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Perhaps I’m missing something, but getting the Oregon Ducks at anything under a touchdown feels like an absolute steal here.
These teams had dramatically different results in Week 1 as Oregon thrashed Portland State 81-7, while Texas Tech blew an early lead and lost 35-33 to Wyoming.
Of course, we have to acknowledge the difference in competition, but there were still a few takeaways.
Oregon, under new offensive coordinator Will Stein, showed that its offense will still be explosive and feature plenty of playmakers.
The Ducks offense should be a handful for a Texas Tech defense that gave up 35 points to Wyoming and is looking to replace defensive end Tyree Wilson, whom the Raiders selected seventh overall in this year’s NFL Draft.
Texas Tech did force a pair of turnovers and limit Wyoming to 320 yards, but Oregon will certainly be a step up in class.
Texas Tech’s defense could get a boost from the crowd as this will be the Red Raiders’ home opener.
Raucous atmospheres and rowdy crowds help the defense a bit as they put pressure on the offense and make it hard to communicate, but that may not impact the Ducks as much as other teams.
Yes, Oregon has some new starters on the offensive line, but Bo Nix should be able to help Oregon keep its composure.
Nix is a fifth-year starter and no stranger to hostile crowds having played in both the SEC and Pac-12.
The Ducks will need a leader early, but they have the perfect man for the task.
Oregon can also utilize its rushing attack, which averaged a ridiculous 10.2 yards per carry and ran for 348 yards last week, to quiet the crowd and take Tech’s offense out of the game.
I don’t expect the Ducks to match that production, but Wyoming averaged 3.9 yards per rush against Texas Tech, which bodes well for Oregon’s Bucky Irving, who tallied over 1,000 last year and ran for 119 yards and two touchdowns last week.
On the other side of the ball, Texas Tech wants to air it out. Tyler Shough, who transferred from Oregon to Texas Tech in 2021, is more than capable of getting hot and racking up yards.
In fact, he threw for 338 yards and three touchdowns last week.
However, he’s also turnover-prone and has thrown 32 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in his career.
Christian Gonzalez, Oregon’s top corner from a season ago, is off to the NFL, but the Ducks brought in Khyree Jackson, a transfer from Alabama, to retool the secondary.
Oregon’s pass defense wasn’t tested in the opener, so this will be our first opportunity to see how it looks.
The Ducks struggled to get off the field last season and were horrific on third downs, but made some big additions via the transfer portal – adding Jackson and four-star edge rusher Jordan Burch. They also brought in Chris Hampton from Tulane as co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach.
Betting on College Football?
Texas Tech will obviously be a step up in competition, and road games are never easy, but Oregon has numerous advantages in this spot and should move to 2-0 on the season.
I love this game at Oregon -6.5 and would play it to -7.
Texas Tech vs. Oregon prediction
Oregon -6.5 (Caesars, -110)
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