Oregon Ducks vs. Utah Utes Complete Game Preview

After finally taking care of their “Stanford Problem,” the fourth-ranked Oregon Ducks (8-1, 5-1) have cleared a lane to the inaugural College Football Playoff.

However, the No. 20-ranked Utah Utes (6-2, 3-2) will attempt to play spoiler and are the Ducks’ last true regular-season roadblock.

While the Ducks still have regular-season games against Colorado and Oregon State, the Utes will really challenge the Ducks and have one of the best home-field advantages in the entire Pac-12, if not the country.

Coming off of a huge win over Stanford, Oregon may be looking past a team that definitely has a chance to pull off the upset.

Utah features a stout defense, amazing special teams and one of the best running backs in the country in junior Devontae Booker.

Throw in the elevation of Utah’s home field—Rice-Eccles Stadium sits 4,657 feet above sea level—and you understand why the Ducks should be on high alert.

This isn’t the Utah of a couple years ago that couldn’t compete in the Pac-12. These Utes came to play this season and will be looking to right the ship after an overtime loss at Arizona State last weekend.

Meanwhile, the Ducks know they only have three more regular-season opportunities to make their case for a playoff spot.

A solid win over Utah in Salt Lake City would be of value to their resume. They also know a loss on Nov. 8 would spoil their postseason aspirations. 

Here's what you need to know:

Date: Saturday, Nov. 8

Time: 7 p.m. PT/10 p.m. ET

Place: Rice-Eccles Stadium (Salt Lake City, Utah)

TV: ESPN

Spread: Oregon -9.5, according to Odds Shark

Oregon Keys to Victory

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Rack Up the Points 

Since the return of tackle Jake Fisher, the Oregon offense has been downright unstoppable. Over the past four conference games since Fisher’s return, the Ducks have averaged 47.7 points and 534.3 yards per game.

More importantly, Oregon has averaged 251.8 yards per game on the ground over that same stretch.

In short, when the Ducks turn a football game into a track meet, there’s no one who’s going to stop them.

While Utah is ranked No. 28 in the country in rushing defense and No. 27 in scoring defense, it is no match for the Ducks offense when it is on its game. Just ask Stanford.

If the Ducks are able to score over 30 points against Utah, they should be able to come away with the victory.

Stop Devontae Booker

You’re going to hear a lot about Devontae Booker this week and rightfully so. He’s the best player on the Utes roster and is the only individual who can likely carry Utah to a victory.

On the season, Booker has rushed for 990 yards and eight touchdowns on 183 carries. He’s a workhorse who has gained over 100 yards in each of his last five games. Over that stretch, Booker has averaged 162.2 yards per game on the ground and has scored six touchdowns.

However, Utah has also used him a lot. In the last five games, Booker has rushed the ball an average of 30.4 times a game.

Can the Utes afford to continue leaning on Booker as heavily as they have over the past month or so?

The Oregon defense is going to need to force the Utes to beat it with the pass, which means it is going to need to sell out against the run and stack the box.

The Ducks rank No. 68 in the country against the run in terms of yards per game and yards per carry, which is to say they’re absolutely mediocre.

However, Oregon proved it could stop the run last weekend against Stanford. The Cardinal rushed for 132 yards on the night, and the Ducks held them to a paltry 3.4 yards per carry.

If the Ducks can duplicate that performance and hold the Utes to under four yards per carry, they’ll beat Utah.

Utah Keys to Victory

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Win the Point of Attack

In order to beat the Ducks, the Utes are going to need to stop Oregon’s vicious running attack and exploit the Ducks with their own running game.

What that means is that the Utes are not just going to need to beat the Ducks in the trenches, they’re going to have to demolish them.

While Oregon’s offensive line is improved with Fisher in the lineup, it is still susceptible to subpar play. If Utah can force true freshman tailback Royce Freeman to run around the edges and sack quarterback Marcus Mariota, it will have a chance to force a couple of three-and-outs.

Meanwhile, Oregon’s defensive line has been pretty average all season long and may be without defensive tackle Arik Armstead for the third time in five games.

Armstead left the Stanford game with an injury. If Utah can exploit Oregon’s defense and let Booker loose, it may be able to steal this one.

Special Teams

Let’s emphasize the word “special,” because that’s exactly what Utah’s third unit has been so far this season, with the exception of last week’s game against Arizona State.

While stud kicker Andy Phillips missed two field goals in overtime against Arizona State—one was negated by a timeout by Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham—the Utes still have one of the most dynamic special teams units in the entire country.

The Utes are No. 2 in kickoff returns, No. 3 in punt returns and No. 3 in punting. Don’t forget about Phillips, either. He may have missed two key field goals, but he’s still one of the best kickers in the country.

Utah is going to need to get some big plays from its special teams in order to spoil the Ducks’ season.

Oregon Players to Watch

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Royce Freeman and Thomas Tyner

The Ducks running game finally broke through against a Stanford defense that had shut it down in 2012 and 2013. Oregon has true freshman Royce Freeman and sophomore Thomas Tyner to thank for that.

Freeman has been nothing short of brilliant over the past month. Over his last four games, the freshman has gained 125 yards per game and scored eight touchdowns. Freeman’s ability to run through tackles and impose his will on defenders has made Oregon’s offense that much more impossible to stop.

