No. 9 Oregon (4-1, 1-1 Pac-12) vs. Cal (1-4, 0-2 Pac-12)
Time: 7:30 p.m. PT
Where: Autzen Stadium, Eugene
Coaches: Mario Cristobal, fourth year (29-11 at Oregon, 56-58 overall); Justin Wilcox, 5th year (22-25)
Latest line: Oregon by 13.5
TV Channel: ESPN
On air: Radio on 1080 “The Fan” in Portland, KUGN-AM 590 in Eugene
How to watch live online: You can watch this game live for FREE with fuboTV (free trial). You can also get this game on Sling TV (promotional offers) if you are out of fuboTV trials, or simply prefer that platform and their pricing plans. You can also watch the game live on Watch ESPN with your cable or satellite provider login information.
What’s at stake: Oregon needs a win to move atop the Pac-12 North again and to keep its slim hopes of reaching the College Football Playoff alive. Cal is vying for its first conference win of the season and attempting to win back-to-back games in the series for the first time since 2006-08. If the Bears fall to 1-5 a losing season is a virtual lock.
Oregon offense vs. Cal defense
Oregon’s strength is its running game, which will be without CJ Verdell, and the Ducks have lacked deep passes. Cal’s strength is stopping the run and the Golden Bears have given up a lot of long throws. Taken together that would ordinarily sound like an opportunity for Oregon to throw more and that may be true, but the ground game won’t be abandoned by any means. Cal’s run defense statistics are boosted by the fact that their opponents to date all struggle on the ground. Oregon should be able to have at least moderate success running behind Travis Dye and its three freshmen and also through the air.
Oregon defense vs. Cal offense
Oregon’s front seven should be as healthy as it can be at this point in the season. Cal’s offense has been inconsistent. Damien Moore is a solid back. Chase Garbers is a solid quarterback. The receiving corps has a balanced distribution of receptions. In short, nobody has broken out as a primary weapon on a weekly basis. The Ducks should be able to keep the ball in front of them all night and the Bears will have to be mistake free and sustain drives in order to be productive.
Did you know?
Wide receivers Johnny Johnson III and Jaylon Redd each have 125 career receptions, tied for No. 12 in UO history
Matchup to watch: Oregon tackles, tight ends & running backs vs. Cameron Goode and Luc Bequette
Goode has done more damage against the Ducks than any team over his career. Bequette is back at Cal after a year at Boston College. Both have played a ton of college football and have far more game experience than Oregon’s offensive tackles, tight ends or three of four running backs. Cal’s edge players can get to the passer and stop the run so blocking and chipping will be critical.
They said it:
“It looks like he’s going to be another one in the long line of guys hat keep us up late at night.” - Cal offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave on Kayvon Thibodeaux
Key stat:
Oregon is 11-1 in games Travis Dye has scored a touchdown
The last time these teams met:
Oregon overcame a sluggish start on both sides of the ball as Cal built a 14-3 lead following a 19-play, 80-yard rive that spanned nearly 10 minutes thanks in large part to a pair of UO penalties. The Ducks connected on a pair of explosive plays and took a 17-14 lead at halftime but Cal regained the lead during the third quarter. Oregon was stopped on a fourth-and-one early in the fourth and a pair of fumbles sealed a 21-17 loss in Berkeley.
Prediction: Oregon 28, Cal 14
Pregame reading:
Scouting the Golden Bears: 5 questions, prediction with a Cal writer
Can Oregon Ducks limit impact of Cal edge rusher Cameron Goode?
How have Oregon Ducks’ starting cornerbacks responded after critical late plays in loss at Stanford?
Oregon Ducks’ front seven expected to be as close to full strength as possible against Cal
Whether Oregon Ducks offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead will return for Cal game undetermined
What share of the carries will Oregon Ducks’ freshman running backs get against Cal?
‘It’s on my shoulders’: Travis Dye says he’s ready for leading role of Oregon Ducks’ rushing attack
What Mario Cristobal said ahead of Oregon’s Friday night matchup with Cal
Oregon Ducks open as 2-touchdown favorites against Cal
Oregon Ducks expecting improved offensive line depth against Cal
Ad Choices