Oregon's Dan Lanning praises Ryan Day as Ducks turn to No. 11 Ohio State in Columbus

Dan Lanning had kind words for Ohio State before his attention fully turned to the Buckeyes. Speaking after Oregon beat Northwestern 34-26 at Autzen Stadium on Halloween, the Ducks coach called the trip to Columbus a big challenge and praised his counterpart, saying "Coach (Ryan) Day does an unbelievable job," according to Oregon Ducks On SI.

Lanning spoke before USC beat Ohio State 30-18 at the Coliseum later that night. That loss changes the shape of Saturday's game. Both programs opened the year among the top two in the preseason AP poll, and this date looked like one of the season's marquee games. Instead it is a game between a 5-3 Oregon team whose playoff hopes have largely faded and a 6-2 Ohio State team that just took its first conference loss. Oregon Ducks On SI notes the Ducks still have a narrow route to the Big Ten title game if teams above them, including Indiana, lose. A win in Columbus would also knock Ohio State down that list.

Both teams are working with backup quarterbacks. Eleven Warriors reported last week that Lanning does not expect Dante Moore to return this season after the concussion that has kept him out of Oregon's recent games, and that Lanning fired offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer after the loss at Illinois. In Columbus, Julian Sayin is out indefinitely, and Luke Fahey started against USC. Oregon Ducks On SI reported that Fahey moved the ball but the Buckeyes stalled short of the end zone. Lanning also pointed to the details: Oregon lost a fumble against Northwestern but was flagged only once, for five yards. He said the Ducks could not afford mistakes like that against Ohio State.

What it means for Saturday

The numbers favor the home team, though not by as much as they did in August. Ohio State has allowed 15.5 points per game, the fewest of the two teams, and has won all four of its home games by a combined 191-41. Its two losses came by a combined 13 points, both on the road. The concern is the recent offense: the Buckeyes scored 19 at Indiana and 18 at USC, and the 30 points USC put up are the most Ohio State has allowed this season.

Oregon's offense has dropped off more sharply. The Ducks scored 41 at USC, then 15, 17 and 10 over the next three games before scoring 34 against Northwestern. They are 1-2 on the road, and their three losses came by a combined 21 points.

Ohio State is favored on this site's board for the game, which tracks 12 venues. Novig has the Buckeyes at -245 on the moneyline and Oregon at +233. The best Oregon price is +250 at Hard Rock Bet. On the spread, Novig lists Ohio State -7.5 at even money and Oregon +7.5 at -113. theScore Bet has the Ducks' side at -110, and DraftKings has Ohio State at -7 for -115. Novig's total is 48.5, while Pinnacle sits at 48. The venues mostly agree: they are a half-point apart on the spread and total, and sportsbook hold runs 4.0% to 5.6% on the moneyline and up to 6.7% on the spread and total.

The game kicks off Saturday, November 7, on CBS.