ROSE BOWL GAME PRESENTED BY CITI
Pasadena, California
#8 Ohio State Buckeyes (10-2) VS. #7 Oregon Ducks (10-2)
Friday, January 1, 1:30 PM PST
Las Vegas Favorite: Oregon -4.0

Sam’s Take (58 – 23):

One of the most memorable seasons in Oregon football history will come to an end on Friday, as the Ducks are looking to win their first Rose Bowl since 1917. Chip Kelly’s squad has been through it all in 2009, and when you consider how the season started there is no doubt that Kelly and his staff deserve all the praise they have received.

As for The Ohio State University, this game represents yet another opportunity to prove its worth on the big stage. Clearly, marquee non-conference wins have been tough to come by for the Buckeyes, but its important to realize that Jim Tressel’s team is almost always involved in the BCS by seasons end (a commendable achievement). OSU will be making its first Rose Bowl appearance since 1997.

The most exciting match-up to watch for in this one will be the high-octane Ducks offense versus the highly underrated OSU defense. We have watched the Ducks run roughshod over opposing defenses all season, but could this Buckeye defense do what Boise State did all the way back in week one? A look at the numbers reveals a tale of two units that are very evenly matched. The Ducks head to Pasadena with the 7th best scoring offense in the country and the sixth best rushing attack, while the Bucks will counter with a D that ranks 5th nationally in total defense and 5th nationally in run defense. Should be fun right?

While I hold the OSU D in high regard, I don’t think Jim Heacock’s unit has faced a team like Oregon. Attempting to simulate Chip Kelly’s offense with a scout team is fruitless, as there is no way to truly recreate the misdirection. QB Jeremiah Masoli runs the zone read as well as any player in football, and I expect him to have more success this Friday. OSU’s defense is good enough to slow UO down at times, but I expect the quick strike Ducks to be locked in for most of the day.

The OSU offense has been inconsistent all season, and it doesn’t help that QB Terrelle Pryor is playing with a torn PCL (which he believes won’t be an issue). Still, the Buckeyes have a strong enough running game to make things interesting. If OSU can effectively run the ball with Dan Herron and Brandon Saine, Pryor may be able to connect on play action passes rather than using his feet to make plays.

There are plenty of reasons why Ohio State should be incredibly motivated for this game, but I just don’t think they are the better team. Oregon has played at an exceptionally high level in all three phases of the game for the majority of the season, and they have an overabundance of something that has given OSU trouble for the past three years… speed. I expect the Buckeyes to fight hard and make it a game, but I like the Ducks by six.

Prediction: Oregon 30 – Ohio State 24

Ohio State Player to Keep an Eye On: WR DeVier Posey – OSU will need big plays in the passing game, especially if the Oregon offense gets going early. Posey is a prototypical big play receiver with great speed and hands. He led the team in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns.

Oregon Player to Keep an Eye On: DE/LB Kenny Rowe – Rowe has been a terror for opposing QBs all season, as he has racked up 8.5 sacks this season. Ohio State has not blocked players like Rowe very well over the last few years, and I expect his quickness and speed off the edge to disrupt Pryor throughout the game.

Dave’s Take (60 – 21):

No disrespect to THE Ohio State University, but in my honest opinion, the only way Oregon loses this game is if they beat themselves.

Thinking back to the Boise State game, it was clear that the Ducks offense wasn’t up to game speed. Granted, there is a big difference between a full offseason and a month or so, but this offense relies on having it’s timing down pat. If Oregon comes out clicking like they have been since late September, even OSU’s tough D will have trouble keeping the Ducks out of the high 30’s in scoring.

Ohio State has a great football team, but I believe Oregon will be too creative for them to handle on both sides of the ball. Nick Alliotti will be sure to dial up plenty of creative blitz packages to keep Terrelle Pryor (who won’t be at 100%) on his toes, and as I stated before, there just isn’t much to be done against Oregon’s offense, regardless of how strong your defensive unit may be.

