Every week during football season, our sports staff will discuss different topics surrounding an upcoming game. Today, sports reporters Ryan Kostecka, Hayden Kim and Joseph Hoyt discuss Thursday’s matchup between Oregon and Stanford.
1) What is the key for each team to win?
Ryan Kostecka — For Stanford, it’s simple: Keep Oregon’s offense off the field. They need to get themselves in third down-and-short situations and convert them at a high rate. As for the Ducks, they need to stay composed. Stanford’s defense will make plays, but it’s how they respond to that adversity that will decide their outcome.
Hayden Kim — Last year the Cardinal upset the Ducks on a game-winning field goal that still resonates in every Oregon fan’s heart. This year will hold a similar matchup, and it will likely come down to a few plays here and there. For that reason, the turnover margin will be the key to this game. Marcus Mariota has yet to throw one interception this season, but he will be facing a Cardinal team that has recorded a turnover in 33 consecutive games. It will be interesting to see how this game turns out.
Joseph Hoyt — Marcus Mariota has one blemish on his nearly flawless track record — a single loss. That loss came courtesy of Stanford last year. Mariota needs to have the game of his career against a tough Stanford defensive front. On the contrary, the Cardinal need to keep Mariota and the Oregon offense guessing. They’re without starting defensive end Ben Gardner for the remainder of the season, so the rest of the defense needs to step up to upset Oregon for a second year in a row.
2) Who is the most important player for each team?
Ryan Kostecka — For Stanford it’s going to be Devon Cajuste. The Cardinal’s No. 2 wide receiver is going to have make big plays with Ty Montgomery being manned up with Terrence Mitchell and Ifo Ekpre-Olomu all night. Big plays by Cajuste opens up the running game for Tyler Gaffney. Oregon’s victory is going to rely on its center Hroniss Grasu. It’s going to be up to him to make sure the offensive line is on the same page and in the right schemes to stop Trent Murphy and Co.
Hayden Kim — Tyler Gaffney will be one of the few deciding factors in this game. While quarterback Kevin Hogan has been struggling in the statistical category this year, the real difference for Stanford will be based on the performance of Gaffney. If Gaffney can string a game together resembling his past few games, it will be a long day for both teams.
Joseph Hoyt — Avery Patterson has been a force and a tone-setter for the Oregon defense all year long. His ability to be an integral factor in the run game while also being a playmaker in the secondary has allowed Oregon flexibility in the way it attacks different offensive fronts. It doesn’t get any different than Stanford this week. They want to run the ball successfully until they go to play action over the top. Patterson needs to continue his dynamic play-making ability in this week’s game for the Oregon defense to be successful.
3) Who leads the game in rushing?
Ryan Kostecka — Stanford’s Tyler Gaffney will lead the game in rushing, finishing with 115-130 yards on around 25 carries. Oregon will rush for more yards as a team, led by Byron Marshall with 105-115 yards and Marcus Mariota with 75-90 yards.
Hayden Kim — Oregon’s Byron Marshall will be the leading rusher in this game. This will be more dependant on the Oregon defense, but Marshall has been consistently boasting numbers ranging the century mark, so on that note, Marshall will finish with 110 yards on 20 carries.
Joseph Hoyt — Byron Marshall is in the zone right now. He has the vision, speed and the size to fill the role of do-it-all back in the Oregon offense. He’s consistently gotten better every week, and in a game where Oregon needs to run the ball to match the physicality of Stanford’s defense, he’ll be counted on to shoulder the load.
4) Will Oregon jump Florida State in the BCS standings with a win and stay there the rest of the year?
Ryan Kostecka — Based on strength of schedule and strength of conference, Oregon will jump Florida State and stay there the rest of the year if they win out. FSU doesn’t have the schedule to jump Oregon until the ACC Championship game. The only problem is Oregon will play a top-25 team in its conference game.
Hayden Kim — With a win, the Ducks will jump FSU in the BCS standings. But in regards to remaining at the No. 2 spot, it will totally depend on the performance of both conferences. If the Pac-12 continues to shoot themselves in the foot, FSU will have the best chance to overtake Oregon in the standings despite playing in a lesser conference.
Joseph Hoyt — Most definitely. The one thing that Oregon has lacked in its undefeated start is a premier win over a top team. A victory on the road against Stanford would fit the bill perfectly. Unfortunately, it appears if Oregon and Florida State win out, one of those teams won’t have a chance to play in the national championship game. Maybe the NCAA could implement a playoff system a year early.
5) Who wins and what’s the score?
Ryan Kostecka — This is a tough one, not in the matter of who wins but what’s the score. I believe that Oregon is the best team in the country based on its overall skill level and will prove it with a statement win against Stanford. The Ducks start fast, hold off a mini-Stanford comeback and fly high in the end. Oregon wins 41-20.
Hayden Kim — Last year’s game had a game margin of three. This year will finish with two-touchdown difference and it will come from the helms of Marcus Mariota and De’Anthony Thomas. Oregon has the physicality to match up with the Cardinal defense this year and for that, the Ducks will break the 1-1 tie with Stanford since 2011. Oregon 41, Stanford 27.
Joseph Hoyt — Many, De’Anthony Thomas included, believe that Oregon will score in bunches against Stanford. While Oregon has managed to do that with ease the entire season, I believe the Ducks will run into trouble for the second year in a row. Stanford is stacked defensively and is very similar to the defense that held Oregon to 14 points last year. I think this one comes down to the wire. The key is how Byron Marshall and Marcus Mariota will operate against arguably the toughest defense they’ll face all season. Final score: Oregon 21, Stanford 20.
Follow Ryan Kostecka on Twitter @Ryan_Kostecka
Follow Hayden Kim on Twitter @HayDayKim
Follow Joseph Hoyt on Twitter @jhoyt42