USC at Oregon

Based on their speed and match-up edges in the trenches, Oregon deserves to be this big of a home favorite against USC. Give a check mark to USC with its outstanding wide receivers. Still, the Ducks are superior on both the offensive and defensive lines, have a more potent running attack, an exceptional quarterback in Dante Moore, and one of the best tight ends in the country with Kenyon Sadiq. Oregon's lone defeat this season was to second-ranked Indiana. USC can be forgiven for losing to Notre Dame. What is harder to fathom is that the Trojans are also losing to Illinois. Oregon averages 39 points a game. USC averages 38 points per contest. The difference is defense: the Ducks yield the sixth-fewest points per game at 13.7, rank first in pass defense, and are third in fewest yards given up per game. The Trojans can't match that. They surrender 21.7 points a game, rank 63rd in run defense, 41st in pass defense, and are 47th in fewest yards allowed a game. Take Oregon.