Ohio State obviously has a massive chip on their shoulder, but that chip has been there for a few years now and hasn’t gotten them over the top. This year they play an Oregon team that fought their hearts out to win the Pac-10, so I doubt there will be any lack of motivation on their side.

Regardless of the game’s outcome, this bowl season will be chalked up as a disappointment. The losing record is obvious enough, but the ugly fashion in how the games were lost (other than Stanford, who fought hard without Andrew Luck) didn’t help lessen the blow. Furthermore, a win over Ohio State won’t get the Ducks the credit they deserve due to OSU’s recent bowl history; a loss, however, would make a bad bowl season for the Pac-10 a devestating one.

But I don’t think we’ll be seeing an Oregon loss this New Year’s Day. I expect the momentum of the regular season to carry over into a comfortable Ducks victory.

Prediction: Oregon 34 – Ohio State 20

Oregon State Beavers (8-3) vs. Oregon Ducks (9-2)
Thursday, December 3, 6:00 PM PST
Las Vegas Favorite: Oregon -9.5
*AllPac10 Game of the Year*

Sam’s Take (53 – 19):

Last year I watched in stunned silence as Oregon throttled Oregon State in Corvallis, and all I remember thinking by the time the 65-38 massacre ended was “Will the Beavers ever have a chance to truly get redemption?” Here we are just one year later, and somehow, that question can be answered with an emphatic yes. Now the stakes are higher than ever, as this will be the first time in the history of the Civil War that both programs can clinch a Rose Bowl berth with a victory.

I see two key areas that will be deciding factors in the War for the Roses.

1. Oregon running game vs. Oregon State run defense – This is the most obvious strength vs. strength match up. The Ducks rank first in the Pac-10 and eighth nationally in rushing offense, while the Beavers rank first in the Pac-10 and 13th nationally in run defense. Obviously Oregon easily won this battle last year, so it will be interesting to see how Mark Banker’s unit performs on Thursday.

2. Oregon State passing game vs. Oregon pass defense – This appears to be the second biggest strength vs. strength match up. OSU heads to Eugene with the best passing offense in the Pac-10 (24th nationally) and QB Sean Canfield is playing as well as any quarterback in the conference. Despite season ending injuries to Walter Thurmond and Willie Glasper, the Ducks still rank second in the Pac-10 against pass (29th nationally).

In my opinion, both defenses will struggle in this game. I have no doubt that Mark Banker will have a great game plan this week, but it may not matter. When the Ducks are rolling, they can execute their high-powered attack against any defensive scheme in the country. I also think Nick Aliotti’s unit will be in for a long game. The Ducks have yet to face ‘Quizz Rodgers, and the balanced Beaver attack can score in a variety of ways.

Ultimately, I believe Autzen Stadium will be the difference… again. Jeremiah Masoli has another gear when he plays at home, which makes Oregon’s offensive attack that much tougher to contain. I expect Masoli and LaMichael James to get going early, which will then open passing lanes for the talented Ducks receiving corps. While I expect the Beavers to match UO score for score until late in the second half, Mike Riley’s club will come up a little short in the waning moments of the fourth quarter.

Here’s hoping for a classic!

Prediction: Oregon 42 – Oregon State 38

Oregon State Player to Keep an Eye On: TE Joe Halahuni – Halahuni has been one of the biggest surprises on this OSU offense in 2009, and the sophomore will be a huge part of the passing game again this week.

Oregon Player to Keep an Eye On: FS T.J. Ward – Ward is a physical defensive back who should play a huge role in defending the run as well as the pass. I look for him to have a big impact this week.

Dave’s Take (54 – 18):

When this game was scheduled back at the beginning of the season to be the prime time game on ESPN Thursday night, no one could have imagined just how big this game would be.

For either team to have the chance to clinch the Rose Bowl in this one is quite a feat; but winner take all? This is the sort of thing that you see in movies.

