Oregon football can boost playoff resume vs. Cal in Week 6

Oregon football hosts the Cal Golden Bears in a pivotal early-season Pac-12 North battle. Here’s a preview, prediction and how to watch.

At the end of the day, all you can hope for is to be in the conversation. For the Oregon Ducks, a missed opportunity against Auburn leaves them simply wanting to be in the conversation for the College Football Playoff.

For the Golden Bears, an upset loss against the Arizona State Sun Devils and the loss of Chase Garbers to a shoulder injury just might have just been taken out of the conversation; specifically the Pac-12 title conversation.

After the Ducks’ season opening loss to the Auburn Tigers, they’ve won three straight including winning their conference opener against the Stanford Cardinal. That three game win streak also included putting 77 on Nevada. The California Bears are trying to recover from their first loss of the season, and dropping out of the top 25 after their highest ranking in over a decade. The pass game was nonexistent after Garbers went out with injury.

So both teams come into this game looking for and needing a win. Oregon is looking to get to the Pac-12 Championship Game by staying undefeated in conference, and the Golden Bears are looking to stay in the hunt and in the conversation.

Here’s more info on the game:

Date: Saturday, October, 5
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Eugene, Ore.
Venue: Autzen Stadium
TV: FOX
Live Stream: FOX Sports Go

Keys to Victory

Cal has to find a way to shorten the game. Although California head coach Justin Wilcox has given back up quarterback Devon Modster the dreaded “vote of confidence” the Golden Bears’ already-limited offense is even more so without Garbers. The offensive line has to be a bedrock to allow the Bears to run the ball and keep the Oregon offense off the field.

For the Ducks, it’s simple; keep giving the offense the ball to break the California defense. The Golden Bears have one of the best defenses in the Pac-12, but if California’s offense can’t stay on the field, they’ll eventually get tired. The Ducks need to lean on their experience offensive line and let CJ Verdell and the run game go to work.

Betting Odds

Courtesy of Bovada

Line: Oregon -18
Over/Under: 46

Prediction

California is at a distinct disadvantage without Garbers. Oregon should still be able to win the game with Garbers, but for all intents and purposes the Ducks should win this game going away since the Bears won’t have Garbers in this one.

Final Score: Oregon 31, Cal 6