Why Oregon-UCLA is Must-Win For Ducks Playoff Chances

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After the Oregon Ducks fell to the Oklahoma State Cowboys a few weeks ago, there was a lot of panic that the dream of a title could be over.

But over the last few weeks, the Ducks have bounced back, including the team grabbing a big win over the USC Trojans a week ago. And the loss to Oklahoma State doesn't look as bad anymore, with the Cowboys played well and being ranked.

Oregon has been working to right the ship, looking to get back to being legitimate title contenders this year. And while the Ducks have done well, the task isn't over; but the team still has a strong chance to make the College Football Playoff.

The Ducks will be coming off a bye this week, giving this team a chance to rest and recover from some injuries. The biggest one comes to quarterback Dante Moore, who left the game against USC following a scary hit.

It was determined that Moore had a concussion, and he has been trying to work through the process of being cleared. While he is still day-to-day, the Ducks do have a solid backup in Dylan Raiola, who helped the team take down USC last week.

So, heading into the upcoming game against the UCLA Bruins, the Ducks are feeling confident in themselves. But this contest against the Bruins is absolutely a must-win for Oregon, even still with it still being early in the year.

Since the Ducks already have a loss on the year, they can't afford to drop another game in all likelihood. Oregon has a few tough games left on the schedule, including a trop to Columbus to face off against the Ohio State Buckeyes.

So against UCLA, the Ducks will need to make sure that they can take care of business, but it won't be easy. The Bruins have been one of the biggest surprises this season, starting the year 4-0 under new head coach Bob Chesney.

UCLA has the talent to make this game tough for the Ducks, especially if Moore can't go. But Oregon will be at home, giving them some edge with Autzen Stadium being one of the best home-field advantages in college football.

Oregon has been playing with a sense of urgency since the Oklahoma State loss, but this game with the Bruins will need to see a different level of focus. If the Ducks want any chance to make the playoff this year, they can't afford a slip-up against UCLA at home.

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