The Heartland Line
Oregon WR Evan Stewart doubtful for Nebraska as Ducks' injury list keeps growing
Oregon's leading receiver Evan Stewart was downgraded to doubtful for Saturday's game against 5-1 Nebraska, with QB Dante Moore already ruled out.
Oregon may have to face Nebraska on Saturday without its leading receiver. On Thursday's Big Ten availability report, Evan Stewart moved from questionable to doubtful, ClutchPoints reported. The fifth-year wideout had been listed as questionable only a day earlier.
The Ducks would be giving up a lot. Stewart has 27 catches for 352 yards and four touchdowns in five games, and he has scored in each of his last four. In last week's 17-15 loss to UCLA he caught five passes for 74 yards, including a 44-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
The news adds to an injury list that already includes the quarterback. CBS Sports reported that Oregon has ruled out starter Dante Moore, who is recovering from a concussion. That leaves Dylan Raiola and Brock Thomas competing for the start. Raiola started against UCLA and was pulled for Thomas in the fourth quarter after a poor outing, according to ClutchPoints. Whoever starts may be throwing to a thin group. Jeremiah McClellan, a starting receiver, will miss his fourth straight game with a broken foot. Freshman Messiah Hampton has 17 catches as his replacement, and freshman Jalen Lott and backup tight end Andrew Olesh could get more snaps if Stewart sits. Dakorien Moore (18 catches, 311 yards, four touchdowns) and Jamari Johnson (12 catches, 189 yards) are the most proven options left.
The report also lists safety Aaron Flowers, offensive lineman Trent Ferguson, running back Simeon Price and linebacker Brayden Platt as out. Offensive lineman Dave Iuli is probable.
What it means for Saturday
The two teams come into Autzen Stadium headed in different directions. Oregon is 3-2 and 1-1 in the Big Ten. The Ducks have lost two of their last four, falling 39-31 at Oklahoma State and then 17-15 at home to No. 21 UCLA. In between they won 41-27 at No. 12 USC. Nebraska is 5-1 and 2-1 in league play. Its only loss was 20-17 to No. 7 Indiana last week, after it beat Maryland 48-23 and won 31-13 at Michigan State. The Cornhuskers have scored at least 31 points in five of six games, while Oregon's offense managed 15 against UCLA with Moore out.
The market still favors the home team. On this site's board, which tracks 12 venues, Oregon is favored at -228 on the moneyline at Novig and by 6.5 points on the spread at -113. Nebraska is +223 at Novig, and the best price anywhere is +226 at Polymarket, so the venues barely differ on the outright result. The spread shows more spread between venues. Novig has Nebraska +6.5 at +111, while Hard Rock Bet offers the Cornhuskers a full extra point at +7.5, priced at -125. The total is 51.5 at Novig, with the over at +104 and the under at -111. Pinnacle has the under at 52, priced at -118. Sportsbook hold runs from 3.6% to 7.0% across the three markets.
If Stewart is ruled out, a near-touchdown spread asks a lot of a backup quarterback and an inexperienced receiver group against a Nebraska team that has been putting up points all season. The final availability report before kickoff should show how much of Oregon's passing game is left.