Meanwhile, Tyner finally broke out against the Cardinal with 61 yards and two touchdowns. When the Ducks have one running back going well, they’re usually set. But with two running backs playing well? They’re unstoppable.

DeForest Buckner

With Arik Armstead possibly missing in action for the third time in five games, the Oregon defense will once again depend on DeForest Buckner to pick up the slack and be the Ducks’ best defensive lineman.

On the season, Buckner has 51 tackles and three sacks. He’s going to be an important part of Oregon’s game plan, as it will key in on Devontae Booker and do everything in its power to stop the run.

Utah Players to Watch

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Travis Wilson

We’ve talked about running back Devontae Booker a lot. It’s time we talk about Utah’s quarterback: Travis Wilson.

Wilson isn’t asked to do a lot in this offense, mostly because Booker is Utah’s best weapon. However, Wilson is the only quarterback in the country to attempt over 150 passes this season without throwing an interception.

On the season, Wilson is 93-of-165 for 1,084 yards and nine touchdowns. While his QBR isn’t great—51.6—he’s been the definition of a game manager. Wilson’s job isn’t to win the game for Utah, it’s to not lose the game.

That’ll be important as he’s facing a Ducks defense that will allow a ton of yards, but is also very opportunistic. The Ducks are ranked No. 5 in turnover margin this season and have taken the ball away 18 times in nine games.

Andy Phillips

Despite the fact that Andy Phillips missed a field goal in overtime against Arizona State, he is still one of Utah’s best offensive weapons.

Phillips has made 17 of his 20 field-goal attempts this season. His 17 field goals ranks No. 4 in the country.

While it’s tough to beat Oregon by kicking field goals instead of scoring touchdowns, it is helpful to have a reliable kicker in late-game situations—just ask the Ducks.

What They're Saying

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Andrew Greif of The Oregonian believes that the Utes present a real threat to the Ducks this weekend in Salt Lake City: 

"

Threat level (1-5 scale): 5. Though reeling from injuries and a loss, the Utes will catch the Ducks at home, at altitude, one week after a cathartic win against Stanford. It has all the ingredients to be a trap game for Oregon.

Prediction: Oregon 42, Utah 24

"

Andy Staples of Sports Illustrated says the Ducks need to be perfect from here on out:

"

If Oregon can keep playing the way it played Saturday, it can win its way into the College Football Playoff. The Ducks were just on the outside at No. 5 when the selection committee released its first rankings this past week, but they’ll probably be in the top four this week. They also know that they can get knocked out of the playoff race, possibly for good, if they let up even a little next week at Utah. The win over Stanford puts Oregon in firm control of the Pac-12 North, but the Ducks probably need to be perfect from this point forward -- not just win the Pac-12 -- to make the playoff.

"

The New York Post's Zach Braziller says Marcus Mariota deserves to win the Heisman Trophy, not only for his play, but also his character:

"

In addition to that 'nice' label, there is the notion Mariota is just the latest system quarterback in Oregon’s prolific spread attack, following Joey Harrington, A.J. Feeley and Akili Smith, all of whom either NFL busts or disappointments.

But that would be dismissing his body of work, his brilliant three seasons — his 89 touchdowns passes against 12 interceptions, his career 66.7 completion percentage — his powerful arm and sprinter’s speed, his toughness in trying times and his ability to avoid mistakes.

There is this four-game stretch, after the loss to Arizona threatened to ruin Mariota’s plans. There is the early-season 46-27 rout of Michigan State, when Mariota threw for three touchdowns and 318 yards, leading the Ducks back from a nine-point deficit.

The too-nice label doesn’t fit. Heisman Trophy winner seems more apropos.

"

According to David Purdum of ESPN.com, the Westgate SuperBook has the Oregon Ducks as the national championship favorites: 

"

The Oregon Ducks are now the favorites to win the national championship at one Las Vegas sports book. The Ducks are the sixth team to play the role of favorite in a wide-open first season of the College Football Playoff era.

After blowing out Stanford 45-16 on Saturday, Oregon moved to 9-2 to win the national title at the Westgate SuperBook. The Ducks are followed by Alabama at 5-1. Florida State (7-1), Michigan State (7-1), Mississippi State (7-1) and TCU (8-1) also have single-digit odds at the SuperBook.

"

Prediction

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The Ducks have been rolling offensively ever since they got left tackle Jake Fisher back from injury. While the Oregon O-line may be thinner due to the MCL injury sustained by right tackle Matt Pierson, the offense should still be able to put up enough points to beat Utah. 

The bigger question mark comes on the defensive side of the ball. The Ducks defense played decently against Stanford; however, the Cardinal weren’t exactly an offensive juggernaut.

While Utah’s offense isn’t exactly a powerhouse either, the Utes will present a stiffer test to the Ducks defense.

The difference-maker here is the combination of Marcus Mariota and Royce Freeman. The Utes have never seen a duo as dynamic as Mariota and Freeman, and I don’t think they’ll be able to contain them with a moderately healthy O-line protecting and guiding them.

If the Ducks are focused on Utah, and only Utah, they’ll be able to make enough plays to stiff-arm the upset.

Oregon 34, Utah 21

Statistics courtesy of CFBStats.com unless otherwise stated. All quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise stated.

Jason Gold is Bleacher Report’s lead Oregon writer. Follow Jason on Twitter @TheSportsGuy33.