Oregon @ Stanford preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 12, 2016 ) Stanford 52, Oregon 27

Two of the top running backs in the Pac-12 square off Saturday as Oregon visits No. 25 Stanford, which has won three in a row following a two-game skid. Stanford’s Bryce Love ranks first nationally with 206.7 rushing yards per game while Royce Freeman has run for 10 touchdowns to lead Oregon's injury-plagued offense.

Love contributed a 68-yard touchdown while finishing with a season-low 152 yards on 20 carries in last Saturday’s 23-20 win over Utah as Stanford remained one loss behind Washington and Washington State in the Pac-12 North. Love has made 20 runs of 20-plus yards this season to pace the Cardinal, which rotated quarterbacks Keller Chryst and K.J. Costello against the Utes and could do so again this week. While Love has carried Stanford's offense, the team ranks eighth in the conference in pass defense (251.8 yards per game), ninth in rushing defense (182) and eighth in total defense (433.8). The unit faces another test against Freeman and an Oregon offense that expects to have top wide receivers Charles Nelson and Dillon Mitchell back from injury for Saturday’s contest.

TV: 11 p.m. ET, FS1. LINE: Stanford -10.5

ABOUT OREGON (4-2, 1-2 Pac-12): True freshman quarterback Braxton Burmeister made his first career start in place of Justin Herbert (broken collarbone) in last Saturday’s 33-10 loss to Washington State, throwing for 145 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions. Burmeister was hurt by the absence of several injured playmakers - including Nelson, who leads the team with 243 receiving yards despite not playing since hurting his ankle against Wyoming on Sept. 16. The Ducks lead the nation with 24 sacks but will need strong efforts from linebacker Troy Dye (team-high 52 tackles) and defensive end Jalen Jelks to limit Love’s impact.

ABOUT STANFORD (4-2, 3-1): The Cardinal have struggled defensively despite solid performances by lineman Harrison Phillips (team-leading 47 tackles, four tackles for loss) and safety Justin Reid, who recorded a team-high seven tackles and his fifth interception in the victory over Utah. “I don’t know if there’s another safety playing at his level in America right now,” coach David Shaw told reporters. The uncertainty at quarterback figures to continue for at least another week after Chryst and Costello combined for 188 yards on 13-of-24 passing and 42 yards on six carries with no turnovers against the Utes.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Stanford avoided a three-game losing streak against Oregon with last season’s 52-27 victory.

2. Oregon is 22-3 in its last 25 Pac-12 road games when allowing fewer than 40 points.

3. Stanford has not allowed a sack over its last three games.

PREDICTION: Stanford 30, Oregon 24