The general discourse surrounding this week’s rematch between No. 2 Oregon and No. 7 Arizona has formed around the fact that the Ducks haven’t beat the Pac-12 South division winner since 2012. In their last two match-ups, the Ducks have averaged just 20 points per game and Arizona has mustered together emphatic upsets in both.
Oregon is a 14.5 point favorite despite the script the games have followed in those two previous contests and the fact that it has won seven-straight games is most likely the reason why
Here’s a look at what stories were being written this week about the matchup:
– It’s a redemption game for Oregon. Sure it may sound cliche, but that its exactly what the Ducks will be looking for on Friday.
– Here’s how Oregon and Arizona stack up against each other. 
– Both the Oregon and Arizona offenses rely heavily on freshman running backs. 
– Marcus Mariota was asked if Charles Nelson reminded him of anyone following the first game of the season. The freshman has since certified himself as a playmaker in Oregon’s offense. 
– Oregon’s offensive line was may’ve been as disheveled as its been all season. This game will be different, and aside from Hronnis Grasu’s questionable status, the unit is as healthy as its been all year. 
– Arizona has Oregon’s number – that fact is known. Before the last two years though, the Ducks had beat Arizona five consecutive times. Yet how competitive the matchup has been throughout the decade gets lost in everything. Here’s a guide to the Arizona-Oregon game over the last ten years. 
– Large-scale implications aren’t just involved in the Pac-12 Title game Friday night as Championship Weekend gets set to start.
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