Five bold predictions for Oregon vs. Stanford

Oregon is starting to get into the thick of the conference schedule, and with that comes one of the trickiest matchups of the season in Week 5.

Stanford vs. Oregon has been an epic matchup year in and year out. While this current Cardinal team is down a bit in terms of talent, Saturday should add another thrilling chapter to the rivalry.

The ScoopDuck staff predictions reflect just how tight of a game this could be.

Here are five bold predictions for how things will unfold in Palo Alto.

Oregon will look better this weekend than it did last weekend

For a team that emerged from last weekend with a 41-19 win, it felt like Oregon was in a bit of a crisis all week. The Ducks played really poorly on both sides of the ball against an Arizona team that had no business hanging in the game as long as it did. The defense couldn’t stop the run, the offense wasn’t consistent enough and the Ducks were bailed out by some brilliant playmaking from Verone McKinley III and Bennett Williams.

Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but Mario Cristobal’s teams have a tendency to play up or down to the level of their opponent. When you’re facing a team as physical and talented as Stanford is, that could ultimately be a good thing. With Kayvon Thibodeaux making a healthy return, and Stanford being shorthanded along the offensive line, this could prove to be a signature game for Oregon’s defensive front.

Stanford will throw for triple the number of yards it runs for

This happened last week in Stanford’s loss to UCLA when the Cardinal netted just 67 yards and the ground and Tanner McKee threw for 293 yards. I think it will happen again.

The Cardinal could be down to their fourth-string running back again due to injuries. Even if Austin Jones or Casey Filkins, both of whom are listed as questionable, do play, Stanford will be missing some serious firepower in the backfield. McKee has proven himself to be a quality quarterback in his brief stint as Stanford’s starter, and I think the Cardinal will air it out in order to take advantage of their physical advantage over Oregon’s cornerbacks.

Verone McKinley III will have another interception

This one isn’t difficult. McKinley has been as good as any player in the country at generating takeaways. Stanford is going to have to take some downfield shots to beat the Ducks.

That should equate to Oregon’s ball-hawking safety being in a position to create a few massive plays on Saturday. McKinley reads the game extremely well and will be prepared for whatever Stanford throws at him.

Kayvon Thibodeaux will have a sack in the first quarter

The return of Kayvon Thibodeaux could not come at a better time for the Ducks. They’re going to need disruptive plays in order to beat Stanford, and who better to do that than one of the top edge rushers in the country?

Thibodeaux is going to be amped up to play this game. In his limited role against Arizona last week, the star sophomore was frequently pumping his arms in the air between snaps trying to get the crowd involved. He feeds off of the energy of the game, and he’s going to make an explosive play early to set the tone for the Ducks.

CJ Verdell will rush for more than 150 yards

Stanford is absolutely dreadful at stopping the run. Like, worse than Oregon. It’s a program that is known for being physical in the trenches, but not one that has lived up to that reputation this season.

The Ducks should be able to move the ball with ease on the ground while frequently rotating in a few guys like Dawson Jaramillo and Jackson Powers-Johnson along the offensive line to keep things fresh. Joe Moorhead will get the ball to Verdell early and often as he did against Ohio State and let his star running back carry the Ducks to victory.