CFB insider makes bold prediction on the winner of highly anticipated matchup between Dan Lanning's Oregon and Ohio State

The Oregon Ducks under coach Dan Lanning are expected to be one of the top teams in the Big Ten after moving from the defunct Pac-12. Next season, their championship credentials will be tested when they face the Ohio State Buckeyes in a Week 7 matchup on October 12.

CBS Sports analyst Josh Pate spoke about the huge matchup during an episode of the 'Late Kick Show' and gave a bold prediction about the Big Ten and the college football playoff.

"I think Ohio State at Oregon is maybe the biggest game of the year, certainly one of the biggest games of the year. These are the top two teams at Fan Duel in terms of odds to win the Big Ten. The physicality challenge for Oregon, the thing that everyone is talking about, how is that high-flying offense gonna fit in the ultra-rugged Big Ten? That stuff is normally overblown, probably Oregon, little cheat sheet here, let's go ahead and start there, they may be one of the most physical teams in the Big Ten, how about that?" Josh Pate said.

"So you've got that, you've also got the top S&P plus rated offense in Oregon facing the top S&P plus rated defense in the country in Ohio State. Autzen will be an absolute spectacle in this Week 7 matchup. It's not early in the year though, it's in week seven, so we've already learned a whole lot about these teams by then. These two teams could meet once, they could meet twice, they could meet thrice."

The Oregon Ducks among top contenders in the Big Ten

The Ducks have the second-best odds (+210) to win the Big Ten per FanDuel sportsbook. The Ohio State Buckeyes (+155) are the favorites, while reigning national champions, the Michigan Wolverines (+750), have the third-best odds.

During an episode of 'The L.A.B,' Michigan running back Donovan Edwards spoke about his team being underdogs to win their conference.

"Honestly, I don't think that we care (about being underdogs behind the Ducks and Buckeyes)," Edwards said. "I'd say we don't care, in the sense that it's us against everybody as it was last year."

Coach Dan Lanning's squad will have to hit the ground running in their new conference as they will have a huge target on their backs after being named as one of the teams to beat.