We have our first top-10 matchup of the college football season Saturday when Michigan State travels to Eugene to take on the Oregon Ducks.
How to watch Michigan State vs. Oregon: Preview, TV schedule, odds, more
Can Michigan State hold off Oregon’s attack?
Both teams made easy work of their opening week FCS opponent. Michigan State dominated Jacksonville State 45-7 on the heels of a practically perfect performance from Connor Cook, while Oregon did as expected and put the points on South Dakota, winning 62-13.
This game sees a particularly interesting clash of styles, with the shutdown, defensive-first approach of Michigan State squaring off with Oregon’s frenetic offense. The Ducks have occasionally struggled with such matchups in the past, losing three of their past five with similarly tooled Stanford.
How to witness
TV: 6:30 p.m. ET, FOX
Online streaming: Fox Sports Go
More from our team sites
The numbers
Rankings and records: Oregon is ranked No. 4 in the Coaches Poll, while Michigan State is ranked No. 6. Oregon is No. 3 in the AP Poll, while Michigan State is No. 7. Both teams are 1-0 on the season. The all-time series between the two teams is split 2-2, with Michigan State and head coach Nick Saban winning the last encounter in 1999.
Vegas: Oregon is a 12-point favorite, with an over/under of 56 points. The line started with Oregon at -11, moving slightly toward the Ducks since it opened.
Weather forecast: 88 degrees and clear.
Three names to know
Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State. Cook had a strong finish to the 2013 season and was nearly perfect in Week 1 against Jacksonville State. He completed 12 of 13 passes for 285 yards and three touchdowns, but will face a significantly tougher task against the Ducks.
Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, DB, Oregon. An NFL prospect, Ekpre-Olomu elected to return to school for his senior year, along with center Hroniss Grasu. He didn't get much action against South Dakota, recording just one tackle, but he had three interceptions and six pass deflections last year.
Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon. One of the nation's leading Heisman candidates, Mariota totaled 40 touchdowns last season. He got off to a solid start against South Dakota, with four scores and 13.4 yards per passing attempt. Mariota has not always been at his best against Stanford, and the Spartans' defense should pose a similar challenge.
Two things at stake
The winner of this game will cement themselves as one of the favorites for the playoff -- for a week, at least -- as well as provide playing-style bragging rights.
This is also one of the best opportunities for either team to showcase its talents on a national stage. The Spartans’ biggest games will come against Ohio State and Michigan, while Oregon plays Arizona, UCLA and Stanford.
Further reading
For full Michigan State coverage, check out The Only Colors. For more on Oregon, had to Addicted to Quack.
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