Oregon vs. Michigan State: Ticket Info, Date, TV Schedule and Live Stream
It's Week 2 rematch time when the No. 7 Oregon Ducks travel across the country to clash with the No. 5 Michigan State Spartans in East Lansing on Saturday.
Both programs haven't forgotten last year's epic Week 2 showdown in which the Ducks rattled off 28 unanswered points over the final 20 minutes to seize a 46-27 victory. The classic pushed Marcus Mariota further into the Heisman Trophy conversation and was a major talking point on Oregon's resume for the inaugural College Football Playoff.
Mariota is gone, and both programs appear in transition, though. Oregon just got by Eastern Washington last week, 61-42, while Michigan State put on an odd show in a 37-24 win against Western Michigan.
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Provided the issues on both sides get ironed out, this one might also wind up a classic. Here are the details to know.
Plugging the Holes
This year is all about moving into a new era for the Ducks—hence why oddsmakers have penned them the underdog for the first time since 2011, per Odds Shark.
Vernon Adams Jr. is the man Oregon's pegged to replace Mariota, and last week he posted 246 yards and two scores before taking a hit to the head—a hit that got the defender ejected—and leaving the game.
Adams will suit up Saturday and look to build on his encouraging performance, but it sure helps that running back Royce Freeman went for 180 yards and three scores.
Of course, Oregon's offense isn't a concern. It's the defense, which allowed the Eagles to go 6-of-14 on third downs, 3-of-4 on fourth downs and tally 549 total yards. Coach Mark Helfrich spoke with Rob Moseley of GoDucks.com about the issues:
"A lot of guys made mistakes," he said. "They weren’t all defensive backs. Everyone on offense made mistakes; everyone on defense made mistakes. The beauty of it was, most of it was guys playing their first time ever in that stadium, and they were correctable."
Replacing an elite collegiate corner such as Ifo Ekpre-Olomu hasn't received enough attention when it comes to the Ducks, but it's the focal point for the team entering a battle with a seasoned quarterback such as Connor Cook.
Stealing the Limelight
It should go without saying, but the Spartans weren't too happy with last year's loss to the Ducks.
In fact, it seems the Spartans don't enjoy their overlooked status. There's some merit to the chip-on-shoulder posture of the program too, given its wild amount of success over the years.
For coach Mark Dantonio, Saturday is a chance for his team to prove to the globe it belongs in the top-program conversation. Per ESPN.com:
"We've lost three games out of the last 30, and we know the teams we've lost to. Our M.O. was to try to reach higher, and to do that, right now, it runs through Oregon. I also think that if you look at last year's football team, if we win that football game, you're talking beyond, and you just keep trying to move your program forward.
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Logic says the Spartans will need to perform better on the offensive side of the ball to keep up with the Ducks. Last week, they turned the ball over once, lost the time-of-possession battle, and Cook looked sluggish with a 15-of-31 line with 256 yards and two scores.
Joe Rexrode of the Detroit Free Press captured Dantonio's thoughts on Cook:
Call it two birds with one stone—Cook can get back into rhythm and fix the team's biggest weakness against a rebuilding secondary under the national spotlight, proving to everyone the Spartans belong.
If it all goes according to plan, of course.
Viewing Info
When: Saturday, Sept. 12, at 8 p.m. ET
Where: Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan
Television: ABC
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Tickets: ScoreBig.com
Betting Lines (via Odds Shark):
- Over/Under: 67
- Spread: Michigan State (-3.5)
Team Injury Reports
| Vernon Adams | QB | Prob Sat |
| Charles Nelson | DB | Ques Sat |
| Devon Allen | WR | Out indefinitely |
| Pharaoh Brown | TE | Out indefinitely |
| Thomas Tyner | RB | Out for season |
| Mark Meyers | S | Out indefinitely |
| Darian Hicks | CB | Prob Fri |
| Arjen Colquhoun | CB | Prob Fri |
| Enoch Smith Jr. | DL | Ques Sat |
| Delton Williams | RB | Ques Sept 12 |
| Ed Davis | LB | Out for season |
Injury reports courtesy of USA Today.
Prediction
This one feels ripe for a bit of role reversal.
It's Oregon making the trip across the country this time into hostile territory, which will have a negative impact on an offense still learning to play with one another. Freeman should have a decent game, but the passing offense won't have the usual Oregon whip to it.
On the flip side, Cook should look better than he did one week ago with the rust shaken off, especially against an Oregon defense with some clear issues to fix. In the confines of home, expect it to be him this year who uses this prestigious matchup to make a Heisman statement with a big win.
Prediction: Michigan State 42, Oregon 38
Statistics courtesy of ESPN unless otherwise specified.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
