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ESPN’s FPI Predicts winner of Ohio State-Oregon
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ESPN’s Football Power Index gave its prediction for the upcoming blockbuster matchup between No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 Oregon on Saturday. The FPI gives the Buckeyes a 64.1% chance to come out with a win on the road.
To earn that respect from the FPI, Ohio State has had to be dominant. The Buckeyes have yet to allow an opponent to score more than 14 points in a game, and they are first in the nation when it comes to points and yards allowed per game. Will Howard has settled in nicely at quarterback after transferring from Kansas State, and an embarrassment of riches at the skill positions have flashed their talents on multiple occasions.
Of course, those gaudy numbers have come against the likes of Akron, Western Michigan, Marshall, Michigan State and Iowa, making this game in Eugene the toughest test Ryan Day’s squad has faced yet.
Meanwhile, Oregon has not been nearly as dominant despite boasting an equally unblemished record. But the Ducks have seemed to improve with each passing week, as Dan Lanning’s defense has not allowed more than 14 points in a game since the Week 2 win over now-No. 21 Boise State.
The offense has still left much to be desired, in large part because of some red zone interceptions that a normally efficient Dillon Gabriel has tossed. A win over Ohio State would make everyone forget about those miscues though, and it would prove that Oregon is ready to contend for a Big Ten title in its first season in the league.
The Ducks and Buckeyes are set to kick off at 7:30 EST Saturday with the game being broadcast by NBC.