Bulldogs vs Ducks NCAA Football Spread/Handicapping
Fresno State rookie head coach Tim DeRuyter gets the first serious test of his head coaching career in Week 2, in this afternoon game on the Left Coast.
Fresno State Bulldogs at #5 Oregon Ducks
Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012, 6:30 pm EST
Venue: Autzen Stadium, Eugene OR
Gambling Odds from Bovada.lv
Spread: Fresno St +35, Oregon -35
MoneyLine: Fresno St. +8500, Oregon -23000
Over/Under: 77
He must hope that his QB adapts to his new spread offense quickly; QB Derek Carr (younger brother of current Giants’ back-up David) is one of the Mountain West’s best at the position, but he won’t face a tougher foe than the Oregon Ducks.
The Bulldogs did a good job of handling Weber State 37-10 in their season-opener, but the Ducks pose an entirely different challenge. Everyone knows that Oregon has the offensive speed to torch anybody, but the for the Ducks’ part, they must get their defensive ducks in a row (sorry, I couldn’t resist) after beating – but still getting torched by – Arkansas State, 57-34 in Week 1.
That the Oregon “D” got so exposed in the opener may actually be a bad thing for Fresno State, as the emphasis this week will surely be on the Top-10 ranked team getting its act together.
For Oregon, ranking 9th in the country in points scored is great, but placing 94th in points allowed will not win you a Pac-12 title.
Senior Arkansas State QB Ryan Aplin chucked for over 300 yards versus the Ducks, so that must inspire Carr and Co., that the opportunity is their for an offensive yield. Carr looked strong in the opener and having senior RB Robbie Rouse in the backfield with him must surely be a calming influence amidst getting acclimatized to DeRuyter’s new scheme. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
The onus will be on Oregon’s defense, for sure, but for a Ducks fans, solace can be taken in the fact that if Oregon needs to purely out-score you to win, it can do that.
Look for the dynamic duo of RBs Kenjon Barner and De’Anthony Thomas to rip it up against the Bulldogs. Outside of LB Travis Brown, Fresno State do not have the horses to keep up to Oregon’s blistering speed.
There was perhaps some worry in breaking in redshirt freshman QB Marcus Mariota, but he capably guided the spread offense versus Arkansas State, completing 18-for-22 and letting Barner gobble up 66 yards on just nine carries.
Fresno State is a much improved team this year after finishing 4-9 in 2011, but ultimately, Oregon should score early and often in a game that the Bulldogs will be lucky to keep close – especially after Oregon’s 34-point wake-up call last week.
Fresno State vs. #5 Oregon Score Prediction: Oregon 62, Fresno State 21
