No. 8 Oregon The unofficial tour of the old Big Ten West stadium continues Friday when the Ducks take on Minnesota for the third straight game against an Upper Midwest foe. The Gophers (6-3, 4-2 Big Ten) emerge refreshed from the bye to take on the Ducks (8-1, 5-1), who needed late heroics to survive and claim an 18-16 tournament win. Iowa last week.
Before the dramatic win over the Hawkeyes, Oregon was ahead Wisconsin 21-7 in another game of low scoring and grit. The Ducks are known for their explosiveness and big numbers under fourth-year coach Dan Lanning, but this stretch of their schedule showed their resilience.
Getting past Minnesota in a short week will be another physically taxing test for Oregon. However, the Gophers suffered all three of their losses on the road and haven't beaten a top-10 opponent on the road since 2000. Oregon's task will be another grueling showdown game against No. 17. USC next looms before competitive play on Washington close the regular season.
This will be the teams' first meeting in the Big Ten and the first time they will play in Oregon. The Gophers lead the all-time series 3-1, but the last game was in 2003.
Oregon vs Minnesota: Need to know
Minnesota pass rush: Minnesota leads the Big Ten in sacks per game with 3.56 and has already tallied 32 sacks on the season. The Gophers accumulated nine of them in a win over Wisconsin last month. Last time out, Minnesota had seven sacks in an overtime win. Michigan. Oregon has allowed just 11 sacks all season, setting the stage for a pass protection battle when Oregon has the football.
Trauma Error: Oregon is dealing with a series of injuries to its top pass catchers. Freshman star receiver Dacorien Moore and tight end Kenyon Sadiq both missed the Iowa game due to injury. Another key receiver Gary Bryant Jr.fell during the Ducks' win over the Hawkeyes. Head coach Dan Lanning didn't give any information this week about which, if any, of those three will play against Minnesota.
Based on running: Considering health problems among the best playmakers and the type of opponent he faced in the last two games (and in bad weather), defender Dante Moore made only 36 attempts in the last two competitions. This stretch has brought attention to how much the Ducks are relying on their running game compared to last season. The group is led by a sixth-year student. Noah Whittingtonwho has topped 100 yards in two of Oregon's last three games.
Where to watch the Oregon-Minnesota match live
Date: Friday, November 14 | Time: 20:00 ET
Location: Autzen Stadium – Eugene, Oregon.
TV: Fox | Live broadcast: Fubo (Try for free)
Predictions for the match “Oregon” – “Minnesota”, elections
Minnesota is 6-0 at home this season but is 0-3 on the road and has lost twice. While Oregon's passing game is not in great shape due to injuries to key playmakers, the Ducks are running the football at a high level. This game is also discounted because Minnesota is on the road and the Ducks are playing on short rest. Don't fall into the trap. The Gophers don't have the firepower to keep up, and Oregon's offensive line will keep the chains moving all night. Pick: Oregon -23.5
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