Arizona Football returns to action to take on No. 7 Oregon in Eugene

It was a long bye week for the Arizona Football team (4-5, 2-4), as the Wildcats look to get back against the No. 7 Oregon Ducks (8-1, 6-0) looming.

It’s a big week for Arizona Football, as the Wildcats are desperately looking for a win to get out of their skid. However, the only problem with that is that the Wildcats take on the No. 7 Oregon Ducks this weekend, and the challenge is on. 

There’s no doubt that these past few weeks have not only been rough for the Wildcats, but especially for Wildcat fans everywhere.

Arizona Wildcats

As it stands, Arizona is in the midst of a four-game losing streak, and things aren’t looking so great in the Ol’ Southwest. Despite starting the season 4-1 (2-0), things have taken a turn for the worse.

The Wildcats need two more wins in order to become bowl eligible, but that’s a tall order with only three games remaining. The only problem is those three remaining games are against; the No. 7 Ducks, No. 8 Utah and ASU.

However, if Arizona is to at least salvage their season, they need to just take it one week at a time, starting with Oregon. Perhaps the good thing for them, is that they were able to beat Oregon last year.

Another interesting thing to note, is that Arizona is going to be fresh off a bye week and will have had another week to adjust under interim defensive coordinator, Chuck Cecil, so perhaps that is a good thing for this team.

We will also possibly see an increased role from the freshman quarterback, Grant Gunnell as well, which maybe could equate to more, consistent offensive success.

With that said, here’s our ‘Week 12’ preview of Arizona’s match-up against the Ducks:

Know Thy Foe:

Team: Oregon Ducks (8-1, 6-0)

Conference: Pac-12 Conference

2018 Record: 9-4 (5-4); finished the season by beating Michigan State by a 7-6 final in the Redbox Bowl.

Head Coach: Mario Cristobal enters his eighth season as a division one head coach, and is in his second full season in Eugene, after taking over in 2017 for Willie Taggert as an Interim coach. Overall, he is 44-53 and is 17-6 overall as coach with the Ducks.

Cristobal found some success at Florida International which is a difficult place to win, but after being let go in 2012, he served as an assistant at Alabama from 2012-16, before coming to Oregon in 2017 as an assistant, and the rest has been history since then.

Key Returners/ Starters: There’s no question who leads the Ducks. Senior quarterback Justin Herbert is the best signal caller in the conference, and is having one heck of a season.

He is able to really sling the football, but also has a little wiggle to escape if Arizona allows him opportunities to move.

The Ducks use a bit of a spread offense, with a bit of an emphasis on power running as well. They have a strong corp of running backs as well, mostly led by the trio of CJ Verdell, Travis Dye and Cyrus Habibi-Likio, the three have combined for over 1,400 yards and 11 total touchdowns.

Arizona will be undoubtedly be challenged vertically too, as Herbert likes to spread the ball, and uses a bevvy of talented pass catchers like; Jaylon Redd, Johnny Johnson III and Jacob Breeland (although he is out for the remainder of the season) among others.

Where Arizona will be challenged perhaps the most is along the defensive line. The Wildcats don’t have a prolific pass rush by any means, and the Ducks have done a great job in protecting Herbert, allowing just 15 sacks (tied for 45th in fewest sacks allowed in college football).

Aside from a strong offensive output this season, where the Ducks have really excelled is on defense, ranking 22nd overall in total defense.

Oregon has play makers virtually everywhere on defense, are coached well, and are undoubtedly led by guys like; Troy Dye, Juwan Johnson and Isaac Slade-Matautia.

In the secondary is where they really excel though. Guys like Jevon Holland, Thomas Graham, Jr., Verone McKinley III and Deommodore Lenoir are very active for the Ducks, having done a tremendous job this season, combining for 10 interceptions and 17 pass deflections.

Lastly, the Ducks have some great athletes along the defensive line, which should challenge the Arizona offensive line who’s a little banged up. Together the Wildcats have surrendered 25 sacks on the season which ranks 109th, so keeping Gunnell and Tate upright is going to be a challenge.

The trio of Mase Funa, Drayton Carlberg and Kayvon Thibodeaux have absolutely wreaked havoc on opposing offensive lines, with a combined 10.5 sacks, and come this Saturday they are going to be ones to watch out for in this one.

Key Injuries: 

Arizona 

• OL – Cody Creason (Questionable) – Did not play versus Oregon State, so his status is unknown at this time.
• OL – Josh McCauley (Questionable) – Left the game versus Oregon State and may be back for Oregon.
• OL – Bryson Cain (Questionable) – Left the game versus Oregon State and may be back in time for Oregon.

Oregon State

• LB – Andrzej Hughes-Murray (Out) – Hughes-Murray is expected to miss an extended period due to a foot injury.
• TE – Cam McCormick (Out) – McCormick will be out for the remainder of the 2019 season due to an ankle injury.
• WR – JR Waters (Out) – Waters underwent surgery for a foot injury and is expected to miss the remainder of the season.
• QB – Cale Millen (Out) – Millen will miss the remainder of the season as he underwent right shoulder surgery.
• TE – Jacob Breeland (Out) – Breeland is projected to sit out the remainder of the season due to a left knee injury.
• LB – Adrian Jackson (Out) – Jackson is expected to miss the remainder of the season with a foot injury.
• DL/DE – Gus Cumberlander (Out) – Cumberlander suffered a left knee injury and is expected to miss the remainder of the season.
• K – Zach Emerson (Out) – Emerson has been sidelined while dealing with an off-field matter. It is unclear when he might rejoin the lineup.
• WR – Lance Wilhoite (Out) – Wilhoite has been sidelined due to a hamstring injury, and it is unknown when he will return to action.
• WR – Justin Collins (Out) – Collins has been sidelined with a knee injury, and it is uncertain when he will be available to return.
• OL – Dallas Warmack (Probable) – Warmack is expected to play against USC on Nov. 16 despite a hip injury.
• RB – Cyrus Habibi-Likio (Probable) – Habibi-Likio is bothered by a quadriceps injury, but it is projected that he will be on the field Nov. 16 versus USC.
• RB – CJ Verdell (Probable) – Verdell is battling a lower-body injury, but he is expected to be available against USC on Nov. 16.

Game Information: 

When: Saturday, November 16th, 2019

Time: 8:30 PM MST/ 7:30 PM PST

Watch: Pac-12 Network

Where: Autzen Stadium – Eugene, OR (54,000)

Spread: TBD

Overall Series Record: 26-17 Oregon. Overall, this is a series that used to be close, but the Ducks have dominated this series for about the past 20 years, beating Arizona in 14 of the last 19 match-ups.

Last Meeting vs. Arizona: Arizona won the last match-up between the schools, when the Ducks traveled to Tucson as the No. 19, and came away with the 44-15 drubbing at the hands of the Wildcats.

My Prediction: Oregon 52 Arizona 23. Arizona has had a week to prepare, but unfortunately so has Oregon. The Ducks are incredibly talented and are still playing for a possible College Football Playoff bid, and I think that gives them the extra motivation to get it done this week.

Arizona has fared well against the Ducks of recent, but things have not been so great with Wildcat Nation right now, and getting a win in a tough place like Autzen just doesn’t seem likely this week.

While I do think the week off helps Arizona a little bit defensively, however, I think Oregon runs away with this one, especially towards the end of the game.

Prediction record so far: 5-4

At Zona Zealots, we’re hoping the Cats can turn things around, and finish these last few weeks on a high note! As always, Bear Down, Arizona and beat the Ducks!