ESPN predicts score for Oregon's first-round showdown with JMU
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Despite nearly two weeks until the Oregon Ducks‘ first-round College Football Playoff contest with the James Madison Dukes, analysts are already providing their takes on the matchup and how the game may go about.
ESPN college football analyst Adam Rittenberg was one of them, breaking down the game before ultimately providing a final score.
“A year ago, the Ducks went 13-0 and received a very tough CFP draw, which resulted in a fast and humbling exit in the Rose Bowl,” Rittenberg wrote. “Oregon will be playing earlier in this year’s playoff, and coach Dan Lanning‘s team is heavily favored to advance against James Madison, the Sun Belt champion.”
The Dukes made the playoff as a result of winning their conference and being named the fifth-highest ranked conference winner thanks to the 8-5 Duke Blue Devils claiming the ACC title.
“Although the Dukes are well-coached and won their final 11 games, they did so in a weaker-than-normal Sun Belt and lost at Louisville by 14 points, while also surviving a home scare against Washington State,” he continued. “Oregon needs no motivation after losing big to Ohio State in last season’s CFP. The Ducks should finally be healthy again at wide receiver, and quarterback Dante Moore played very well down the stretch.”
The wide receivers Rittenberg is referencing are true freshman Dakorien Moore and senior Gary Bryant Jr., who each missed a majority of the final month due to knee and ankle injuries, respectively. The CFP, which will kick off for Oregon on Dec. 20, will potentially give them enough time to each return to at or near full strength.
Rittenberg finished with one final note that could affect the outcome of the game and the Ducks’ path forward in the playoff.
“How (Will) Stein and (Tosh) Lupoi function in their dual roles is worth watching, but Oregon shouldn’t have too much trouble with JMU at thunderous Autzen Stadium,” he wrote.
Rittenberg then provided a scoring prediction and one that would make Duck fans happy to see on the scoreboard at Autzen: Oregon 38, James Madison 13.
Just getting the win and moving on to play the No. 4 Texas Tech Red Raiders in the Orange Bowl would be a success — but it would be a smashing success if they win with authority and crush all hope of a JMU upset.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: ESPN predicts score for Oregon vs. James Madison in CFP
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