After an appetizer of College Football last Saturday with Miami and Florida; the main course is served this labor day weekend. Starting Thursday evening going all the way through Monday night College football will dominate the weekend. Only one game features two ranked opponents, but several matchups could turn into great games (UVA at Pitt, Ole MS at Memphis) or games that could end up being interesting (How will Georgia Tech look with tight ends and passing offense? How will all the transfer quarterbacks look on new teams? Will Tua throw for over five hundred yards against Duke?). This week we will look at three factors that will play a pivotal role in the Game of the week.
Game of the Week: #11 Oregon Ducks vs #16 Auburn Tigers at AT&T Stadium.
Quarterback:
The only matchup of ranked teams this weekend will feature a Heisman contender, a certain first-round pick (barring injury….knock on wood), a three-year starter with thirty starts in Justin Herbert of Oregon and a true freshman making his very first collegiate start in Bo Nix. Last season Herbert threw for over 3100 yards and 29 touchdowns in his first year in Head Coach Mario Cristobal offensive system.n Keep in mind that Herbert has had three head coaches during his tenure at Oregon and another year in the same system should only boost his numbers.
Advantage: Oregon
Line of Scrimmage:
This is where the game will be decided. The strength of both teams start at the line of scrimmage where the Duck’s boast the most experienced offensive line in the country with 153 career starts with has many has six players that could be drafted in the NFL draft. On the other side is a Tiger defense that boasts three potential first-round picks including potential top-five pick Derrick Brown. Given Cristobal’s history has the Alabama offensive line coach before coming to Euguene he should have the Ducks prepared on how to handle an SEC defensive line. How Oregon handles the physicality of the Tiger defensive line will be something to watch throughout the game.
Advantage: Slight edge to Auburn
Coaching:
Auburn Head Coach Gus Malzahn annually finds himself on the list of coaches on the hot seat. This year is no different as the Tigers finished 8-5 with a 3-5 conference record last season. The 2019 schedule is not doing Malzahn any justice with games against Oregon, Florida, LSU, Georgia, and Alabama. That has the potential to be five losses not including games against Texas A&M, Mississippi State and Arkansas. Tulane, Kent State, and Samford are the only gimme wins on the schedule. Even with that insane schedule, the Tigers could go 5-7 and be is respectable. Mario Cristobal on the other hand basically plays a one conference game schedule with a road game against Washington. Beat Washington and the Ducks have a very easy road for the North Division.
Advantage: Malzahn by a thread. Competing in the SEC West is the hardest thing to do in College Football and Malzahn has proved he can do it. Oregon will probably have the better record at the end of the season, but the Tigers have the better team.
Final Score: Auburn 20 Oregon 17
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