After going 10 straight years (1997-2006) trading blows with the home team winning every time, Oregon State finally bucked the trend in 2007 with a double OT winner at Autzen. The Ducks returned the favor in 2008, stomping the Beavers in Corvallis and costiing them a trip to the Rose Bowl. While there is little doubt that home field advantage will still play a big role in this game, the fact that the road team has won the last two games adds an interesting wrinkle.

As much as I really do believe the Beavers have a great chance in this one, I can’t pick against the Ducks, especially at home. The Ducks have now put up 42+ points in seven straight games that Jeremiah Masoli has started, and since conference play has begun they have just mowed through top conference opponents (dropping #6 Cal by 38 and #5 USC by 27).

I expect a much more competitive game than last year, but can’t find enough of an edge for the Beavers to overrule the fact that the game is in Autzen.

Prediction: Oregon 48 – Oregon State 42

Oregon Ducks 9-2 Overall (7-1 Conference)

This Week’s Score: Oregon 44 – Arizona 41 (2OT)

Next Week’s Opponent: BYE

Oregon and Arizona treated the college football world to an instant classic on Saturday (and ESPN agrees as the game will be rebroadcast on ESPN Classic this week). The Ducks spectacular win at Arizona Stadium featured everything you could ask for in a game with Rose Bowl implications: great defense, amazing offense, brilliant individual efforts, thrilling runs and passes, and a raucous environment (in fact, a little too raucous considering the unfortunate bottle throwing incident after the game).

What else can be said about QB Jeremiah Masoli? He really is the kind of game changer that causes defensive coordinators to lose their minds. Make no mistake about it, Mark Stoops had a tremendous game plan and his swarming ‘Cats defense executed it beautifully for most of the night. But when Masoli gets in a groove there is nothing a defense can do about it. The junior accounted for six total touchdowns (3 rushing, 3 passing) and accumulated 345 yards of offense (284 passing, 61 rushing).

Maybe most impressive of all was the fact that the ‘Zona D forced Masoli into difficult passing situations throughout the game (a key to slowing the UO offense). But instead of wilting under the pressure, Masoli seemed to elevate his game to an even higher level in the most critical moments. What an inspiring performance.

RB LaMichael James had a solid day (19 carries 117 yards), and Ducks fans have to be especially thrilled that he broke Jaquizz Rodgers Pac-10 freshman rushing record (James now has 1,310 yards). Obviously WR Jeff Maehl and TE Ed Dickson came up huge (especially at the end of the game), but I was also very impressed with the play of WR Lavasier Tuinei (4 catches 60 yards).

Nick Aliotti’s unit played as hard as they possibly could, and they performed very well considering the potency of the UA offense. QB Nick Foles was spectacular, but the UO defense deserves credit for maintaining the type of poise and composure that wins championships.

I made it pretty clear in recent write-ups how excited I was for the possibility of a Civil War for all the marbles. Well, here we are! The Ducks and Beavers are playing incredible football right now, and I can’t even imagine what the atmosphere at Autzen will be like.

It seems like Oregon fans have seen it all this season, but amazingly, the defining moment of this memorable 2009 season is still to come. Pac-10 fans can only hope the game on December 3rd is as good as the one we just witnessed in Tucson.

Oregon Ducks (8-2) vs. Arizona Wildcats (6-3)
Saturday, November 21, 5:00 PM PST
Las Vegas Favorite: Oregon -6.0
*AllPac10 Game of the Week*

Sam’s Take (46 – 18):

The race to Pasadena stops in Tucson this week, and so will ESPN College Gameday. Both Arizona and Oregon control their own destiny in the Pac-10 title race, while the fate of Oregon State and Stanford will dramatically change depending on the outcome in this one.

The recent history between Oregon and Arizona leads me to believe we are in for another entertaining thriller. Oregon has lost two of their last three games against UA, and the ‘Cats have upset a Top 25 team at home in five straight seasons.

