Statistically Speaking: Oregon Ducks Running Game Is An Advantage Over Stanford
Before the season started the Oregon Ducks vs Stanford Cardinal had likely been the Pac-12 Conference game of the year. However Pac-12 Parity this season turned the matchup upside down just a month into the regular season when Stanford lost to USC. Since then David Shaw has seen his team lose two more games, one against Notre Dame on the road and the other at Arizona State just a few weeks ago. Now, Stanford enters Eugene unranked for the first time since 2009 to take on the Oregon Ducks, a team who has found their Offensive Identity over the last several games against Washington, UCLA and Cal.
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The Oregon Offense is firing on all cylinders with a running game as Freshman Royce Freeman chases the record books. He know is second on the team in touchdowns with thirteen on close to seven hundred fifty yards on the ground. He is second to Quarterback Marcus Mariota who has twenty-four on the season. Stanford has struggled to find a ground game this season that was a signature the last two years. The leading rusher (Senior Remound Wright) has just three hundred twenty six yards on the season and two touchdowns. The Cardinal still have a potent Defense giving up just 12.5 points per game this season, but the team enters the game with Oregon ailing on the Defensive Line.
If there was an opportunity for Oregon to strike, it is this season. Stanford also enters the game without one of their leading tacklers in Safety Zach Hoffpaiur who will miss the game with the Oregon Ducks with an injury.
Oregon has strung along several 100+ yard rushing performances against Pac-12 Competition against UCLA and Cal on the road with Freeman leading the charge. Running Back Byron Marshall has found a new wrinkle in the Oregon Offense at Wide Receiver, as well as Running Back adding a nice piece to help Quarterback Marcus Mariota. If Oregon can get the ground game going the chance of winning will greatly increase against Stanford.
Over the last few seasons Stanford has found a way to make Oregon one dimensional and control the ball and the clock. The Ducks will look to get their defense off the field this year to give the Offense a chance against an injured Stanford Defense.
Stanford and Oregon take the field at Autzen on Saturday at 4:30pm PT on FOX. AutzenZoo Live Coverage will begin at 3:30pm PT