Which Ducks will be the crucial X-Factors on Saturday against Wisconsin?
The Oregon Ducks are 10-0 and doesn’t look like they are slowing down anytime soon heading into a Week 12 matchup against the Wisconsin Badgers. They already have wins over the Ohio State Buckeyes and Boise State Broncos, who are both projected to make the 12-team College Football Playoff.
It’s already tough enough for the Badgers to pull off the upset, but here are three Ducks that can make their upset bid even more difficult.
Dillon Gabriel
Dillon Gabriel has been incredible. He’s been so good that some pundits are picking him as their Heisman pick. While his stats aren’t flashy, he just gets the job done so well and so efficiently. Gabriel rarely makes mistakes and doesn’t turn the ball over much. He will be an extremely tough player for the Badgers to defend against.
Gabriel is a left-handed quarterback, which can change the way defenses defend his scrambling and ability to move inside the pocket. The biggest thing the Badgers can do is pressure Gabriel and force him to make short throws.
Gabriel’s air yards have decreased week by week, so garnering pressure on him and forcing him to dump it off can help the Badgers limit Oregon’s ability to make explosive plays.
Jordan James
Jordan James is the most underrated running back in the country. It’s just true. He has nearly 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground for the Ducks this season. James has opened up the passing game for the Ducks since opposing defenses have both a stellar passing and running game to defend against.
Wisconsin struggled to defend the run against Iowa and it led to an early blowout. James is expected to play but has been banged up so he won’t be 100%.
The Badgers need to defend the run up the middle well and contain him to take James out of the picture and force Oregon to make throws into the Wisconsin secondary. If they can successfully execute this (which is a big if), the Badgers will have a chance to win.
Jordan Burch
Jordan Burch has been one of the best defensive ends in the Power 4 this season, recording six sacks so far. He’s been a force to be reckoned with in both the run and pass defense and will need to be double-teamed by this Wisconsin offensive line as much as possible.
Upperclassmen on this offensive line like Jack Nelson need to contain Burch and make sure Locke’s pocket stays clean. He has had struggles when pressured considering he isn’t the most mobile quarterback.
Burch is sure to try and get some hits on Locke, meaning offensive line coach A.J. Blazek’s unit has to be on their A-game and give ample time to Locke for passing plays.