The Oregon-Nebraska matchup on October 17 is already shaping up to be one of the more talked-about games on the Ducks’ Big Ten schedule, even if it doesn’t look like a nail-biter on paper.
Oregon enters the season with national championship expectations and a slate that includes a handful of obvious heavyweight tests - USC, Ohio State, Michigan and Washington among them. But the Nebraska game in Eugene is the one that could bring a different kind of attention, thanks to Dylan Raiola.
Raiola transferred from Nebraska to Oregon to back up Dante Moore after first being the starter and billed as the savior of Husker football. That alone gives the game a built-in storyline, and early betting lines only add to the buzz.
DraftKings Sportsbook has Oregon as a 21.5-point favorite over Nebraska, with the total set at 51.5 points. The lines are subject to change.
That kind of spread suggests the Ducks should have the game well in hand, which raises the main question around the matchup: would Dan Lanning let Raiola get some snaps if Oregon controls things early?
Because the game is in Eugene, the pressure on Raiola would be lighter than it would be elsewhere, but it would still give him a chance to face his old program and show how far he’s come. And with Nebraska fans having been so vocal since his departure, the setting adds another layer to a game that was already going to draw attention.
For Oregon, a season full of likely lopsided outcomes can sometimes blur together. This one won’t. The Raiola angle gives the Ducks a little extra juice in a game that figures to be watched for reasons beyond the final score.
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Now beginning his NFL career with the Las Vegas Raiders, Benson has not forgotten where that support came from. He has already spoken about how much Oregon fans meant to him, a reminder that even one season in Autzen can leave a lasting impression when a player delivers in the biggest moments and leaves a fan base wanting to follow his next step. [Read more 🡒]