Oregon vs. Stanford Betting Odds has Ducks as Steady -10.5 Favorite
Carrie Stroup here with your Oregon vs. Stanford betting odds for Thursday Night Football. Remember to claim your FREE $100 here at Sportsbook.com and start betting on this game LIVE – EVERY PLAY right up to the final second.
Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: Oregon -11 & 62
Opening Line & Total: Ducks -10.5 & 62
No. 2 Oregon travels to Palo Alto Thursday night to take on No. 6 Stanford in a game that has huge implications in both the Pac-12 and national title races.
Last season, the Cardinal were able to end the Ducks national title hopes by winning 17-14 in an overtime thriller in Eugene. In that game, Stanford executed the perfect game plan to slowing down the Oregon offense. First, the offense had the ball for an astonishing 37 minutes, never allowing the high-flying Ducks offense to truly ever find any rhythm. The defense also did an outstanding job of limiting the big plays, and also flying from sideline-to-sideline to not allow Oregon to use its great speed. As dominating as Oregon has been in the Pac-12 the past few seasons, it has been even better on the road. The last time the Ducks lost a conference road game was at Stanford, and that was back in 2009. Oregon is 11-0 ATS on the road in Pac-12 play over the past three seasons, while being favored in all but one of those games. RB De’Anthony Thomas is back healthy for Oregon, giving QB Marcus Mariota another offensive weapon to try and score against a very good Cardinal defense. If Stanford is able to play like it did last season in Eugene, then it has a great chance of getting the victory. However, if the Ducks' offense gets rolling, it could be a disappointing night for the Stanford faithful.
Oregon comes into this game ranked second in the country in both rushing yards (331.5 yards per game) and scoring (55.6 points per game). Much of this success can be placed on star QB Marcus Mariota, who is a top Heisman Trophy candidate. He has been incredible this season, throwing for 2,281 yards and 20 touchdowns, while not throwing a single interception. His ability to run the ball (511 yards and 9 TD) makes him nearly impossible to slow down. If you put another defender in the box, then he has wide receivers Josh Huff (38 catches, 703 yards, 6 TD) and Bralon Addison (38 catches, 609 yards, 7 TD) that are able to stretch the defense. The offense is playing incredibly, but it is the defense that has made the Ducks a true contender this season. Heading into the matchup against Stanford, Oregon ranks seventh in the country in scoring defense, allowing only 16.9 points per game. The secondary is one of the very best in the country, and is led by Terrance Mitchell. He ranks first on the team with four interceptions, including a 51-yard return for a touchdown in a 62-38 victory over Washington State on October 19. He has great size at 6-foot-1, and has the speed to keep up with any receiver in the country. The matchup against Stanford standout WR Ty Montgomery will be the key in the game. If Mitchell is able to lock Montgomery down, Stanford QB Kevin Hogan will struggle to move the ball through the air. However, Montgomery is more than capable of having a huge performance, and can take over a game in many different ways.
Last season, Montgomery had only three catches for nine yards in the victory in Eugene, and that probably will not happen in this game. This season, he has 39 catches for 619 yards and five touchdowns, while adding two more scores on kickoff returns. The ability to change the game in both the offense and special teams plays a huge role for Montgomery, but the offense all starts with QB Kevin Hogan. He has been solid this season with 1,493 yards, 13 TD and 5 INT, but this is the type of game where he is going to have to go out and make plays down the field. Hogan is a very athletic quarterback, and has the ability to buy extra time for his receivers with his feet. He will also lean on Tyler Gaffney (886 rush yards, 12 TD) to help the Cardinal control the game the way departed rusher Stepfan Taylor did last season in the game. Gaffney is a big strong running back, and he has the ability to carry the ball 25-to-30 times a game. If he is able to have success early, that will open up Montgomery and the other receivers down the field. On defense, the Cardinal had the perfect scheme last season, and they will look to execute it again this season. Linebacker Shayne Skov is the star of the defense, entering the game with 62 tackles. He is an athletic linebacker with a high IQ, and will be counted upon to put the defense in the best position to slow down the Oregon offense.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
