#4 Oregon vs. Northwestern: Week Three brings us a clash between two programs heading in very different directions as the fourth-ranked Oregon Ducks travel to Evanston to face the Northwestern Wildcats. Oregon enters this game looking every bit the part of a College Football Playoff contender, rolling through its first two opponents with ease and showing no signs of slowing down.
Northwestern, meanwhile, is still searching for an identity under a new regime and has struggled to find consistency on either side of the ball. While the Wildcats will have the home crowd and the early kickoff on their side, the Ducks arrive with far too much firepower, depth, and confidence. With Penn State looming in two weeks, Oregon will be eager to stay sharp and keep building momentum. This matchup may not grab national headlines, but it offers another chance to see just how dominant the Ducks can be.
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Week 2 Results: 2-2 (-0.3u)
#4 Oregon vs. Northwestern Betting Odds
Do the Wildcats have a chance to even cover this spread?
Odds are courtesy of BetOnline, one of our favorite online sportsbooks, as of September 10, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. eastern. Sign up today with Promo Code FREE250 for a 50% deposit bonus up to $250 as well as 100 Free Spins at the online casino.
Spread
- Oregon -28 (-105)
- Northwestern -28 (-115)
Moneyline
- Oregon -5000
- Northwestern +1550
Total
- Over 48.5 (-105)
- Under 48.5 (-115)
#4 Oregon vs. Northwestern – September 13
This is going to be a blood bath, right? The fourth-ranked Oregon Ducks are just going to steamroll everyone in their way until they meet Penn State on the 27th, right? Based on how this team has opened the season, that is exactly how it looks to this semi-bright writer. Oregon has outscored its first two opponents by at least 46 points. Sure, Montana State and Oklahoma State are not true tests, but neither is Northwestern.
Some people will argue that the West Coast boys will not be ready for this 11 a.m., 9 a.m. local kickoff. These kids say good morning to the moon and the stars. They will be ready. Others will bring up the travel factor, claiming the trip from Eugene to Evanston will take a toll. Please. This is Week Three of college football. It is September. Bodies are healthy and ready.
Quacking All Weekend Long
I want the Ducks in this spot. The number does not matter to me. Northwestern has yet to face a team with Oregon’s talent. Their first two games were against Tulane, a 23-3 loss, and Western Illinois, a 42-7 win. Tulane is a solid squad, but nowhere near the level of the Ducks.
Northwestern’s lone offensive highlight is its ground attack, which is already banged up after losing Cam Porter to a season-ending injury. Redshirt sophomore Caleb Komolafe will step in, but he has only 74 carries for 245 yards in his career. Through two weeks, he has yet to crack the 100-yard mark on 20 carries. Now he faces a Ducks defense returning six starters from a unit that allowed just 19.4 points per game last season. Head coach Dan Lanning is fired up about this group, and it should be a very long morning for the Wildcats’ offense.
Defensively, Northwestern returns a couple of players, but Phil Steele projects them to give up over 350 yards and 27 points per game. Last year they allowed over 375 yards and 28 points per contest. If this year looks anything like last, Oregon’s offense will do whatever it wants.
I expect Lanning to run up the score, cover the spread for the Oregon boosters, and completely own the Wildcats on their lacrosse-sorry, typo-soccer-sorry, another typo-football field.
Still Quacking
When it comes down to it, this feels like one of those early-season matchups where the gap in talent, depth, and identity is too overwhelming to ignore. Oregon is built for a national title run, with a roster that can dominate in the trenches, a quarterback who can pick apart defenses, and a coaching staff that is unafraid to pour it on when given the opportunity. The Ducks are not just winning games right now, they are making statements, and that trend should continue in Evanston. By the time the final whistle blows, Oregon should leave no doubt about who they are and why the showdown with Penn State is already circling on every college football fan’s calendar.
Best Bet: Oregon -28 (-115) odds via BetOnline
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