- What: NCAA Football Regular Season Game
- When: October 12, 2024
- Who: Ohio State vs. Oregon
- Time: 4:30 p.m. PST
- Where: Autzen Stadium (Eugene, OR)
No. 2 Ohio State will visit No. 3 Oregon for the first time in nearly 60 years this Saturday. This highly anticipated matchup is expected to be one of the most significant games of the 2024 season.
This will only be the fourth meeting between these two teams this century. The last time they played, in 2021, Oregon secured a notable 35-28 non-conference victory in Columbus, Ohio.
Ohio State
Oregon’s win in 2021 marked their first-ever victory over Ohio State, reducing Ohio State’s lead to 9-1 in the all-time series.
Ohio State is currently leading the FBS in points per game differential this season with a staggering +39.2 while also holding opponents to just 6.8 points per game.
Playing at Autzen Stadium is always challenging, but Ryan Day’s team matches up well against Oregon, especially considering the Ducks offensive struggles in their recent games.
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— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) October 12, 2024
The Buckeyes have a powerful offense featuring a top-tier rushing attack and two exceptional wide receivers, Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka.
Ohio State’s defense presents a formidable challenge, with no clear weaknesses to exploit. This could lead to a frustrating experience for Dillon Gabriel on Saturday night, potentially resulting in sacks or costly errors.
Oregon
Despite a shaky start in its first two games against Idaho and Boise State, Oregon remains undefeated. Nonetheless, it has since dominated Oregon State, UCLA, and Michigan State with a combined score of 114-37, re-establishing itself as a top team in Big Ten play.
Although the Ducks’ offensive line struggled early on, allowing seven sacks in the first two games, they have improved since then. However, they face a tough challenge against Ohio State, which boasts the best defensive front they will encounter all season.
Autzen awaits.#GoDucks pic.twitter.com/HiOQGHIQgA
— Oregon Football (@oregonfootball) October 12, 2024
The Ducks have shifted away from relying heavily on running the ball, primarily due to necessity. While their offensive strategy has always emphasized passing, it has also demonstrated success in the running game.
Although Oregon’s running game has shown improvement, Ohio State has held three of its five opponents to fewer than 100 total yards rushing.
Buckeyes-Ducks Best Bet
This should be a fantastic matchup and the marquee game of the day. The fact that Ohio State has not played in Oregon in 60 years was shocking. It should be difficult for that Ohio State team to handle playing at Autzen Stadium.
The Buckeyes will most likely lean on their run game due to the noise in that stadium. Three points is a key number, and the fact that Oregon is playing at home leads me to pick the Ducks to cover in this one.
The best bet in this one is Oregon +3.5 points at -110 odds.
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Tony Reyes is a sports betting analyst and reporter for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X @TonyParlay.
