Time to turn the page.
That's the story of the week for the Oregon Ducks. Coming off an ugly and brutal loss to a beleaguered Oklahoma State, the Ducks return home focused on righting wrongs and getting back on the track toward a national championship.
The path is crowded with more obstacles, but it starts this week against winless Portland State. The Vikings are outmatched and outgunned against the Ducks, but Oregon is in no position to take an opponent for granted. The Ducks have issues to sort out on both sides of the ball, and while the team isn't looking ahead anymore, the goal is to build confidence and see the team execute before heading to USC next week.
Like a basketball player in a slump, sometimes it's best to get a couple of easy shots
just to see the ball go through the basket, building some confidence. That's exactly what Oregon is aiming to do this week against the Vikings, and the offense should be able to hit on several big shots against Portland State's lowly defense.
Oregon is a 58.5-point favorite, the largest point spread for the Ducks under Dan Lanning, and for good reason. If all of the pieces come together, as many expect they should, the Ducks could put this game to rest quickly. Let's dive into the numbers with each team's projected starters and take a look at the "Tale of the Tape" for the matchup. We will see if we can get a sense of how this game will play out on Friday night.
Dante Moore vs. Gabe Downing
Edge: Oregon
Gabe Downing has turned Portland State into a passing offense, so he won't be worn down if he has to throw the ball 50 times against Oregon. Although Dante Moore had his worst showing with the Ducks last weekend, this is a spot where he can get right and build some momentum moving into conference play. It would be nice to see Moore use his legs to extend plays more, but above all else, he needs to establish a rhythm with his receivers in this game. I'll take Moore having a big bounce-back outing.
Oregon RBs vs. Portland State RBs
Edge: Oregon
Neither Oregon nor Portland State has had an explosive rushing game this season. Jordon Davison didn't finish the game last week, and Dierre Hill Jr. had a critical fumble. Neither of them has surpassed 100 yards in a game yet, and the rushing attack has been silent because of a lack of push from the offensive line and a lack of creativity in the play calling. Fortunately for the Ducks, the Vikings haven't been able to stop the run this season, allowing over 200 yards in each of the last two games, so this is another chance for the Ducks to get back on track. Delon Thompson is the bellcow back for the Vikings, totalling over 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns the last two seasons, but he has been off to a slow start this season.
Oregon Pass Catchers vs. Portland State Pass Catchers
Edge: Oregon
It was a tough week for the Oregon pass catchers, who dropped several passes from Moore in the loss to Oklahoma State. Still, the Ducks are no match for the Vikings here and should be able to produce several explosive plays to boost their numbers moving forward. The Vikings have a couple of threats, including wideout Terence Loville, who leads the team with 221 yards, and tight end Tanner Beaman, who has 157 yards. Both the Ducks and Vikings could be missing key weapons, like Oregon tight end Jamari Johnson, who is questionable to play with an injury, and Portland State wideout Devon Anderson, who had a great debut but didn't play last week.
Oregon Defense vs. Oklahoma State Defense
Edge: Oregon
On the ground and through the air, the Ducks' defense was ripped apart last week. However, Portland State just allowed over 600 yards of offense to North Dakota, so I'll take the Oregon front seven creating some pressure and the secondary forcing turnovers against a pass-heavy offense from the Vikings. The Ducks had their first two interceptions a week ago, including a pick-six, so despite the big plays the unit suffered, Oregon's defense should be able to force similar mistakes and play a more complete game this week.
When Oregon Has the Ball
When Portland State Has the Ball
Who Has the Edge?
Lean: Oregon
Obviously, Oregon has a significant edge over the winless FCS program. I'd like to think the Ducks come into this game with a little extra fire and a desire to leave no doubt, but it does need to be proven on the field that they are capable of that, and so far this season, they have not. Oregon should be able to run or pass at will against a Portland State defense that hasn't stopped anyone this season, but I would really like to see the Ducks get after Downing in the pocket and force turnovers in the secondary.
It's odd to say that in a game between a preseason national championship favorite and an FCS team, it's Oregon that has a lot to prove. But the point is valid. The Ducks were exposed last week, and this is their only chance to patch some holes and restore any confidence before tackling another big test next week at USC.
I'll take Oregon to win big and comfortably, and as I have said in each "Tale of the Tape" so far, I think some of the backups will finally get a shot. Portland State's offense has some weapons capable of making big plays, but the Ducks have the talent and need to shut down any hope the Vikings could have coming into Autzen Stadium.
Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon vs. Portland State position-by-position: Who has the edge?
