The stars are aligning. Oregon leads Utah 20-0 at the half.
Before the rain began to fall early in the second quarter, the Ducks waddled ahead 17-0. Oregon is playing lights out on defense, forcing two failed fourth down conversions, a blocked punt and a Tyler Huntley interception before the half.
Oregon quarterback, Justin Herbert has picked the Utes apart for 178 yards on 11 completions and one touchdown. Herbert’s made a few poor reads but has connected deep twice for 45 and 50 yards.
Utah has looked flat and defeated for much of the first half. The Utes were stopped twice on fourth and short by the Ducks, just needing two yards on each attempt. Huntley has been shut down by the Ducks’ pass rush throwing for just 75 yards and going 7-12 with an interception.
Oregon has gotten to Huntley three times and has sacked him once, not allowing Huntley to get into a rhythm.
Of course, a Utah loss benefits Oklahoma so long as the Sooners can take care of Baylor tomorrow. With a two-loss PAC-12 champion if Oregon wins, the path to the playoff is less muddy. if the Ducks can finish the job, Oklahoma needs a win on their own as well as LSU to beat Georgia in the SEC Championship to sneak in as the fourth seed for the College Football Playoff.
Oklahoma and Baylor are set to kick off at 11a.m. CT on ABC.
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