College Football Picks – Oregon, No. 1 At Last, Hosts UCLA

The Oregon Ducks have just become the 43rd team in the history of the Associated Press poll to be ranked No. 1 in major college football. The Ducks are a big favorite on the college football betting picks as they try out their new ranking against UCLA.  

UCLA Bruins @ Oregon Ducks 

Thursday, October 21st – 9:05 PM ET 

Autzen Stadium, Eugene, OR 

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Broadcast: ESPN 

College Football Picks: UCLA +24, Oregon -24 

It’s a landmark week in the life and history of Oregon football betting. The school where John McKay became an assistant coach (before becoming a legendary head coach at USC) and Dan Fouts played quarterback is finally on top of the college football world, at least for a while.

The Ducks have suffered some injuries of late: Oregon will miss three defensive starters against UCLA on Thursday after tackle Zac Clark (groin), end Terrell Turner (toe), and cornerback Anthony Gildon (ankle) didn’t practice on Tuesday, according to Ted Miller of ESPN.com.

The sense from people inside the Oregon camp is that the replacements for these players, Wake Keliikipi (Clark), Dion Jordan (Turner), and Cliff Harris (Gildon), are all seasoned players who have received an appreciable number of reps, both on the field and in practice. Nevertheless, the Ducks – who will also be missing backup running back and primary return specialist Kenjon Barner – are less than fully healthy. Moreover, Oregon quarterback Darron Thomas got injured in UO’s most recent game against Washington State on Oct. 9. Oregon might struggle in the first half of this game, given an extended break plus the injuries it must contend with.  

College Football Picks: What UCLA Has To Do To Win

The Bruins have to generate offense of any kind. UCLA rushed for just 26 yards in its most recent game, a 35-7 face-plant against California on Oct. 9. The Bruins totaled just 144 yards against Cal, as the pistol offense that shredded Texas earlier in the season was brought to a screeching halt by the Golden Bears. UCLA rates 118th in the nation in passing offense, so the Bruins need to establish the run and then pass the ball when Oregon’s defense loads the tackle box to take away the Bruins’ ground game. Without a credible offensive threat, there’s just no way UCLA will score enough points to remain competitive, even against a less-than-fully-healthy Oregon offense.

College Football Picks: What Oregon Has To Do To Win

The Ducks, up against an anemic UCLA offense, don’t have to overextend themselves on home turf in Eugene. Playing in the cozy confines of Autzen Stadium, the Ducks simply need to make sure that they don’t hand-deliver points or short fields to the visiting Bruins. Clean special-teams play and a turnover-free showing from the offense should be good enough. Thomas, coming off his injury, needs to play a controlled and contained game; the signal caller doesn’t have to be spectacular in this particular game. He just needs to manage the game and allow his teammates to do their jobs. That’s all Oregon needs against a relatively impotent opponent.

NCAA Handicapping: Outlook & College Football Picks

The Ducks will start slow in the first quarter, but by the second quarter, they should shake off whatever rust might have accumulated from the bye week and the emergence of injuries. UCLA’s offense is so bad that Oregon can cover the number without reaching 40 points. 

College Football Picks: UCLA +24