By Stephen Vilardo, SuperWest Sports activities
The bowl season is in full swing as we head into the primary Playoff sport involving a workforce within the West.
Oregon hosts James Madison on Saturday in an underrated matchup.
The overachieving Solar Belt faculty that produced Indiana’s Curt Cignetti and future UCLA coach Bob Chesney faces off towards a perennial P4 energy with a lot to show.
I preview the competition right here and provides my picks each straight up and towards the unfold.
No. 12 James Madison Dukes at No. 5 Oregon Geese
Faculty Soccer Playoff First Spherical
Saturday, December 20
Autzen Stadium, Eugene, OR
4:30 PM PT, TNT/HBO Max
(Bob Wischusen, Louis Riddick, Kris Budden and Stormy Buonantony)
Line: Oregon -21.5
Over/Underneath: 49.5
Let’s open this by stating one factor that has been getting ignored a bit because the Playoff discipline was introduced: James Madison is a legit program.
The Dukes are 40-10 since making the bounce to FBS for the 2022 season, compiling a .800 win share that’s the fifth-highest within the nation, and the perfect of any G6 program.
Earlier than making the bounce, JMU posted six convention titles in its final seven seasons within the FCS, with a natty coming in 2016.
The Dukes are not any flash within the pan, and this system is aware of the best way to win. (Assume Gonzaga basketball circa 2002, post-Monson and a pair years into Mark Few’s tenure).
However allow us to additionally bear in mind this: Oregon is a extremely proficient and dominant soccer workforce.
The Geese’ lone loss this season got here to the one unbeaten workforce within the nation. They earned the fifth seed and the correct to host JMU, and there’s a purpose they’re laying three touchdowns.
Oregon has misplaced simply two video games up to now two years and is 20-2 in its final 22 video games in Autzen Stadium.
Whereas the Dukes shouldn’t be ignored and certainly gained’t be pushovers, the Geese ought to outman them.
So, why ought to Oregon be looking out for JMU? Properly, it begins with the protection.
The Dukes rank second within the nation in whole protection, permitting 247.6 yards per sport, trailing solely Ohio State.
In opposition to the run, the Dukes are permitting simply 2.48 yards per carry and held Louisville to 113 on the bottom in September.
The final two video games, JMU has allowed a minus-31 speeding yards. The Dukes haven’t confronted a floor assault like Oregon’s, nonetheless.
UO is working for 218.4 yards per outing, 14th finest within the nation, gaining 100 yards in each sport apart from the loss to Indiana.
Furthermore, Oregon has topped 176 on the bottom in 10 of its 12 contests.
JMU does a great job of limiting the massive runs, so Oregon could not break off many massive ones, however they are going to be capable of put on down the Dukes with their highly effective O-Line.
A key to JMU’s success is controlling the tempo and so they do this by working the ball. That will probably be an issue towards Oregon.
UO is twentieth within the nation towards the run and may be capable of management the road of scrimmage.
If the Geese can take away the run, they are going to power JMU off the sector and the Oregon offense will reap the benefits of a taxed JMU defensive entrance.
Generally it really isn’t concerning the X’s and the O’s and comes right down to the Jimmy’s and Joe’s. That is a kind of instances.
The Geese could take some time to get rolling, however they are going to dominate this one up entrance and get the win.
I may see this being a 35-14 form of sport….So give me Oregon and the Underneath.
Outright winner: Oregon
In opposition to the Unfold: Oregon
Complete: Underneath
writes about varied subjects for SuperWest sports activities, together with stats and information, faculty sports activities, and motorsports. He additionally based and runs the Sports activities and Leisure Analysis Middle (SERC).
