3 questions heading into Colorado's matchup with Oregon

EUGENE, Ore. — Anything can happen during #Pac12AfterDark, but picking the Colorado Buffaloes to beat the Oregon Ducks might be a stretch.

Oregon, led by star quarterback Justin Herbert, is favored by over three touchdowns in Vegas and the Ducks seem to be the cream of the Pac-12. The Buffs, on the other hand, are coming off a disappointing home loss to Arizona.

Here’s what we’re wondering about before Friday night’s matchup?

Who is playing for Colorado?

At one point in Saturday’s contest against Arizona, Colorado was down nine starters. 

The defense couldn’t slow down hobbled Arizona quarterback Khalil Tate. The offense made some crucial mistakes. It was ugly.

Some injuries — like defensive end Mustafa Johnson and wide receiver Laviska Shenault — were banged up heading into the game. Others — like nose tackle Jalen Sami and safety Mikial Onu — we’re injured during the game. 

With a week to figure things out, the backend of the defense may be better equipped to slow down the opposing offense. But when you’re playing with the barebones squad the Buffs may be stuck with Friday night, the playbook will likely have to be thin. 

It’s tough to formulate a winning gameplan without key players, but it’s even tougher when you don’t know who is going to be missing. Hopefully, Colorado is just keeping its lips tight but has known for a few days what it will be working with.

Is the Buffs’ offensive line up to the challenge?

At this point in the season, it’s clear that the Colorado offense goes as far as its offensive line allows. When they open holes and build a pocket, the Buffs are one of the scariest groups in the country. But when they’re getting beat consistently and called for penalties often, the offense stalls out.

Friday night will be a challenge.

Perhaps no group faces a stiffer task than the offensive line. Oregon’s front seven is one of the best in the country. They’re big, they’re fast and they’re physical.

The leader is Troy Dye, who has started at linebacker in Eugene for four years. Dye wasn’t always a linebacker though. In high school he played safety and now — at 6-foot 4 and 226 pounds — Dye is one of the best sideline-to-sideline backers in the country.

The Ducks are bulky up front, and that starts with 322-pound nose tackle Jordon Scott. He’s flanked by multiple talented pass rushers, namely 6-foot-5  true freshman Kayvon Thibodeaux who was the top-ranked recruit in his class.

Gus Cumberlander, a 6-foot-7 defensive end, is typically one of the big names on the Ducks defense, but he injured his knee against Cal and won’t play again this season.

Even without Cumberlander, the Buffs are in for a dogfight and the first step is limiting penalties, which flared up against Arizona.

Can Colorado stop the big plays?

While the battle between the Colorado offense and Oregon defense should provide some of the best football in all of Week 7, the game could get ugly when those units are on the sideline.

The Buffs’ defense has underwhelmed so far in 2019 and the additional injuries could set it back even further. Its penchant for allowing big plays makes it easy to assume Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert will expose more blown coverages Friday night, but the Ducks’ offense has been far from perfect.

For at least a decade, Oregon’s identity has been its explosive offense. This season, though, the Ducks’ skill players have struggled.

Oregon’s senior tight end, Jacob Breeland may be the only skill player to join Herbert in the NFL next year. He’s leading the team with 352 receiving yards. Breeland ranks in the top five among tight ends nationally in receptions, yards and touchdowns.

But outside of Breeland, there isn’t much to be scared of from the Ducks.

This week’s starting receivers Brenden Schooler, Johnny Johnson III and Jaylon Redd have combined for 481 yards this season.

An inexperienced group of Buffs cornerbacks could jumpstart the Oregon passing attack, or the matchups with Schooler, Johnson and Redd could be an ideal matchup as the Buffs try to build chemistry.

The No. 13 Ducks (4-1) will host the Buffs (3-2) at Autzen Stadium in Eugene Friday night at 8 p.m. MST on FS1.