Oregon Ducks vs. Washington State Cougars – College Football, November 14, 2020

Eight NCAAF games scheduled for this weekend have already been postponed or canceled. Fortunately for the coaches and players slated to kick-off in Pullman on Saturday, this matchup remains intact.

The Ducks are coming off a convincing victory over Stanford while the Cougars knocked off the Beavers in Corvallis.

With that stage set for a high-flying Pac-12 showdown, here’s an Oregon vs. Washington State prediction to help spice up the action.

The Ducks held off the Cougars last season in a nail biter, 37-35. Justin Herbert is no longer under center and Tyler Shough is just getting started, but there’s no reason to expect a massive drop-off in the offensive production in Eugene.

Speaking of losing a proficient signal-caller, Washington State had to wave goodbye to a man who threw 48 touchdowns passes and racked up nearly 5,600 passing yards in 2019. With that being said, WSU freshman QB Jayden de Laura has a promising future ahead.

Balance and Efficiency on Offense. The Ducks converted 9-11 third downs and racked up 496 yards of offense against the Cardinal. If last weekend’s game is any indication of what Mario Cristobal’s offense will look like in 2020, fans in Eugene have a lot to look forward to.

Enjoyed calling the game last night in Eugene. Know @oregonfootball lost a lot from a year ago but @coach_cristobal has recruited very well and has an athletic and deep roster. New QB Tyler Shough will only get better. This team has a chance to be very good!

— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) November 8, 2020

Tyler Shough flashed his dual-threat capabilities while CJ Verdell picked up where he left off in 2019. With junior RB Travis Dye chipping in behind a sturdy offensive line, Washington State’s defense is going to have their hands full.

Offensive Playmakers. Nick Rolovich’s defense is going to be a work in progress. The saving grace is that while the defensive unit works out some kinks, the offense can carry the weight.

True freshman Jayden de Laura impressed in his first start under center and lots of room to grow.

#Pac12FB Freshman of the Week, presented by @Nextiva: Jayden de Laura.

Full release ➡️ https://t.co/fnM6NpJeCh#GoCougs | @WSUCougarFB pic.twitter.com/qknQiLOqlM

— Pac-12 Conference (@pac12) November 9, 2020

What’ll help the Hawaii native get comfortable against Pac-12 defenses is the dynamic supporting cast by his side. Possession receivers Renard Bell and Travell Harris are locked and loaded for big years, while RB Deon McIntosh stepped up in game one as Max Borghi nursed a back injury.

The sooner Borghi can return, the quicker we’ll see how good the Cougars can be.

A nationally-televised game on FOX gives the Ducks and Cougars a chance to shine on the national stage. Both of these offenses are extremely trustworthy, although I’m reluctant to sing praise to either one of these defenses.

That’s why I’m nabbing the “over” for my Oregon vs. Washington State prediction.

Playing at Martin Field should help push the Cougars, and let’s not lose sight that these were the two highest-scoring teams in the Pac-12 in 2019.

All things considered, 58 seems rather low for this total.

An Oregon vs. Washington State pick gives you one game to keep tabs on this Saturday. Chances are you’re hungry for more.