ScoopDuck Predictions: Offensive Player of the Game
We are inching towards game day this Saturday. Which is expected to be a battle in the desert.
Of course the Ducks need to put points up on the board in order to win. We know Arizona will score points too. But who will be the offensive players that step up for the Ducks on Saturday.
Well as we do every week, we’ve locked in our predictions on who will step up this week. Take a look below and let us know if you agree, or have one of your own.
Once again we’re light a couple of picks but have several still below.
Joel Gunderson: TJ Bass
Instead of picking the obvious this week (Irving), I will switch it up. Knowing Oregon’s advantage in the run game, I want to see a few more home runs on the ground. Outside of Bo Nix’s 80-yard scramble, much of the Ducks’ ground game has been in the death-by-a-thousand-paper-cuts variety (which is excellent). Consistently gaining between 6-10 yards is the exact recipe for success.
Now I want to see some explosions.
Bass, like the rest of Oregon’s OL, has been fantastic all season, and his ability to seal the edge could be the key to one of the backs breaking off a big one. Look for Bass to grade out as the high OL and pave the way (literally) for a big run at some point in the game.
Jarrid Denney: Bucky Irving
For the second week in a row, Oregon is facing a defense that has struggled mightily to stop the run this season. Stanford couldn’t find a way to slow down Bucky Irving last Saturday, and I don’t think Arizona will either.
Irving ran for 97 yards on just 10 carries against the Cardinal. Statistically speaking, the Wildcats’ run defense has been even worse than Stanford’s. Through the first five weeks, they have given up 213.4 rushing yards per game. That’s the second-worst rate in the conference.
Irving has been one of the more explosive ball carriers in the nation this season, and there’s no reason to expect him to slow down anytime soon.
Jhop: Troy Franklin
I kind of already gave it away but I’m sticking with the theme. Last week I felt Oregon would beat Stanford on the ground, this week I’m thinking the big plays come in the air. And I think Bo Nix has really established a relationship with Franklin.
I think Arizona is going to commit to stopping the run to try and slow down this Oregon offense. I don’t think Oregon will abandon the run, but will find some big openings in the passing game resulting in big plays. Count me in for a big day from TF on Saturday.