Stanford proved that it is possible to beat the Ducks in a shootout, as long as you have an excellent QB and a balanced offensive attack. Check and check for Arizona, as QB Nick Foles actually out dueled Andrew Luck earlier this season in a 43-38 UA win. RB Nic Grigsby is expected to play, and when healthy, he provides the ‘Cats with the same dynamic ability that LaMichael James brings to UO. Arizona also has a very capable defense with tremendous speed at all three levels (UA 18th nationally in total defense), so ‘Zona has all the ingredients necessary to pull the upset.

Having said all of that, I believe the Ducks will rise to the occasion. Unless Mike Stoops finds a way to clone QB Jeremiah Masoli and RB LaMichael James, there is no way the scout team will adequately prepare UA for that tremendous misdirection spread attack. I also think Nick Aliotti’s underrated defense will prevent UA’s quick passing attack from establishing a rhythm. Sonny Dykes offense is predicated on timing, but all of the receiver screens and quick slants can be thwarted by a disruptive defense (something the Ducks clearly have).

Chip Kelly’s team understands what is on the line this week, and I fully expect to see Oregon’s best effort of the season on Saturday. The Ducks have certainly had their struggles on the road this year, but I believe they are due for a big game away from Autzen.

I think Oregon wins a high-scoring affair at the Old Pueblo, which should setup one of the best Civil War games of all time.

Prediction: Oregon 38 – Arizona 28

Oregon Player to Keep an Eye On: CB Cliff Harris – Harris is one of the best young corners in the Pac-10, and the freshman will have to be at his best against a talented UA receiving corps.

Arizona Player to Keep an Eye On: WR/KR Travis Cobb – I think Arizona will need to get something big out of the kick return game Saturday, and Cobb has already proven he can take it the distance (95 yard TD return two weeks ago).

Dave’s Take (49 – 15):

Honestly, I really don’t know what to do with myself in this game.

At first, I thought I was going to be hand-down-no-question picking Oregon. After all, it seems to be an all but forgone conclusion that they are going to put up 40+ points no matter who they are playing against; and while the defense got beat up by Stanford, it has been fairly strong all season.

But is it a sure thing that Oregon runs rampant on Arizona’s defense? It’s always difficult to actually try to look at numbers or matchups or anything else when breaking down Oregon’s offense; they just seem to shred through everything. But am I crazy for thinking that maybe, just maybe, Arizona’s very fast and talented defense might stand some chance in slowing them down a little bit?

Furthermore, why are we so quick to write off Arizona? This team did top both Stanford and Oregon State, so they have proven that they can play with the conference’s best. Nic Grigsby’s return should take some of the pressure off of Nick Foles as well.

And than there is the whole Arizona home-field advantage issue. I believe it is blown a bit out of proportion considering that both of Oregon’s losses came against excellent teams (and they are much better now than they were against Boise State), so it isn’t like the Ducks are as hopeless on the road as some are making them out to be. On the other hand, can we completely ignore that Oregon is 2-2 on the road (with the two wins coming over weak opponents in UCLA and UW), and Arizona is a perfect 5-0 at home (including wins over Central Michigan and Stanford)?

I’m not going to say that Arizona is the “better team”, but I will say they’ve got more of a chance than they are getting credit for in this one. Andrew Luck exploited Oregon’s beat up secondary, and I could see Nick Foles doing the same. It will take a near-perfect game on both sides of the ball to pull it off, but something tells me the ‘Cats have it in them.

Prediction: Arizona 41 – Oregon 38

Oregon Ducks 8-2 Overall (6-1 Conference)

This Week’s Score: Oregon 44 – Arizona State 21

Next Week’s Opponent: @Arizona

On the surface, this was just a business-as-usual week for the Oregon Ducks; but a quick look around the conference, and it was actually a very nice Saturday.

Starting with the obvious, the offense just kept on rolling, even against a very strong Arizona State defense and front seven. Despite a fairly quiet passing day (10/20, 120 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT), this marked the 6th straight game that Jeremiah Masoli has led the Ducks to a 40+ point performance. LaMichael James once again led the way on the ground, silencing concerns of an RB controversy with 150 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries. Even for a high-powered offense that you expect to put up a ton of points each week, the consistency has been phenomenal.

