Saturday marks the finale to a home-and-home series between no. 7 Oregon and no. 5 Michigan State. Last year, thanks to 28 unanswered points from the Ducks, Oregon rallied past the Spartans 46-27. The win catapulted the Ducks into the College Football Playoff conversation. This time , the same circumstances are present, and Associate sports editor Hayden Kim and managing editor Jack Heffernan break down the matchup, offering insights, predictions and more. 
Oregon surrendered 42 points in the season opener. Do the Ducks stand any chance against Michigan State if their defense plays the way it did against Eastern Washington?
Heffernan – It wouldn’t be a stretch at all to say that Eastern Washington, an FBS team, has a more lethal aerial attack than fifth-ranked Michigan State. Quarterback Connor Cook threw 47 passes in the 2014 matchup with Oregon, completing 29 passes for 343 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. The Spartans will rely on Cook just as heavily this year, considering that they only rushed 22 times versus Western Michigan. The Spartans also have arguably the top offensive lines in the nation. That being said, Oregon only notched one sack against the Eagles and was scorched in the passing game, while limiting the Eagles on the ground. Look for a similar performance on Saturday, with the Ducks’ offense keeping them in the game until the end.
Kim – If Oregon’s secondary resembles anything near its performance against Eastern Washington, it could be the deal-breaker. While Connor Cook wasn’t as sharp as expected in his season opener, there is little doubt that he and his talented receiving corps will be ready to go this Saturday in front of a home crowd. It’s never fair to assume anything after just one game, but this game will depend a lot on how Don Pellum’s group does in their first big game of the year on the road.
This will be undoubtedly the toughest opponent Vernon Adams has ever faced. How do you predict he will fair against the Spartans?
Heffernan – Roughly three weeks after passing a crucial math test, Vernon Adams passed his first football test. He completed 19-of-25 passes for 246 yards and 2 touchdowns, while accumulating 94 yards on 14 carries. But if Adams thinks facing his former team created a hostile environment, Spartans Stadium will feel like playing in a hornet’s nest. Playing a major college program on the road will present a largely unfamiliar challenge for Adams, but there is precedent for him to perform well against FBS programs on the road. Last season, he and the Eagles posted 52 points in a seven-point loss to Washington, whose new stadium provides plenty of eardrum-shaking noise. The biggest question will be whether or not he can elude the Spartans’ front sevens, namely Shalique Calhoun. If Adams does see significant pressure, the next question will be if it causes him to commit turnovers. While Adams’ numbers from last week will only slide by a little bit against Michigan State, he might commit a turnover or two that determines the outcome of the game.
Kim – Vernon Adams Jr. went through all the hassle to not only play for a contender at the FBS level, but also impress NFL scouts. This game will give an opportunity to make his brand known in front of a national audience. Last season, this matchup had a lot of influence in Oregon’s inaugural College Football Playoff bid. It will be no different this time. Under these circumstances, I expect Adams to be the difference in the game. This is assuming his defense can hold up enough to allow the Oregon attack to do its thing. Adams has proven to shine brightest under the big lights. All the drama this past offseason has been leading up to this one moment. I’d be surprised to see him drop an egg, despite this being his biggest road test of his career.
Prediction? Why?
Heffernan – Michigan State wins 34-28. While defensive losses such as Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Troy Hill, Erick Dargan, and Arik Armstead appear to have hurt the Ducks early in the season, the Spartans also have some concerns at their skill positions. Michigan State lost its top running back (Jeremy Langford) and receiver (Tony Lippett) to the NFL Draft. Both were the Spartans’ main offensive weapons in its matchup versus Oregon last season. Senior Connor Cook will provide just enough offense without turning the ball over. On the other side of the ball, the Ducks’ running game will have it’s fair share of big plays along with Vernon Adams and receivers Bralon Addison, Dwayne Stanford, Charles Nelson and Byron Marshall. While the offense will be just as dangerous as usual, it will not come close to the 62 points it put up against Eastern Washington. In the end, an Oregon turnover will make the difference in this close contest.
Kim – I’m going to go against the grain and say Oregon escapes East Lansing with a 34-24 win. A lot of this game is going to hinge on Oregon’s defense, but I’m going to bet that they show a little more than they did against Vernon Adam’s former team. Under that context, I’m predicting the Oregon offense ends up being too much for the Spartans. In other words, I’m going to buy the idea that Oregon’s offensive line will hold their own against one of the most experienced and talented front fours in the country. I’m alos selling the idea that Michigan State’s offense has enough in the passing game to keep up with the Ducks on the scoreboard.
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