Oregon has looked nothing like the national title contender expected of it before the season. The Ducks escaped Idaho by 10 points and required a fourth-quarter comeback to beat Boise State. Now it catches a team that should be motivated to the hilt. It's a rivalry game, but Oregon abandoning the Pac-12 for the Big Ten will further fire up the Beavers. State's solid ground game and a stingy defense that pitched a shutout last Saturday should deliver a low score, making this spread seem inflated.

I would love to be in Corvallis on Saturday as it will be bonkers in the most unusual Civil War matchup yet. Oregon State has always felt like the Little Brother to Oregon, which was crystallized when the Ducks left the Beavers behind in the sinking Pac-12. This is BY FAR OSU's bowl game/Super Bowl whatever you want to call it. It can't play for a conference title, after all. The Beavers can shorten the game with the 1-2 RB punch of Jam Griffin (249 yards, 3 TDs) and Anthony Hankerson (226 yards, 3 TDs). Oregon was gutted on the ground last week by Boise State. Now that this has gotten to 17, I'll spend a few bucks to add the hook.

My favorite play of the week. Oregon State has won the rivalry formerly known as the "Civil War" each of the last two times it was played in Corvallis. Don't you think the Beavers want to prove that they belong in a real conference considering their in-state neighbors are basically the reason they're essentially conference-less? OSU is averaging 300 yards per game on the ground and the Ducks have looked anything but sharp early in 2024. This one is close. Oregon 27, Oregon State 24.

I wondered if Idaho still had Gevani McCoy at QB would they have beaten Oregon. Well, guess who Oregon State brought in as a transfer QB...Gevani McCoy. He's an excellent player that gives them a chance to be successful. Plus, Oregon's point-of-attack play hasn't been as dominant as it was last year. Expect a tight one here in Corvallis.

I like the Ducks to bounce back against the instate rivals in the Civil War. The Ducks have underwhelmed but game 3 is about the time the new transfer talent should gel. And Lanning won’t call off the dogs after two lackluster performances