Joel Klatt takes Oregon to win, cover against Indiana

Autzen Stadium will be the site of this weekend’s highest-ranked game with No. 7 Indiana vs. No. 3 Oregon kicking off as a Top 10 conference matchup in the Big Ten. Now, FOX Sports’ Joel Klatt has made his pick for that game up in Eugene.

Klatt made his picks for some of Week 7’s biggest games during his show on Thursday. This one was his first selection, as he went with the Ducks to both win and to cover a 7.5-point spread over the Hoosiers on Saturday.

“I think – and this was difficult for me. I think Oregon, just because of their mentality and being at home? I think they cover the 7.5,” Klatt said. “I know that’s a big number, but I’m thinking a 31-21 style of game here, maybe a late score from Oregon. So I’ll take Oregon to cover the 7.5. I think they beat Indiana up in Eugene.”

Klatt just has Oregon (5-0) as one of the handful of teams that have separated themselves so far this season. That’s with one of the best overall rosters in the sport, namely offensively, with that unit led by a Heisman contender in Dante Moore.

“Oregon is an excellent team,” Klatt said. “It feels like, even though we’ve been talking about – and I have, more specifically, been talking about the parity in college football. It does seem like, through about the first half of the regular season, three teams are starting to separate themselves out – Ohio State being one of them, Miami is another one, and Oregon. Oregon is an excellent team.

“You take a look at this Oregon offense, and Dante Moore has impressed me so much this year…His poise, his playmaking ability, his arm talent – all of it? He’s been one of the better players in the country. He would certainly be a Heisman finalist if I were voting right now. He’s only been sacked one time, so the offensive line, which was rebuilt through the transfer portal, has performed really well…Dante Moore is excellent. They’ve got an electric, true freshman running back in Dierre Hill, and a dominant offensive line. There’s a chance that they could really own the line of scrimmage.”

On the other sideline, Klatt also likes Indiana (5-0) with how it has already followed up last season. It’s just, on the road against one of the best teams in the sport, he sees the Hoosiers having to do a few more things to be in this one, let alone win it over the Ducks.

“Fernando Mendoza has been excellent. What a great fit he is with Curt Cignetti and that RPO-style offense…Getting the ball out, very accurate on the outside. I really like what they’ve got on the outside at wide receiver,” Klatt said. “My question would then just be, how do they protect Mendoza? Because Oregon’s pass rush is very good…They’ve obviously had the bye week. Now they’re getting themselves ready to go and ramped up to play this home game. One thing for Indiana is, can they run the football? If you can’t run the football, you become one-dimensional on the road against that pass rush? It’s not going to end well. So they’ve got to establish the run game early in the first quarter in order for the RPO to be as effective as it needs to be.

“Going on the road, we know they’ve been a great home team, okay. They’ve taken care of business at home, really, the last couple years. What we haven’t seen them do is go in a matchup game on the road and play their best football…Do we see that now? Is that the next step for Curt Cignetti and this group. Two things that they’ve got to do in order to play well and be in this football game is run it on offense and they’ve got to rush the passer effectively with their defense.”

Klatt may have Oregon winning by at least a score, if not more, with his prediction for Indiana vs. Oregon. That said, whatever outcome we see from it is going to be a key one as far as the national picture, and certainly so in the standings for the Big Ten.

---

DISCLAIMER: This site is 100% for entertainment purposes only and does not involve real money betting.

The content provided in this article is intended for entertainment purposes only. All views and opinions expressed are the authors and reflect their individual perspectives on sports, betting, and related topics. This content should not be considered professional betting advice or the official views of On3. Please gamble responsibly. If you or someone you know is experiencing issues related to gambling, seek help from a licensed health professional. This blog is not liable for any losses, damages, or consequences resulting from betting activities.

Bets and betting odds data are powered by BetMGM. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (available in the US), Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-270-7117 (MI), Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Must be 21+. Visit BetMGM.com for terms and conditions. First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements.