USC vs. Oregon: Why the Ducks Will Cruise to Victory

On Saturday evening, the Oregon Ducks (9-1) will take on the USC Trojans (8-2) in Eugene, Oregon.

This matchup has quickly become one of the most highly anticipated Pac-12 games of the year as Oregon has begun to match USC's great recruiting capability and it has paid off on the field. Both of the past two years, the Ducks have taken down the mighty Trojans.

Oregon looks to do the same this year and here's why they will.

Injured Trojans

The Trojans might possibly be without their best offensive threat, wide receiver Robert Woods (pictured).

Woods has been battling an ankle injury for a few weeks now and there haven't been any signs of improvement. He is listed as questionable for the game.

If he can't play, quarterback Matt Barkley will look for Marqise Lee to step up as the No. 1 receiver.

Star left tackle Matt Kalil has been very limited in practice as well. He provides great protection for Barkley and is the key to USC's offensive line.

Autzen Stadium

Oregon's Autzen Stadium is notoriously one of the loudest stadiums in the nation.

The fans there love their Ducks and have shown it by recording a 127.2 decibel deafening roar during a 2007 game.

Last time the Trojans visited, they got destroyed 47-20. 

And it doesn't hurt that Oregon's last loss at home was September 20th, 2008 against Boise State when quarterback Jeremiah Masoli got knocked out in the first quarter and freshman Darron Thomas had to come in. Thomas almost won the game but Oregon fell 37-32.

Darron Thomas

As the quarterback, Darron Thomas is the leader of the Oregon offense, the eighth best in the nation.

Last season he passed for 288 yards against USC with four touchdowns and is currently ranked 17th in the nation in passing efficiency.

This season he has passed for 1,704 yards and run for 131 more for 24 combined touchdowns. 

Against USC's 100th ranked pass defense, Thomas should have no trouble having his way on Saturday evening. 

Three-Headed Monster

Oregon arguable has the most dynamic, athletic and fast backfield in the nation thanks to LaMichael James (pictured, left), Kenjon Barner (pictured, right) and De'Anthony Thomas.

While the Trojans have seen James and Barner before, it doesn't mean they can or will stop them. Last season, James rushed for 239 yards and three touchdowns at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The last time USC faced Barner was in 2009 when he ran for 24 yards and a touchdown as a freshman.

But the Trojans haven't seen De'Anthony Thomas in action yet. Sure, they saw him back in high school when they heavily recruited him, but they haven't seen him at work in the Oregon offense.

Thomas is a threat out of the backfield and as a receiver and because of this, he has totaled 1,497 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Playing for More

After stomping the Stanford Cardinal last week, 53-30, the Oregon Ducks have a chance to play for and win the Pac-12's Inaugural Pac-12 Championship Game on Dec. 2nd.

But beyond that, they have an outside shot at the BCS National Championship game, a game they lost last year to the Auburn Tigers, 22-19.

In order to try to win a national championship, the Ducks need to win the rest of their games and win big. 

On the other hand, USC has no real goal to play for because they are not eligible to compete in a bowl game after the NCAA imposed sanctions on them.

For Oregon, the door was opened last week. Now it's time for the Ducks to come flying through it.