In a game that showcases a pair of programs that are nationally ranked in the Top 25, the No. 19 Oregon Ducks (-3) are paying a visit to their conference counterpart No. 24 California Golden Bears at California Memorial Stadium. The game is scheduled to kick off at 10:30 p.m. ET and FS1 has the TV rights.
Oregon Ducks at California Golden Bears Betting Preview
In this Saturday Pac-12 game, Oregon is tabbed as the favorite and is currently giving up 3 points. The Ducks are also receiving -155 moneyline odds while the Golden Bears are +135. It appears that there should be some good in-game betting opportunities in this match.
The opening line was originally set at 4 but has recently moved.
The Ducks are down 1.0 unit so far and 1-3 against the spread (ATS). The team has posted an O/U record of 2-2. The surprising Golden Bears are up 2.1 units this season. They’re 1-1-1 ATS and have an O/U record of 0-2.
The Ducks are 3-1 straight up (SU), including 0-1 SU against conference opponents. The Golden Bears are 3-0 SU overall and 0-0 SU in conference play.
The Ducks dropped one to Stanford 38-31 in a contest where their secondary allowed the Cardinal to air it out for 327 yards and three touchdowns. Bryce Love had a productive day for the opposition in that one with 89 rushing yards and a score on 19 attempts. Offensively, Justin Herbert completed 26 passes on 33 attempts for 346 yards, along with a score and a pick. CJ Verdell (115 yards on 20 rush attempts, one TD) and the signal-caller Herbert (35 yards on 11 carries) led the running attack in the loss. Dillon Mitchell (14 receptions, 239 yards) and Jacob Breeland (three catches, 34 yards, one TD) handled the receiving duties.
California just picked up a 45-23 win over Idaho State. The team’s defense allowed the Bengals to run for 140 yards on 45 rush attempts, including two rush TDs. Mitch Gueller was outstandingfor the Bengals, recording 156 yards and a score on six catches. As a group, the Golden Bears collectively completed 24-of-32 passes for 269 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. Chase Garbers went 20-for-25 for 224 yards, three touchdowns and one interception while Brandon McIlwain was four-of-seven for 45 yards and one touchdown. Patrick Laird (22 rushing yards on 11 attempts) and Marcel Dancy (80 yards on 11 carries, one TD) mounted the ground game in the win as Vic Wharton III (four receptions, 34 yards) and Jordan Duncan (four catches, 63 yards, two TDs) led the pass-catching corps.
Oregon’s run the ball on 60.1 percent of its offensive possessions this year while California has an overall rush percentage of 56.3 percent. The Ducks have rushed for 205 yards/game and have 12 scores via handoffs this year. The Golden Bears are totaling 180 rush yards per game and have three total rushing TDs.
Based on the early season results, the Ducks could own an edge when it comes to effectiveness in the ground game. Their backfield has generated 4.4 yards per carry while their defense is allowing 2.1 YPC to opponents. The Golden Bears have ran for 4.2 yards per carry and allowed a YPC of 3.4 to opponents.
The Ducks offense has averaged 303 yards through the air overall and has 13 passing scores so far. The Golden Bears have produced 202 pass yards per game and have seven total pass TDs.
Defensively, Oregon has allowed opponents to run for an average of 76 yards and pass for 251 yards per game. The California defense has allowed 170.7 yards per game to opposing passers and 131.7 yards per game on the ground. The Golden Bears are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 2.13 to opponents, while the Ducks have given up a 6.87 ANY/A.
Offensively, Herbert has amassed 877 passing yards on the year. He’s completed 70 percent of his 80 attempts with 10 scores through the air and only three interceptions. He has a pristine 10.47 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 7.86 over the past two games.
Look for a balanced approach offensively from Oregon in this one. Dillon Mitchell (320 receiving yards, one receiving touchdown this season), CJ Verdell (272 rush yards, two rush TDs, 9 receiving yards) and Jacob Breeland (39 receiving yards, one TD) have all played key roles lately.
For the home team, Chase Garbers has managed to complete 27-of-38 passes for 278 yards, four TDs and one INT. Garbers’ ANY/A stands at 7.07 for the year and 7.41 over his last two games.
Similar to the Ducks, expect a balanced attack offensively from California this Saturday. Patrick Laird, Kanawai Noa and Brandon McIlwain have collectively accounted for 331 total yards and three touchdowns as a trio over the last two games.
When these two teams met a year ago, Oregon won by three touchdowns 45-24.
Free Pick: Oregon Ducks vs. California Golden Bears
SU Winner – Oregon, ATS Winner – Oregon
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Notes
Betting Notes
The Oregon D has more than twice as many sacks as California this year (13 to six).
Both teams have lost three fumbles this year.
The Ducks offense has recorded six pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Golden Bears have put up one such play.
The Oregon defense has allowed seven pass plays of 40 or more yards, while California has given up three such plays.
The Oregon offense has created six rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while California has created zero such run.
The Ducks defense has allowed three rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Golden Bears have given up one such run.
California was favored by -38 points in its previous match. The team did not cover that spread in the 45-23 triumph over Idaho State.
Over its last three games, Oregon is 0-3 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
Oregon was getting 3 points in its last game and the O/U was set at 59. The over cashed and Oregon failed to cover in the 38-31 defeat to Stanford.
As a team, Oregon has averaged 3.2 yards per carry over its last two contests.
California has averaged 4.8 yards per carry over its last two.
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