Pac-12 Predictions: Week 2 picks against the spread

Sep 5, 2015; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks running back Royce Freeman (21) and wide receiver Byron Marshall (9) celebrate a touchdown by Freeman at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports

Oregon Ducks At Michigan State Spartans

East Lansing, Michigan

The Line: Pick’em

Wow, that is an interesting line, right? A pick-em game featuring a perennial national championship contender and a team that was in the championship game last year? Sure, the Ducks did not play well against Eastern Washington in week one, but that was a special case where one team was looking ahead while the other wanted to send a message. The Spartans, however, gave up 365 yards passing against Western Michigan.

Keys To The Game:

The Spartans last year held a 26-17 lead in the third quarter, and were looking good to upset the Ducks. However, the big play game of Oregon came alive, scoring four unanswered touchdowns and running away to a 46-27 win. Considering the way the Michigan State defense played against Western Michigan, they have no hope of stopping this high-powered Oregon offense.

The Ducks, however, have another legit quarterback in Vernon Adams, who was 19-of-25 for 246 yards and two touchdowns against Eastern Washington. He also ran for 94 yards as the Ducks rushed for a whopping 485 yards in that game behind Royce Freeman’s 180 in the opener. The Spartans are good against the run, but they will wear down and even a momentary lapse in focus can end with a Oregon touchdown.

The Prediction:

Look for a similar story as last year, where the Ducks start slow and then come on in the second quarter and run away with the game in the second half. Michigan State’s defense will wear down, and the offense lacks the explosiveness to keep up in a high scoring game. Final score? Oregon 55, Michigan State 24.

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