On the less obvious side of things, Ducks fans should be happy with what they saw in the Stanford/USC and the Arizona/Cal games. After the Stanford loss, many Ducks fans were becoming increasingly worried about the Arizona game being on the road, since the Ducks haven’t proven they can beat a tough team on the road yet.

While these concerns may still be there, I think the fact that Stanford just destroyed USC in the Coliseum should help Oregon fans realize that it wasn’t just a case of road woes against a decent opponent; it was a hard fought loss to a very legitimate opponent.

Had Arizona gone into Cal and continued to roll offensively and picked up a big win, they’d have a ton of momentum heading into this week. Instead, they fell short and had a pedestrian day on offense. It doesn’t make the game this Saturday any less daunting, but playing huge games in November is new territory for the ‘Cats; having some seeds of doubt planted isn’t a bad thing for Oregon fans.

So on we go. Two wins away from a meeting with Ohio State at the Rose Bowl. One loss away from a myriad of tiebreaker possibilities, very few of which favor the Ducks. Can the Ducks claim the throne? We will soon find out.

Ding Dong’ the merry-oh, sing it high, sing it low.
Let them know
The Wicked Witch is dead!

For some reason, this song was running through my head as I watched Stanford pummel USC.

For Trojans fans, it has been a fantastic ride for the last seven years. So fantastic, in fact, that Trojan fans are completely guilty of taking it for granted. Every single one of them (myself, included).

Virtually every hiccup along the way has cost USC a trip to the National Championship, which in turn turned the Rose Bowl into a consolation prize of sorts. USC fans are always disappointed to “only” win the Pac-10 and “only” go to the Rose Bowl.

And that’s one of the reasons why fans around the conference have hated the USC Trojans and their fans for the better part of a decade now, and as Stanford drove the final nail into the coffin that Washington had opened and Oregon had closed, there is plenty of reason for the rest of the conference to celebrate.

A friend of mine asked me, “Dave, you know your Pac-10; Is USC done for? I mean, I know they are this season, but are they done for good?”

I’m surprised at how many people are living in the moment so badly that they are actually asking this question. NO, USC isn’t done for good. They still have one of the best coaches in the country and a never-ending stable of 4 and 5-star talent. They will be a serious contender for the Pac-10 title next year, as well as the years to come.

The beauty, though, is that they won’t be the only serious contender. 2009 will not mark the beginning of the end of USC as a football power; but it will mark the end of their stranglehold over the rest of the conference.

PAC-10 ON THE RISE – FIVE TEAMS IN THE TOP 25

Many college football fans are going to continue to be ignorant and disregard the Pac-10.

They will continue to laugh off the conference for no reason at all, and ignore evidence of its strength. They will continue to hold the ridiculous double standard that when SEC teams beat each other up (which has been non-existent this year), it is an indication of how strong the conference is, but when the Pac-10 beats itself up, it is an indication of how weak the conference is. How does this even begin to make sense?

Of course, if you are one of these people, you are scoffing and preparing your “LOL PAC-10 TEH SUX” comment. Good for you.

But for the more reasonable, it is hard to ignore that the Pac-10 is on the rise.

Perhaps the strongest evidence of the Pac-10’s strength is the amount of BCS ranked teams it has. Heading into this weekend, the Pac-10 currently has 20% of the teams in the BCS top 25 with five; #11 Oregon, #17 Stanford, #18 USC, #19 Oregon State, and #25 California. The ACC and Big 10 each have four, the SEC, Big East, and Mountain West have three, the Big 12 has two, and the WAC has one.

What makes this even more impressive is the fact that the Pac-10 is the only conference that schedules only three out of conference games. They actually have to play a true round robin, and don’t have the opportunity to dodge big conference opponents or schedule an extra softy like other teams do.

