Oregon Ducks vs. Stanford Cardinal Picks and Game Preview - 10/02/2021

by Chuck Sommers

Thursday, Sep 30, 2021
Game time: 3:30 p.m. ET, Oct. 2, 2021
Venue: Stanford Stadium, Stanford, CA
Where to watch: ABC

Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks


DraftKings: Oregon -8; O/U 58; Oregon -310, Stanford +245
BetMGM: Oregon -8; O/U 58; Oregon -303, Stanford +240
Caesars: Oregon -8; O/U 57.5; Oregon -320, Stanford +250

Season record
No. 3 Oregon: 4-0 (1-0 Pac-12)
Stanford: 2-2 (1-1 Pac-12)

Ben Burns had a solid 3-2-1 week in what was an eventful and upset-filled weekend of college football. Ben is back for his Thursday thoughts on Virginia and Miami, but don’t make a move on it until you check in with him. Catch Ben’s and other plays available right now at the Shop Picks page, where you can find all of the Best Bets from our champion sports handicappers.

Oregon - Stanford preview and analysis


Recent form
Oregon: won 41-19 vs. Arizona on Sept. 25
Stanford: lost 35-24 vs. No. 20 UCLA on Sept. 25

The Oregon Ducks will try to keep their fun season rolling on the road against the Stanford Cardinal on Saturday inside Stanford Stadium in Stanford, California.

If you're a fan of the word Stanford, clearly this is for you.

The Ducks survived a near-epic loss at the hands of the Arizona Wildcats this past weekend. Leading 24-19, Oregon scored 17 unanswered in the fourth quarter to extend Arizona's losing streak to 300 games (16th, actually, but who's counting?).

But nevertheless, the Ducks find themselves at No. 3 in the country with no falloff in sight. Oregon's offense has gotten back to its old ways by averaging 38.8 points per game, but now it's coupled with a defense that's allowed less than 20 points per contest.

But keep in mind that the Oregon defense has had to go through this ultimately without defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux, who has not played since the Fresno State game. The projected top-10 pick is expected to make his return to the field this weekend.

Which after how the Arizona game transpired, it might be perfect timing for Thibodeaux to return. The Wildcats put up 435 total yards of offense and nearly doubled on time of possession. But that's been a sign of how good Oregon has been as of late. The defense forced five turnovers, capped off by a pick six from Bennett Williams to push it to a 22-point win.

So albeit not a cover, still a good time for Oregon fans to be a part of this. Anthony Brown went 10 of 21 for 206 yards and three touchdowns while adding 41 yards on the ground.

The Ducks are taking on a Stanford team that's coming off an 11-point loss to the No. 24 UCLA Bruins. Much like Oregon's opponent, Stanford went shot for shot with UCLA before Dorian Thompson-Robinson finished the job with two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter.

Although Stanford is a .500 club, this is going to be a good test for Oregon. Stanford's defense has been a pain through two Pac-12 opponents, primarily against the pass. Oregon is going to need to get the run game going as Stanford allows 209 yards per game on the ground.

Prediction


At the end of the day, Oregon has shown to be a sound team that will contend for a College Football Playoff spot should this defense continue to be dominant. Stanford keeps this one close, but ultimately Oregon will get the job done and make a late push for a cover. Oregon by 13

Betting trends


Oregon is 6-3 against the spread on the road in its last nine.

Oregon is 16-5 ATS in the games that follow after having a +4 turnover margin the week prior.

Stanford is 4-9 ATS as an underdog in the last 13 and 1-4 as a home dog.

Players to watch


Oregon: CJ Verdell had a quiet night against Arizona, carrying 11 times for 45 yards. He did score a touchdown, too. If you’re looking for a Heisman candidate coming out of Oregon, it’s Verdell. He needs more touches, though.

Stanford: Brycen Tremayne caught his fourth touchdown last week against UCLA, but was held to just 32 yards. Look for him to get more targets this weekend.

Statistical leaders


Oregon:
Passing: Anthony Brown -- 764 yards -- 6 TD, 0 INT
Rushing: CJ Verdell -- 343 yards, 5 TD
Receiving: Johnny Johnson III -- 148 yards
Defense: Verone McKinley III -- 4 INT

Stanford:
Passing: Tanner McKee -- 863 yards, 8 TD, 0 INT
Rushing: Nathaniel Peat -- 196 yards, 2 TD
Receiving: Elijah Higgins -- 211 yards, 2 TD
Defense: Stephen Herron -- 3 sacks

Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert football picks today. And if you enjoyed this Oregon - Stanford prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our daily NCAA projections and previews.

Chuck Sommers

About the Author:

Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.

All photographic images used for editorial content have been licensed from the Associated Press.

© 2024 Al McMordie's BigAl.com. All Rights Reserved.