A week after dismantling Michigan State, No. 3 Oregon finds itself on the wrong side of a small spread when No. 2 Ohio State visits Eugene. It's strange that there isn't a top-three matchup in the Rose Bowl between these two, but welcome to the new era NCAA. Not only is this game important for the national rankings, it will also establish the alpha dog in the Big Ten (with Penn State hot on the heels of the winner).

The Buckeyes have a formidable offense, with a top-five rushing attack and two elite wideouts in Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka. The Ducks have been strong against the pass this year (18th in yards and seventh in touchdowns allowed) and have recently bolstered a run defense that has held opponents to an average of 79 yards in the last three games. However, Boise State's Ashton Jeanty ran wild at Oregon earlier this season (192 yards, 3 TDs), suggesting he's vulnerable to high-level runners. OSU's Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson just split Iowa's potent run defense, and if the Buckeyes can force Oregon to redirect resources to stop the run, Smith and Egbuka are lethal in single coverage.

For the Ducks offense, tempo matters. Oregon likes to move quickly and take advantage of spacing errors, and transfer quarterback Dillon Gabriel is surgical when he runs with a time of 2.5 seconds or less. But he has faced pressure on nearly a quarter of his dropbacks, and when he does, Gabriel's completion rate drops by 20 percent. If OSU can set the pace, the Buckeyes can capitalize on a talent advantage.

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#2 Ohio State at #3 Oregon odds

Here's how to watch Ohio State at Oregon

• Venue: Autzen Stadium – Eugene, Oregon.
• Time: Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET
• TV: NBC
• Streaming: Fubo (try for free)

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(Photo by Cody Simon: Joseph Maiorana / Imagn Images)