TEAM-BY-TEAM, EVERYONE IS GETTING BETTER

What impresses me most about the Pac-10 this season is that as great and deep as the conference has proven to be this season, from the looks of it, it is only going to get better.

1-6:

Oregon – Still in control of their own destiny atop the Pac-10, Oregon has steam-rolled through most of their opponents, including USC and Cal. Their two losses have come against very good ranked opponents; and they’d love to have the Boise State game back as that continues to look more and more like an anomaly. The Mike Belotti to Chip Kelly transition was seamless, and with a fantastic and innovative system in place on both sides of the ball, Oregon will be a power for years to come. They have both Jeremiah Masoli and LaMichael James returning next year, and this was the year for the offensive and defensive lines to rebuild; both should be even stronger in 2010.

Stanford – Their late surge has given them back-to-back wins over conference powerhouses in Oregon and USC as well as a chance of a trip to the Rose Bowl if the cards fall right. Jim Harbaugh has turned this team around in a hurry, and they have taken on his personality as a hard-nosed physical team that never stops working. This was supposed to be the year to break in Andrew Luck, but he has already emerged as a star at the quarterback position. He will likely be even better next season, and Harbaugh’s excellent ability to recruit will be even easier after the display the Cardinal have put on over the last few weeks.

Oregon State – Year in and year out, Mike Riley churns out one of the most consistently strong teams in the Pac-10. The Beavers have finished in the Top 25 for three straight years, and from the looks of it will keep that streak alive here in 2009. Their excellent post-September play (as always) has put them in a position to take at least a share of the Pac-10 title with a win over their rival Ducks. Mike Riley is one of the best in the country at recruiting and developing players into his system, and there is no reason to believe the Beavers won’t continue to be a threat to make noise in the conference for as long as he’s at the helm.

Arizona – Hard to believe Mike Stoops was on the hot seat not too long ago. With the help of Sonny Dykes and the emergence of Nick Foles at QB, the Wildcats have an electrifying offense. They also have an extremely fast and talented defensive unit. With Oregon and USC still ahead, the path to the Rose Bowl is a difficult one, but it isn’t out of the question. And even if the ‘Cats do fall short this season, the valuable experience that they are gaining from playing meaningful conference games in November will pay huge dividends in creating a championship atmosphere next year and beyond.

USC – Remarkably, the once invincible Trojans find themselves staring at a potential Poinsettia or Emerald Bowl berth. This was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Trojans with an inexperienced quarterback and a defense that was almost entirely turned over from last season, but we refused to believe that it would be. Tons of injuries on offense didn’t help, either. But while the Trojans may be down and out this year, they will be right back in the thick of things next year. And for the first time in seven years, they won’t have the target on their back. It should be a lot of fun to see how Pete Carroll rallies the troops next season and beyond now that USC’s aura of invincibility is gone.

Cal – Hard to consider this year anything but a disappointment considering the high hopes coming in. On paper, Cal was right up there with USC among the most talented teams in the country. Jeff Tedford has done an outstanding job recruiting, and while the Bears haven’t been able to get over the hump yet, they seem to be an annual threat to do so. Every year we hype Cal up as one of the conference’s top teams and they end up falling short; they strike me as one of those teams that as soon as we all decide to finally count them out, that will be when it all comes together and they catch everyone off guard.

7-9:

UCLA – The fact that UCLA is the 7th or 8th best team in this conference is about as good of an indicator of the Pac-10’s strength as anything else. Yes, they have five losses; but all to the teams listed above, proving only that they aren’t quite in that tier yet. The Bruins did go into Tennessee with a redshirt freshman quarterback and take that game, and they also dominated what has turned out to be a pretty decent Kansas State team that beat Kansas a few weeks ago. Rick Neuheisel has been stockpiling great young talent, and this team is clearly going in the right direction; they just need to put it all together. A win over Arizona State or USC would make them bowl eligible, too.

