a shootout in the Big Ten championship game, which Oregon won over Penn State 45-37 at Lucas Oil Stadium. Gabriel threw four touchdowns, with three going to tight ends, and the defense had two interceptions to help secure the conference title, No. 1 seed in the CFP and Rose Bowl berth.

CFP quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl

  • Who: No. 1 Oregon Ducks (13-0) vs. No. 8 Ohio State (11-2)
  • When: Wednesday, Jan. 1
  • Time: 2 p.m. PT
  • Where: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California
  • TV channel: ESPN
  • Stream: You can watch this game live for FREE with Fubo (free trial) or by signing up for Sling (cheapest streaming plans, $25 off your first month). If you already have cable, you can also watch this game live on Watch ESPN with your cable or satellite provider login information.
  • Oregon Ducks football 2024 season schedule, scores
  • Sign up for The Ducks Beat newsletter

James Crepea covers the Oregon Ducks and Big Ten. Listen to the Ducks Confidential podcast or subscribe to the Ducks Roundup newsletter.



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Oregon Ducks vs. Ohio State Betting Odds: Rose Bowl, College Football Playoff

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Oregon Ducks vs. Ohio State Betting Odds: Rose Bowl, College Football Playoff


The Oregon Ducks will face the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1. The Buckeyes handled business in the first round of the College Football Playoff and will now face the Ducks in the quarterfinals. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. PT on New Year’s Day.

What do the Vegas oddsmakers say about the upcoming matchup between Oregon and Ohio State?

Oregon Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel carries the ball as the No. 3 Oregon Ducks host the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes Saturda

Oregon Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel carries the ball as the No. 3 Oregon Ducks host the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. / Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Oregon Ducks and Ohio State Buckeyes will play in the Rose Bowl for a trip to the College Football Playoff semifinals. The Buckeyes are coming off a 42-17 dismantling of the Tennessee Volunteers in the first round of the CFP. That performance was enough for Ohio State to now be a slight favorite over the No. 1 ranked Oregon Ducks. 

It’s nearly a pick ‘em, but Ohio State is a one-point favorite as of now. The over/under is set at 53.5 points. 

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The odds makers have loved the Buckeyes all season, and they still do. Not only is Ohio State a slight favorite over Oregon, they also have better odds to win the national championship.

Texas is the overall favorite to win the national championship with odds of +340. Ohio State has the second best odds of +380. Oregon is third with odds of +400. 

MORE: Oregon Ducks Land Transfer Defensive Lineman Bear Alexander From USC

MORE: Los Angeles Chargers’ Justin Herbert Closing In On Peyton Manning’s NFL Record

MORE: How Oregon Ducks Landed Transfer Portal Star Isaiah World Over Texas A&M Aggies

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Oregon and Ohio State treated the country to one of the best games of the 2024 regular season when they played in October. The Ducks outlasted the Buckeyes in a 32-31 thriller at Autzen Stadium in Eugene. 

The Ducks were underdogs in that game too, but prevailed and won outright. Now, the two will play against each other in the “Granddaddy of Them All” in the Rose Bowl. The winner will play the winner of the Texas-Arizona State game in the semi-finals.

What are the other games in the quarterfinal slate?

Indiana Hoosiers linebacker Rolijah Hardy (21) and linebacker Aiden Fisher (4) tackle Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back

Indiana Hoosiers linebacker Rolijah Hardy (21) and linebacker Aiden Fisher (4) tackle Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jadarian Price (24) during the second half of a game between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in first round of the College Football Playoff on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in South Bend. Notre Dame defeated Indiana 27-17. / Christine Tannous/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The quarterfinals in the College Football Playoff will kick off when No. 3 Boise State plays No. 6 Penn State in the Fiesta Bowl at 4:30 p.m. PT on Dec. 31. 

The New Year will start off with No. 5 Texas and No. 4 Arizona State in the Peach Bowl at 10 a.m. PT on Jan. 1.

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Following the Rose Bowl between Oregon and Ohio State to finish off the quarterfinals is No. 2 Georgia and No. 7 Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl at 5:45 p.m. PT on New Year’s Day.

MORE: Los Angeles Chargers’ Justin Herbert Injured, Breaks NFL Record In Win Over Denver

MORE: Why Oregon Ducks Five-Star Receiver Dallas Wilson To Flip To Florida Gators?

MORE: San Francisco 49ers To Draft Oregon Ducks Quarterback Dillon Gabriel? Brock Purdy Contract

MORE: Oregon Ducks Fans Color To Wear In Rose Bowl Vs. Ohio State Or Tennessee in Pasadena

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Updated Oregon Ducks national championship odds after 1st round of College Football Playoff

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Updated Oregon Ducks national championship odds after 1st round of College Football Playoff


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.



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