Dan Lanning and the No. 1 Oregon Ducks are heading to Ann Arbor for the biggest road game of their regular season this weekend in The Big House against the Michigan Wolverines. 

While it was slated to be a major test before the season started, the defending national champions haven’t looked quite like the world-beaters that we saw a year ago. 

Meanwhile, the Ducks have been playing better than anyone in the nation, laying waste to everyone on their schedule and looking like a real championship contender. After some early-season struggles, they’ve improved each and every week, and have very few weaknesses in their game. 

Because of this, Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt was led to pick Oregon against Michigan this week on his podcast, giving the 15.5 points against the spread. After making the pick, he had to apologize to Duck fans, though. 

Why?

Because he picked the Ducks. 

For anyone who has followed along with Klatt this season, he’s had a tough time when picking Oregon games so far. After incorrectly taking Illinois and the points against the Ducks last week, Klatt fell to 0-5 on the year when picking Oregon games. 

“I like Oregon winning this one, 34-17,” Klatt said on Thursday. “I know all of you Oregon fans will say ‘No Joel, you’ve been picking against us this whole time against the spread! Keep picking against us!’ I can’t. You’re playing too well.”

With quarterback Dillon Gabriel leading the Heisman Trophy race, and a defense that is as good as they’ve seen in Eugene in a long time, it’s hard to argue against Klatt. When you throw the Ducks’ team up against a Michigan squad that is cycling through quarterbacks — starting Davis Warren this week — and might be missing their best defensive player in CB Will Johnson, it’s tough to pick the Wolverines. 

“I’m sorry Duck fans, I know exactly what you’re going to say,” Klatt continued. “Listen, I can’t ignore my own eyes with what I’m seeing from you guys every single week. Better, and better, and better. Every great team gets better every single week and plays their best at the end of the season. Right now, if you were to categorize which team in the country is doing that, it’s Oregon.”

So will Klatt finally be rewarded for coming to his senses and picking the Ducks, or is this a bad omen for Oregon ahead of their game vs. Michigan, as Klatt falls to 0-6 when picking this team?

Only time will tell. The game in The Big House kicks off at 3:30 p.m. EDT and is aired on CBS.