No one has really been able to challenge Oregon all season long. On Saturday night, the Ducks look to keep their dominance over the Pac-12 going when the Washington State Cougars come to town. Oregon will be a heavy favorite, and given how poorly the Cougs have played over the past month or so, things could get ugly.
How to watch Washington State vs. Oregon 2013: Preview, TV schedule, odds and more
The Ducks look to continue rolling against Mike Leach and the Washington State Cougars.
Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
The numbers
Rankings and records: The Ducks are still ranked No. 2 in the nation in both major polls and won’t lose that spot if they continue winning. They’ve been as impressive as any team in the country.
After a promising start to the season, two losses in three weeks has Washington State nowhere near the Top 25. A road win would certainly move the Cougars into the rankings, however improbable that may be.
Vegas: Oregon opened as a 39-point favorite. The over/under for points scored is 73.
Weather: It should be a nice night for football with temperatures in the 60s at kickoff.
Three names to know
Marcus Mariota - Arguably the frontrunner for the Heisman right now, Mariota almost looks bored on the field. He's got 25 total touchdowns, 1,724 passing yards and 426 rushing yards. Oh, and he hasn't thrown an interception yet and would have even bigger numbers if he wasn't pulled early in Oregon's first few games.
Connor Halliday - Halliday has a big arm and isn't afraid to show it off, throwing for 2,241 yards and 14 touchdowns already. He's also been turnover-prone, throwing 13 interceptions. He won't be able to make mistakes against Oregon if the Cougs hope to win.
Byron Marshall - The forgotten man in this offense, Marshall leads Oregon with 554 yards and six rushing touchdowns on 90 carries. If he gets a step on the defense, he's gone.
Two things at stake
If Oregon wins out, it’s headed to the BCS National Championship game. It’s as simple as that. A loss this week would be an absolute heartbreaker for the Ducks, especially at home.
A win for Washington State would be one of the biggest in school history. Mike Leach has the program headed in the right direction, and there’s a lot to like about the way Wazzu is moving the ball on offense right now. A win would also erase any hard feelings left after the Cougs lost at home to Oregon State last week.
How to witness
TV: 10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1
Radio: Those in the Pacific Northwest can catch the game on the Oregon Sports Network. Washington State fans can tune in on the Cougar Sports Radio Network.
Further reading
For more on this game, be sure to check out Addicted To Quack, CougCenter and Pacific Takes.
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