California Golden Bears @ Oregon Ducks Thursday Night Football

California Golden Bears @ Oregon Ducks Thursday Night Football: I just can’t justify betting against the Ducks. They are playing at home, the Ducks are coming off a couple performances where they put up 56 points (prior to that they through up 69 on Nevada) and both teams have had a little extra time to prepare. Advantage Ducks.

California has scored some points this year, but on way to their 3-1 start they’ve only really beaten bad teams (Fresno, Colorado, Presbyterian). I’m not crazy about the Ducks defensively, but it’s hard to argue that Oregon isn’t the best defense Cal has played against this season (or will have played against after Thursday Night)

Oregon averages 52 points per game and gives up 24.5 – so if this was an average opponent, they would just barely cover. I know Cal did well against the Ducks last year, nearly upsetting Oregon and ruining their chance at a National Title – but that being recognized, I don’t see them having a chance this year. That little reminder of a mediocre to bad Cal team coming in and giving the Ducks a run will certainly keep Oregon focused all week – 11 days actually… That’s not good for Cal.

The only team the Bears played with good talent is the Huskies and UW beat them. Cal doesn’t have the size and athleticism to out muscle the Ducks, and you know they don’t have the speed. I’ll be taking the Ducks even though weird things happen on Thursday Nights.

California Golden Bears @ Oregon Ducks (-24) (THUR)