Oregon vs. South Dakota

Oregon Ducks running back Byron Marshall (9) tries to elude South Dakota Coyotes linebacker Jet Moreland (32) in the first half at Autzen Stadium.

(Randy L. Rasmussen/The Oregonian)

EUGENE -- Oddsmakers in Las Vegas believe in the No. 3-ranked Oregon Ducks entering one of their highest-ranked and most-hyped home games in program history.

The Ducks, according to VegasInsider.com's opening line Sunday afternoon, are an 11-point favorite to beat No. 8 Michigan State on Sept. 6 at Autzen Stadium. The line, naturally, caused some reaction across the country given the game will feature two top-10 ranked teams.

We'll know the latest Associated Press rankings when the poll is released Tuesday, but Michigan State will rival Michigan in 2003 and Oklahoma in 2006 as one of the highest-ranked non-conference opponents to ever play in Autzen Stadium in recent years.

Bleacher Report's Adam Kramer on the line, which moved to 10.5 elsewhere in Las Vegas:

Though the VegasInsiders line still installs Oregon as a favorite, it's actually down from what some sports books were favoring UO at earlier this summer. In June, per Sporting News, the Ducks were considered a 13-point favorite by the Golden Nugget.

That's what Las Vegas believes. What about fans?

On Aug. 17, The Oregonian polled readers online about how they believe UO would fare against the Spartans. Forty-two percent voted then that "the Ducks will win." On Sunday, one day after Oregon routed South Dakota, 62-13, to win its season opener, 30 percent of pollers believed Oregon would win. Other options in each poll included "pretty confident," "neutral," "not very confident" and "no chance they'll win."

Though I think the dip has much to do with readers reacting to a so-so performance by Oregon's defense in the first game -- head coach Mark Helfrich said he was displeased by the unit's urgency -- any number of factors could play into this.

Take the poll and the lines at face value and realize each is an unscientific gauge. Still, it seems interesting to track the public opinion leading into the Pac-12/Big Ten game.

Are you still as confident or less confident about the Ducks' chances?

OK, to the weekend's Ducks links:

Breaking down the Spartans and Ducks with an MSU beat reporter.

Full transcript of Mark Helfrich's conference call with reporters Sunday.

Defensive coordinator Don Pellum wanted to see more from his group.

Jason Quick's game column focused on the doubters Byron Marshall seeks to silence.

The fall camp "legend" himself, Royce Freeman, speaks.

Aaron Fentress had his analysis of Saturday's win.

If you missed it, here were Helfrich's post-game comments.

Now things get real for Oregon, writes Austin Meek.

How much was truly learned about UO or OSU in Week One?

Scott Frost said one of Marcus Mariota's six incompletions was partially his fault.

-- Andrew Greif | @andrewgreif