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The Oregon Ducks are ranked second in the most recent College Football Playoff rankings and have already secured a spot in the Pac-12 Championship game next weekend in Santa Clara. They would be wise not to overlook their in-state rivals, the Oregon State Beavers, in the Civil War game this weekend, however, if they want to continue their quest for their first-ever National Championship.
The Beavers nearly shocked the Ducks last season at Autzen Stadium in Eugene and it took a late touchdown pass from Marcus Mariota to Josh Huff with 29 seconds remaining to avoid an upset and give the Ducks a 36-35 victory. Oregon State has already proven this season that while they might not have the best record, they are capable of pulling a big upset at home, upending the then-No.6 ranked Arizona State Sun Devils 35-27 and dropping them out of the National Championship picture.
Beavers quarterback Sean Mannion has taken a step back this season following his 37 touchdown campaign last year, throwing for only 14 touchdowns and eight interceptions so far in 11 games. Much of that can be attributed to the loss of talented wide receiver Brandin Cooks, who now plays for the New Orleans Saints. Cooks caught 16 touchdown passes last season and was a volatile offensive weapon the Beavers have missed this season.
While Mannion has regressed, Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota has thrived. Mariota, the presumptive leader in the race for this year’s Heisman Trophy, set the Pac-12 record for total touchdowns in a season last weekend against the Colorado Buffaloes with 42. He also became just the fifth player in FBS history to pass for 9,000 yards and rush for 2,000 in a career. He has 95 passing touchdowns against only 12 career interceptions and this will likely be his last regular season game as all accounts have him entering the NFL Draft following this season.
The Beavers have the second-ranked defense in the conference, allowing only 391.8 yards per game, but they are also ninth in allowing 30.2 points. Their defense will not be able to contain Mariota and the emerging Ducks ground game led by Royce Freeman, who crossed the 1,000 yard mark last week and leads the Pac-12 in rushing touchdowns with 16. The Ducks will easily win their seventh Civil War contest in a row by the score of 45-28 with a Heisman-clinching performance by Mariota.
Phillip Jacques is a Pac-12 Football writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google
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