The Oregon Ducks (4-1 overall, 2-1 Pacific-10 Conference) returns home this weekend to host the UCLA Bruins (4-1,2-1) at Autzen Stadium in Eugene in a battle to break a four-team deadlock for third place in the league standings. The Ducks played their last two games on the road, at Arizona State and California, and will be looking for their second home conference victory of the season. This will be the first time since the 2004 season that the two teams have faced off, as they did not play last season. ABC will televise the game between the schools with kickoff at 3:30 p.m. (EDT).
Oregon had claimed four-straight wins against UCLA prior to a 34-26 setback in Eugene in 2004. Oregon has historically encountered better success against this week’s visitors on the road than at home with UCLA enjoying a 13-7 advantage in Eugene while winning 12-of-14 games played in Autzen Stadium. UCLA won the last meeting at Autzen in 2004, 34-26.
The Ducks are averaging 469.20 yards on offense (fourth in the nation) — 196.00 on the ground (16th) and 273.20 in the air (14th) and 37.00 points per game (9th). Defensively, Oregon is allowing 332.00 yards (63rd in the NCAA) — 178.00 on the ground (104th) and 154.00 in the air (11th).
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Quarterback Dennis Dixon has completed 109 of 172 passes (63.4%) for 1,295 yards with eight touchdowns and five interceptions and has also rushed for 159 yards. Jonathan Stewart is the team's leading rusher with 482 yards (fourth in the Pac-10) and five touchdowns. Jaison Williams is the leading receiver with 33 catches (10th in NCAA) for 528 yards (4th) and five touchdowns.
In a matter of just one week, Oregon went from one of its best rushing performances in recent years to one of its worst. The Ducks’ 315 yards on the ground two weeks ago at Arizona State marked their most yards running the football since they set a school record with 446 rushing yards at Washington State in 2001. The following week at California, Oregon was held to only 70 yards on the ground on 29 carries. It was limited to only 65 yards last year vs. USC, the program’s lowest two rushing outputs since UCLA held the Ducks to only 45 yards in 2003.
The Bruins are the Pac-10 leaders in scoring defense, total defense, rushing defense and pass efficiency defense. Their total defense and rushing defense rank second in the country. Defensively the squad has scored a touchdown in its last two games and freshman cornerback Alterraun Verner has returned two interceptions for touchdowns this year.
On Offense, the Bruins have been struggling having only scored ten touchdowns all year, seven on the ground and three through the air.
"We're not going to win a lot of games scoring one and two touchdowns a game,'' running back Chris Markey said. "I just feel that we have to be more focused when we're on the field and know what's at stake. Our defense is helping us. They're playing amazing football, really, and we have to help them. In this conference, in the Pac-10, we have to step it up. We're having some growing pains as an offense right now, everybody knows that. It's going to take every individual on this offense to step it up. But we know what we have to do. We're getting to the meat of the schedule and just have to go out and perform now.''
Oregon has been installed as a –10-point favorite with a total of 52.
