ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) predicts each college football game every week. Week 3 is no exception, as the model has updated and released predictions for the upcoming slate.

Among the Week 3 games is a much-anticipated rivalry matchup between No. 9 Oregon and Oregon State. The in-state rivals have played 127 times with the Ducks getting 68 wins, the Beavers getting 49, and the game ending in a tie 10 times.

For the upcoming matchup, the FPI strongly favors the Ducks, giving the team a 68.7% chance to win. This means the Beavers have just a 31.3% chance to bring the all-time series one game closer.

The Ducks have been slowly sliding down the rankings after closer-than-expected finishes in both of their games. While 2-0, the Ducks received a scare against FCS-level Idaho in Week 1 and needed a last-second field goal to beat Boise State in Week 2.

The Beavers are also 2-0 with wins against Idaho State and San Diego State on their resume so far. The defense was key for the Beavers in Week 2, as they allowed San Diego State to gain just 179 total yards of offense and score 0 points.

The Ducks could use a quality win over their rival to get back on track. For a team that has Playoff aspirations, this uninspired start has to be concerning. Picking up a win over a rival can give the team momentum heading into B1G play.

It is worth noting that this game is in Corvallis where the Ducks have not won since 2018. The Beavers have won the last 2 games in their hometown, while the Ducks haven’t lost to the Beavers in Eugene since 2007.