Oregon football roundtable predictions for Ducks Week 7 game vs. Indiana Hoosiers

The Oregon Ducks got to enjoy their biggest win of the season thus far a little bit extra last week thanks to a well-timed bye, but now they get back on the horse and look to make another statement with a top-10 clash in Eugene on Saturday. The No. 7 Indiana Hoosiers are coming to town, and ESPN's College GameDay is setting up shop on campus to preview the matchup.

It will be a fun game to watch, as both teams are among the best in the nation this year and have a lot to prove going forward. There's a chance that each ends up in the College Football Playoff at the end of the year, but a win on Saturday will be pivotal for both to have an easy path there.

So far, we've broken down the matchup, looked at some major keys to victory, and covered the injury news heading into Saturday. Now it's time to make some predictions.

To preview the game, we go through our weekly roundtable with the writers from Ducks Wire to offer our opinions and predictions for what's to come. Here’s another edition of the roundtable.

Bye Week Improvements

Question: The Ducks had a well-timed bye week, sitting in between top-10 games against Penn State and Indiana. What do you think Oregon needed to improve the most during their bye, in your opinion?

Zachary Neel: I think the biggest weakness on this team right now is at the linebacker position, where they need to play with a little bit more cohesion. That is nitpicking, though, because this team has been very solid up to this point. The biggest focus over the bye was just getting healthy and ready for the back half of the schedule.

Don Smalley:  Honestly, it isn't easy to pick out one area Oregon needed to work on the most. There are very few weaknesses on both sides of the ball on this team. I guess I'd say the secondary, since they haven't been tested all that much. 

Paul White: There honestly isn’t too much the Ducks needed to improve on, but if there’s one thing it would have to be the number of big plays. They play sound defense for a majority of their games, but a few big plays here-and-there can really swing a game in these big matchups.

Bjorn Bergstrom:  For Oregon to go far in the postseason, they’ll need to generate more sacks and more pressure on the quarterback overall. So far, they have nine total sacks in five games — good for 92nd in the country. It’s a concerning mark, to say the least. Outside of Matayo Uigalelei (4 sacks) and Teitum Tuioti (2.5 sacks), no one else has more than a single sack. Does that mean guys simply have to step up or does pressure have to be schemed? That question has to be answered.

Penn State's Damage

Question: Penn State shocked the nation this past week with a loss to the previously 0-4 UCLA Bruins, knocking them out of the top 25. Do you think this damages Oregon’s claim to a big win over the Nittany Lions?

Zachary Neel: It's not hard to see why many think that Oregon's win over Penn State is not as impressive anymore, but that's easy to say in hindsight. Two weeks ago, nobody was degrading that win, which came in a hard-fought battle between two really good teams. Penn State got knocked down, and was unable to get back up in time to beat the Bruins. That's not Oregon's fault.

Don Smalley: No. Despite that humiliating loss to UCLA, in the playoff era of college football, as long as you're undefeated or have one loss, you'll be ok. And Penn State is still a very good football team on the field. It's the coaching that is suspect. Playing on the road, across the country, and in that atmosphere, that was still a huge win for the Ducks.

Paul White: Just a little bit. Normally, the offense is what holds Penn State back, so their defense getting lit up by UCLA seemed like a bit of a fluke. Clearly, they aren’t the National Championship contenders everyone thought, but I think they’re much better than they played against UCLA.

Bjorn Bergstrom: It absolutely damages it. I don’t doubt that Penn State is a good football team, but stumbling against an undermanned UCLA squad is not something great football teams do. It shouldn’t damage Oregon’s confidence that they went into Happy Valley during a whiteout and took the game, but, from a national perspective, it certainly lowers the impact of the road win.

Offensive Key to the Game

Question: Offensively, what do you think the biggest key to the game is for the Ducks if they are going to win?

Zachary Neel: I think hitting on a few explosive plays throughout the game is going to be big for Oregon. They should be able to run the ball well and control the game for the most part, but if they can get a few chunk plays down the field, that will help keep momentum and allow them to pull away.

Don Smalley: Indiana has a good defense, but does give up the big play now and again. If Oregon can run the ball consistently, that would set up some play-action passes down the field. And once they get in the Red Zone, score touchdowns and not field goals.

Paul White: They are going to need to control the clock. Indiana can beat you multiple ways, so their best defense might be to just keep them off the field for as long as possible.

Bjorn Bergstrom: Balance through the air and on the ground. With Dante Moore spreading his wings, the focus still has to be on establishing the running game. That softens the defense and opens up the entire playbook for offensive coordinator Will Stein to scheme up favorable looks for Moore. It’s tempting to let the former five-star passer let it rip from the start, but it all starts with the ground game.

Defensive Key to the Game

Question: What is the biggest defensive key to the game for this one if you’re Oregon?

Zachary Neel: Much like last game against Penn State, it's going to be about limiting the run, especially on first and second down. Indiana has an RPO-heavy offense that thrives in second-and-short situations where they can pick and choose what they do, which makes it tough for a defense, but if the Ducks can put Fernando Mendoza into some obvious passing downs, it could allow the edge rushers to take advantage of their size and get after the QB.

Don Smalley: Get off the field quickly. Indiana is efficient on offense and the longer they have the ball, it cuts down on the number of possessions the Duck offense has. Get the Hoosiers in 3rd-and-long situations and make Mendoza beat you with his arm.

Paul White: The biggest defensive key is to stop the run. Fernando Mendoza is a great quarterback, but Indiana has gone over 300 rushing yards in four of their five games. If the Ducks are going to give up that much, then they’ll have no chance.

Bjorn Bergstrom: Hurrying up Fernando Mendoza’s inner clock. The former Cal passer has grown into an elite processor when well protected, as he’s thrown 16 touchdowns while being sacked just five times in five games. Given time and with the wide receiver duo of Elijah Sarratt and Omar Cooper Jr., Mendoza would have the opportunity to shred the Ducks’ secondary — regardless of how talented they are. He’s that good.

Gambling Corner

Question: Gambling Corner: You get $100 to spread across the point spread (Oregon -7.5), the moneyline (Oregon -245), and the over/under (55.5 points). How are you allocating your funds?

Zachary Neel: Give me all $100 on Oregon -7.5. This line was Oregon -10.5 before Penn State lost, and since then, everyone is seemingly spooked by what the Ducks are. Nothing has changed in Eugene, they're just getting a few free points.

Don Smalley:  This is going to be a close one. I think Indiana is better than Penn State (I said this before the UCLA loss). But it's in Autzen and an atmosphere none of those players, except for Mendoza, has experienced. Being at home will be the difference. I'm going to take $30 for Indiana to cover and the rest on the UNDER.

Paul White: I would put $25 on both Oregon’s spread and moneyline. I would put $50 on the over because I have a feeling that this is going to be a shootout.

Bjorn Bergstrom: The line has shifted down to Oregon -7.5, which I think is a mistake. Scrap all the other options, gimme $100 on the Ducks to cover.

Final Score Prediction

Question: Final Score Prediction: Who wins the game?

Zachary Neel: Give me Oregon, 35-24.

Don Smalley: Oregon pulls away late, 28-17.

Paul White: I think it will be a highly competitive game, but I think the Ducks are much better. They pull away at the end and win 34-24.

Bjorn Bergstrom: 34-21, Oregon. I see the Ducks riding the energy in Autzen and taking a two-score lead pretty quickly and holding it throughout.

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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon football predictions for Ducks' Week 7 game vs. Indiana