Michigan has a rare opportunity to play spoilsport on Saturday when it hosts Oregon for the first time as a member of the Big Ten. The top-ranked Ducks are the clear away favorites against a Wolverines team hoping for a late-season rebound.

Michigan may be the reigning national and Big Ten champions, but as the calendar turns to November, the Wolverines (5-3, 3-2) aren’t even bowl eligible. On the other hand, Oregon (8-0, 5-0) has made the transition from the Pac-12 seamlessly and is currently atop the polls with a clear path to the Big Ten Championship Game and the College Football Playoff.

The biggest difference between these two teams is the offense, particularly at quarterback. The Ducks have Dillon Gabriel, who ranks fifth in the country in passer rating (174.8) and second in FBS history with 143 career touchdown passes. He is making a strong case to be named a Heisman Trophy finalist and is a key reason the Ducks are averaging 34 points per game in Big Ten play.

The Wolverines have used three different quarterbacks who have combined to throw more interceptions (nine) than touchdowns (seven). Additionally, Jack Tuttle announced earlier this week that he was retiring due to repeated concussions, leaving Davis Warren and Alex Orji as remaining options at center. This season, Michigan has scored a total of 172 points, compared to the 170 points scored by Oregon in Big Ten games alone.

Unlike last season, the Wolverines can’t rely on their defense either. They rank just 12th in the conference in scoring defense (21.5 points per game), while the Ducks only allow 15.6 points per game.

Here too, the biggest difference is in the air. Oregon has only allowed two touchdown passes to Big Ten opponents, while Michigan has allowed eight. The Wolverines could also be missing injured star cornerback Will Johnson.

Winning in the Big House is no easy feat, but the mere fact that this would count as a home loss for Michigan says a lot about where each team currently stands.

Here’s how to watch No. 1 Oregon at Michigan

Odds for Oregon and Michigan

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(Photo by Justius Lowe: Ben Lonergan / The Register-Guard / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)