Bowling Green vs. Oregon Prediction
Is No. 24 Oregon giving up too many points in its season opener when it plays host to Bowling Green tonight at 8PM ET?
Game Snapshot & Odds
207 Bowling Green at 208 Oregon
Saturday, September 1, 2018
8PM ET – Autzen Stadium
TV: Pac-12 Network
Compare odds and from multiple different online sportsbooks and shop for the best lines at our new College Football Odds & Betting Page.
Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers at BetNow.eu, Oregon is the clear favorite in this game, as the Ducks are getting odds of -32 points against Bowling Green. The over/under total has been set at 72.5 points. The public betting for this game currently has 77 percent going on Oregon at home. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our College Football Public Betting Page for updated figures on the game.
Oregon with third coach in three year
After a 7-5 regular season for Oregon, the Ducks saw first-year coach Willie Taggert bolt for Florida State. Mario Cristobal coached in the bowl game, a loss, but still was named the head coach in the offseason and is the teams third coach in three years. He was the head coach at FIU from 2007-12. The Ducks were just 6-7 against the spread last season and 7-6 with the under.
The Ducks still had a pretty good offense last year, averaging 39 points per game on offense. However, the Oregon defense gave up 31.4 points per contest. Justin Hebert returns to lead the Oregon offense this year at QB. He threw for 1,983 yards and 15 touchdowns as a sophomore. He also had five rushing touchdowns. The Ducks will have questions on the ground after losing Royce Freeman, who had 1,475 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns, as well as Kani Benoit and his 10 rushing touchdowns. Leading receiver Dillon Mitchell does return, but he had just 42 catches for 517 yards and four touchdowns last year.
Bowling Green struggles again
After a 4-8 record in 2016, Bowling Green went 2-10 last year by losing its last three games. Head coach Mike Jinks comes into his third season as head coach at BG with a 6-17 overall record. The Falcons were 3-9 against the spread and 7-5 with the over during the 2017 season.
Bowling Green struggled on defense last year, allowing 38 points per contest. That was the second-most allowed in the MAC. Offensively, BG put up just 25.3 points per contest. This year, Jarret Doege comes into the season as the starter. The sophomore split time at the position last year, but established himself late. He threw for 1,381 yards and 12 touchdowns with just three interceptions in 2017. Doege has his top target back this year as well in Scott Miller, who caught 63 passes for 722 yards. Running back Andrew Clair also returns after rushing for 725 yards and four scores in 2017.
College Football Betting Trends
Oregon
Oregon is jus 8-18-1 against the spread in its last 27 games overall and 4-10-1 against the spread in their last 15 games in September.
Bowling Green
The Falcons have failed to cover in nine straight non-conference games and nine straight games in September.
Prediction:
I don’t expect much from Bowling Green in this game. Even if the Falcons had looked good in previous years, their speed would struggle to deal with the Ducks. The questions will be, can Oregon remain as explosive on offense with another new head coach? I think it won’t be a factor in this game. Oregon has the returning quarterback and they should have plenty of hungry backs ready to replace Freeman. I am not sure the offense will be able to hold up throughout the year, but for tonight, they should light up Bowling Green.
College Football Prediction: Oregon -32