Kalen DeBoer addresses hype surrounding Oregon game

Kalen DeBoer credited his team ahead of their huge showdown with Oregon, as the hype begins to hit a zenith.

While many circled this game on their calendar before the season, the excitement wouldn’t be as palpable if Washington or the Ducks slipped up before this weekend. Speaking with the media, DeBoer explained why he’s proud of his team for their efforts so far, and recognized they’ll bring the energy on Saturday.

“The thing for us, is we wanted to make sure this weekend was big. So I’m proud of the way our guys have, every week, gone about taking care of business,” started DeBoer. “You know, you saw this as hopefully inevitable. It came to this point. Just a lot of respect for what Oregon’s doing with their season too. So I’m happy that this is a big week, because we’ve done everything to make it that.

“If we slipped up anywhere along the way, it wouldn’t be what it is. So excited for this opportunity. That’s what it is. It’s a challenge, but it’s an opportunity. That’s what our guys came here to do, be a part of games like this and moments like this. Build the program to this point. So you know, embracing it is how we look at it.”

Alas, Washington has made the College Football Playoff in the past, but this team feels like it could do some real damage if it gets in again. The Huskies are playing with a vigor that many teams in the country don’t have, and they’ll be in fantastic shape if they can defeat the Ducks.

Time will tell, but we know Kalen DeBoer will have his team ready to roll. It’s going to be an awesome time when Oregon and Washington take the field this weekend.

Oregon vs. Washington odds: Early point spread released on Ducks, Huskies

Moreover, Oregon and Washington will each have a chance to boost their College Football Playoff resume as they meet in a highly anticipated Week 7 matchup. The Ducks and Huskies both enter undefeated and ranked among the top 10 teams in the country, and this game will be the site for ESPN’s College GameDay. 

Vegas expects things to come down to the wire, as Washington enters as a 3-point home favorite according to FanDuel. However, things could truly go either way and it appears the homefield advantage is what’s giving the Huskies a slight nod in this spot. 

Both Oregon and Washington had a bye in Week 6, which should allow each team to come into the matchup fresh. The Ducks have been dominant early in Pac-12 play, outscoring both of their conference opponents thus far by a combined 84-12. 

Kickoff between Oregon and Washington is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday in Seattle.