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Know Your Opponent: UCLA Football vs. Oregon 2018

By Mike Regalado

LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 16: Head coach Mario Cristobal of the Oregon Ducks looks on during the Las Vegas Bowl against the Boise State Broncos at Sam Boyd Stadium on December 16, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Boise State won 38-28. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 16: Head coach Mario Cristobal of the Oregon Ducks looks on during the Las Vegas Bowl against the Boise State Broncos at Sam Boyd Stadium on December 16, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Boise State won 38-28. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) /
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EUGENE, OR – SEPTEMBER 08: Head coach Mario Cristobal of the Oregon Ducks looks on as his team warms up before the game against the Portland State Vikings at Autzen Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OR – SEPTEMBER 08: Head coach Mario Cristobal of the Oregon Ducks looks on as his team warms up before the game against the Portland State Vikings at Autzen Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /

Prediction

There are so many unknowns with this game which has made it so intriguing. Before the season, many would have given Oregon the automatic “W”, but after underwhelming performances and having been bitten by the injury bug, that narrative has shifted with a lot of people.

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As stated in the first slide, the betting line has gone from 13 down to 8.5 in favor of Oregon. The line dropped when news came out that Herbert and Dillon going under concussion protocol.

Still, that does not guarantee that they will play, just like it is not guaranteed that DTR will play.

As difficult as all this makes predicting the game, one thing is for sure (which is what I am basing my prediction on), is that the Pac-12 is quacked up this year. Teams are beating teams they shouldn’t and that has made everything unpredictable. The fact that four underdogs won last weekend shows how much calamity there is in the conference.

But when it comes down to it, UCLA has shown improvement. Adding to the fact that the proud Chip Kelly wants to win, especially against his former team, leads me to believe that this could be a big Bruin victory.

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Though I do not discount Cristobal’s ability to coach up Oregon, it just seems that at this time, UCLA could shock the Ducks… in the weirdest way possible.

Prediction: UCLA 25 – Oregon 22