Stanford at No. 12 Oregon, Saturday at 7:30 p.m. EST (ABC).
Line: Oregon by 8 1/2.
Series record: Stanford leads 49-33-1.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
It is the opening game of the coronavirus-shortened season for both teams. Oregon has won 10 straight games at Autzen Stadium, the seventh longest active streak in the nation. The Ducks have won 16 of their last 17 Pac-12 games. Oregon has won 15 straight home openers. Stanford has won two straight at Autzen, including an overtime victory in 2018: Stanford rallied from a 24-7 halftime deficit to win 38-31. Oregon won last season’s meeting 21-6 in Palo Alto.
KEY MATCHUP
Oregon quarterback Tyler Shough, who presumably takes over the Ducks this season after the departure of Justin Herbert, against Stanford’s defense, which sustained a big blow when cornerback Paulson Adebo opted out to prepare for the NFL draft last month. Shough has thrown just 15 college passes.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Stanford: Senior quarterback Davis Mills started in six games last season, throwing for 1,960 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was elected as team captain. K.J. Costello, who started in five games for the Cardinal last season, transferred to Mississippi State to play under coach Mike Leach.
Oregon: CJ Verdell is the Pac-12’s top returning running back with 1,220 rushing yards last season. He was the MVP of the league’s championship game last season, running for 208 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns in a 37-15 victory over Utah.
FACTS & FIGURES
Stanford has just 10 players on the roster in their final season of eligibility, fewest in the nation. Conversely, the Cardinal have 28 true freshman on their roster. … Under coach David Shaw, Stanford is 75-7 when leading at halftime. … It is the 84th meeting between the teams. … Stanford went 4-8 last season, and 3-6 in Pac-12 play, snapping a 10-year bowl streak. … Oregon went 12-2, including 8-1 in the conference and won the Rose Bowl 28-27 over Wisconsin.
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