Oregon is somehow a 12.5-point favorite heading into their October 10th clash against undefeated UCLA, but hold up, the Ducks are juggling a huge quarterback question that’s making everyone scratch their heads about that line. This isn’t just another game, it’s a wild early season test for both squads.
Ducks’ Roller Coaster: From Letdown to Favorite
Man, these Ducks have been on a ride, right? Just a minute ago, they dropped a game on the road to Oklahoma State and everyone was ready to write them off as one of the season’s biggest letdowns. Fast forward to last week, and they completely flipped the script, taking down USC in a critical game. That win showed everyone the offense can absolutely still score big when it counts. But here’s the kicker: starting quarterback Dante Moore got a serious concussion in that USC win. Coach Dan Lanning dropped the classic line about using “an abundance of caution” with Moore’s return. So, when Oregon steps back onto Autzen Stadium after their bye week, it could be Dylan Raiola calling the shots, who showed he can fill that gap if Moore needs more time. That’s a huge “if” for a team favored by so much.
UCLA’s Undefeated Streak and a Running Back Problem
Now, let’s talk about the other side of the ball: the undefeated UCLA Bruins are rolling into Eugene in two weeks. They’re also coming off a bye week, but they’ve been clicking, scoring more than 50 points in each of their last two games. Remember Coach Bob Chesney? He led James Madison into Autzen for the College Football Playoff back in December and had success there. So he knows that stadium. The Bruins are led by quarterback Nico Iamaleava, but the real monster is running back Wayne Knight, a transfer from James Madison. This dude has been an absolute machine, rushing for 445 yards and a staggering nine touchdowns already this season. Oregon’s front seven is gonna have their hands full, no doubt about it. The money line has Oregon at -530, with UCLA at +390, and the total points spread is set at 58.5. That’s a lot of points.
This former Pac-12 rivalry game kicks off on October 10th at 12:30 p.m. in Eugene, broadcast on CBS. Can Oregon cover that massive 12.5-point spread, especially if Raiola is under center against an undefeated team with a rushing attack like Knight’s? This one’s got all the makings of a classic, and you won’t want to miss it!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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