Oregon Stanford Spread Steady at -3.5
The Oregon Stanford spread has remained steady all week long at -3.5 in favor of the Cardinal. You can bet this game here at Sportsbook.com. Be sure to claim your FREE CASH when joining (restrictions do apply)
Sportsbook.com Line & Total: Stanford -3.5 & 68
Opening Line & Total: Cardinal -3.5 & 66
Two of the nation’s best offenses collide in the Pac-12’s biggest game of the year when No. 4 Stanford hosts No. 7 Oregon.
Stanford has 17 straight wins overall, and has also won 11 in a row at home. But Oregon has an eight-game win streak and also has 10 consecutive road victories since losing at Stanford in 2009 (52-41). These offenses are very similar, ranking among the nation’s top-8 teams in both scoring and yardage, but Stanford’s defense is far superior (16.6 PPG, 324 YPG) to Oregon’s (20.8 PPG, 384 YPG). The QB position is also a mismatch as Cardinal star Andrew Luck (26 TD, 5 INT) has thrown for 2+ TD in 12 straight games, while Oregon’s Darron Thomas is a mediocre 21-of-38 for 322 yards, 2 TD and 2 INT in the past two weeks. Stanford also has better special teams and will obviously benefit from the home crowd in a game that could be the biggest regular-season contest in school history.
In two career games against Stanford, current FBS leading rusher LaMichael James (152 rushing YPG) has 382 rushing yards on 7.8 YPC and 4 TD. In his two true road games this season (at Arizona and at Washington), James has a ridiculous 444 rushing yards (9.3 YPC) and three touchdowns. Backup RB Kenjon Barner is also having a huge year, scoring touchdowns in each of his past six games and gaining 594 yards on 7.0 YPC during this stretch. Thomas (19 TD, 5 INT) had a career-high 117 rushing yards and four total TD in last year’s win over Stanford, but he could be needed more in the passing game on Saturday, considering his opponent ranks 88th in pass defense (245 YPG) and third in the nation in rushing defense (79 YPG). Do-it-all freshman De’Anthony Thomas leads the team with 382 receiving yards, but he has only four receptions in the past three weeks.
Defensively, Oregon is allowing 384 YPG (62nd in nation), but it ranks sixth in the country in sacks (3.2 per game) and 15th in Tackles For Loss (7.6 per game). The Ducks’ past three opponents have gained only 2.7 yards per carry (305 yards on 114 attempts).<P>
Luck tallied 380 yards and scored 3 TD (2 pass, 1 rush) in last year’s meeting, but also threw two interceptions, the last time he has thrown multiple picks in a game. Luck will be a little short-handed as two of his top four receivers will not play. WR Chris Owusu (376 rec. yds) suffered a concussion last week and TE Zach Ertz (308 rec. yds) is out indefinitely with a knee injury. Junior RB Stepfan Taylor is having an outstanding season with 891 rushing yards, including 95+ yards in six of his past seven games. He tallied 113 rushing yards and a touchdown, while catching eight passes for 68 receiving yards in last year’s meeting with Oregon. Taylor’s running prowess and a top-notch offensive line have done a great job keeping opponents away from Luck, as Stanford’s four total sacks allowed is tied for the fewest in the nation.<P>
Stanford’s defensive line has been nearly as effective as the O-Line, tallying 3.1 sacks per game (ninth in FBS) and 7.2 Tackles For Loss per game (22nd in nation). The Cardinal are also 13th in the country in turnover margin (+0.8 TO per game), including a +4 TO ratio in the past three games.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
