In a battle of two schools that prefer to deploy their running games, Head Coach Mario Cristobal and the No. 19 Oregon Ducks (-9.5) are taking the field against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. ESPN is scheduled to have the TV rights and kickoff for this conference showdown is set for 10:30 p.m. ET.
Oregon Ducks vs. Arizona Wildcats Betting Preview
Arizona is a big home underdog in this Pac-12 game and is currently getting 9.5 points. The Ducks are also receiving -370 moneyline odds while the Wildcats are +290. Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) at 62 points. Should the favorite falls down early, it will probably create a reasonable in-game betting opportunity.
The Ducks are 3-4 against the spread (ATS) and have gained 0.6 units so far in 2018. The team has posted an O/U record of 3-4. The lackluster Wildcats have lost 6.8 units this season. The team is 4-4 ATS and has an O/U record of 1-6.
The Ducks are 5-2 straight up (SU), including 2-2 SU against Pac-12 opponents. The Wildcats are 3-5 SU overall and 2-3 SU in conference play.
When these two programs faced each other last year, Oregon won easily 48-28.
The Ducks are on the rebound after a 34-20 defeat to Washington State last week where Justin Herbert completed just 25-of-44 passes for 270 yards and one touchdown. CJ Verdell (55 yards on 12 rush attempts) led the ground attack. Dillon Mitchell (seven receptions, 47 yards) and Brenden Schooler (four catches, 59 yards) handled the receiving duties in the defeat.
Back on October 20, UCLA got the victory against this Arizona team by a score of 31-30. The Wildcats defense allowed the Bruins to pass for 307 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 153 yards. Joshua Kelley was a force to be reckoned with, putting up 136 rushing yards and a score on 31 attempts, along with 43 yards on four catches for UCLA. For Arizona, Rhett Rodriguez completed 15-of-34 passes for 231 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. J.J. Taylor (154 rushing yards on 19 attempts, one TD) and Gary Brightwell (121 yards on 15 carries) handled the running game while Shawn Poindexter (six receptions, 106 yards, two TDs) and Taylor (two catches, 11 yards) led the receiving corps in the loss.
Oregon’s run the ball on 57.6 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Arizona has an overall rush percentage of 54.6 percent. The Ducks have run for 188 yards per game (including 168 per game versus Pac-12 opponents) and have 17 scores on the ground this year. The Wildcats are putting up 197 rushing yards per game (205 in conference) and have 11 total rush TDs.
The Ducks offense has averaged 273 yards through the air overall (261 per game versus conference opposition) and has 18 passing TDs so far. The Wildcats have produced 242 pass yards per outing (200.4 in the Pac-12) and have 14 total pass scores.
Defensively, Oregon has allowed opponents to run for an average of 116 yards and pass for 251 yards per game. The Arizona D has allowed 244.8 yards per game to opposing passers and 195.9 yards per game to opposing runners. The Ducks are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 5.96 to opposing QBs, while the Wildcats have allowed a 6.99 ANY/A.
Passing-wise, Herbert is up to 1,681 yards this year, and has connected on 113-of-180 attempts with 16 passing scores and only five interceptions. Herbert has a 9.01 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is 6.39 over the last two games.
Look for a balanced approach offensively from Oregon in this one. CJ Verdell (475 rushing yards, two rush TDs on the year), Dillon Mitchell (489 receiving yards, two receiving TDs) and Jacob Breeland (194 receiving yards, two TDs) have all played big roles lately.
In the other locker room, Rhett Rodriguez has managed to complete 21-of-41 passes for 280 yards, two TDs and two INTs. Rodriguez’s ANY/A sits at 5.43 for the season and 5.69 across his past two outings.
We’re expecting the Wildcats to control tempo by pounding the defense with their running backs. Along with WR Shawn Poindexter (513 receiving yards, four receiving TDs this season), J.J. Taylor (754 rush yards, four rush TDs) and Gary Brightwell (424 rush yards, two rush TDs) have brought significant production to the Arizona offense.
RELATED: Week 9 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
NCAA Pick: Oregon Ducks at Arizona Wildcats
SU Winner – Oregon, ATS Winner – Oregon, O/U – Over
Click Here to Start Betting Today!
Notes
Team Betting Trends
The Arizona offense has lost four fumbles this season while Oregon has lost five.
The Oregon defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks 17 times this year. Arizona has produced 15 sacks.
Oregon has averaged 4.3 yards per carry over its last three games and 3.2 over its last two.
Arizona has averaged 4.7 yards per carry over its last three outings and 5.2 over its last two.
Over its last three matchups, Arizona is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
The O/U for Oregon’s last game was set at 69.5. The under cashed in the team’s 34-20 defeat to Washington State.
Over its last three contests, Oregon is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
The Over/Under for Arizona’s previous outing was 57. The over cashed in the 31-30 loss to UCLA.
Arizona has lost four of its last five games SU, with a seven-point win over California on October 6th representing the lone victory over that stretch.
+++++
