Game prediction: Oregon limps into No. 11 Utah looking for something to cling to

What does Oregon get because of its difficulties after a reduction last week at home against Stanford? : A road game against a much better variant of the Cardinal.
The Ducks play at No. 11 Utah Saturday in Salt Lake City, Utah, and on newspaper have zero chance to win, or even remain close. So much so that the 14-point spread seems to be an insult to Utah by about ten points.
Oregon (3-7, 1-6 Pac-12) will roll into Utah (8-2, 5-2) using the second-worst rushing defense in the Pac-12 at 255.4 yards allowed per game to confront the hottest racing attack in the conference.
“Same thing as last week, really,” Oregon defensive coordinator Brady Hoke said. “You’ve got to stop the run. There is little doubt about it”
Uh oh!
Oregon hasn’t stopped the run . Not against UC Davis and Virginia in what appears like ions ago. Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey ran wild a week, scoring three touchdowns as the Cardinal, owners of the worst offense in the conference, averaging 340 yards per game, put up 540 yards of total offense on the Ducks.
Utah, averaging 433.7 yards per game is better on offense than Stanford thanks to the wonderful performances of running back Joe Williams. He”retired” for four games to start the season only to be talked back into enjoying. Since his return, Williams has averaged 216 total yards and 156.5 yards rushing per game. He’s gained 939 racing yards on 7.0 yards per carry.
“He’s maybe the most volatile and the fastest of any of the backs we have had here up to a home run-type back which can extend the distance away from anywhere on the field,” Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham told colleagues this week.
To make matters worse for Oregon, Williams runs behind a veteran offensive line.
“They are bodily upfront,” Hoke said. “Very senior-oriented offensive line together with three guys up there which have played a great deal of football”
The Ducks would be the opposite with one senior beginning on a young defense that has rotated through 14 defensive linemen this year.
“We had a fantastic week of practiceprecisely the same thing we did the week before,” Hoke said. “Our guys have come out and foughtand been physical each time we go on the area.”
That intensity has not translated into strong performances on game days. Saturday will probably be no different.

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