Arizona State – Possessing arguably the best defense in the Pac-10, ASU has had a frustrating year due in large part to their inability to get anything going on offense. It is pretty clear that they are only a playmaker or two on offense away from making the jump into the category above. Even without one, Georgia, Cal, and USC were all near-misses that could have easily gone the Sun Devils’ way. If this team can get better play from the offensive line and quarterback next year, both very realistic possibilities, near misses will start turning into wins.

Washington – Rome wasn’t built in a day, and the Huskies have a long way to go to get back to respectability. That said, they have the right man to get them there in Steve Sarkisian. This has been made evident by their hard work and no-quit attitude, which helped them play a respectable game against LSU and pull off huge upsets over USC and Arizona. As Coach Sark brings in more talent, the Huskies should continue to rise, and until then they will likely continue to be a thorn in the side of the conferences top dogs.

10:

Washington State – And than there’s the Cougars. While WSU has made a few strides, they are hard to notice or get excited about with how rapidly the rest of the conference is rising. The situation looks pretty dire in Pullman, but on the bright side, there really isn’t anywhere to go but up from here.



THE WRAP UP

Looking at this conference from top to bottom, how can you deny its strength? Every single team (with perhaps the exception of WSU) appears to be either getting better or at the very least maintaining their competitive spot. From the looks of things, the Pac-10 is going to be a flat-out dogfight of excellent teams with top-flight talent for years to come.

Isn’t that what earned the SEC the reputation of being the nation’s best conference?

It’s about time to drop the bias.

Arizona State Sun Devils (4-5) vs. Oregon Ducks (7-2)
Saturday, November 14, 7:20 PM PST
Las Vegas Favorite: Oregon -18.0

Sam’s Take (43 – 16):

Despite the disappointing loss in Palo Alto, Oregon is still in control of the Pac-10 race. The Ducks are big favorites this week and will likely be favored in their final two games (albeit by smaller margins), so the path to Pasadena is still clear. But Oregon’s continuing push towards the Rose Bowl will be only part of the story this Saturday in Eugene.

After weeks of anticipation, this game marks the return of RB LeGarrette Blount. Will Chip Kelly insert him into the lineup at some point Saturday? I suppose its possible, but Kelly made it very clear that “LaMichael James is our running back”.

It’s safe to assume that Nick Aliotti will not lose nearly as much sleep preparing for the Sun Devils as he did trying to scheme for Toby Gerhart, Andrew Luck and the potent Cardinal attack. The Ducks D will be looking to prove that last week was an aberration, and I expect the unit to succeed.

Oregon has feasted on opposing QBs all season (16th nationally in sacks), and now a true freshman enters Autzen for his first career start. While ASU QB Brock Osweiler has a very bright future in the Pac-10, this game figures to be nothing more than learning experience for the 6-8 signal caller.

Obviously Arizona State has an excellent defensive front seven, but the secondary is in shambles. I expect QB Jeremiah Masoli to pile up yards through the air all night, as the Devils simply don’t have enough cornerbacks left on the roster to make much of a difference. ASU has always had trouble defending the Ducks misdirection spread attack, and I expect that trend to continue. Once the UO passing game gets going, Masoli and James should find plenty of running space against a defense that frequently overpursues.

I expect Oregon to cruise this week, and then it’s off to the Old Pueblo for what could be the Pac-10 game of the year.

Prediction: Oregon 37 – Arizona State 14

Arizona State Player to Keep an Eye On: CB Deveron Carr - Carr is one of the new ASU cornerbacks that must step up for the rest of the season. He played well against USC, and must now prove that he can be consistent.

Oregon Player to Keep an Eye On: DE Kenny Rowe - The always active Rowe leads the Ducks with seven sacks this season, and he should thrive against an underwhelming ASU o-line.

Dave’s Take (46 – 13):

Plenty of teams in the Pac-10 benefited from Stanford’s upset win over Oregon, but ASU was not one of them. Had Oregon topped Stanford, the Sun Devils may have caught the Ducks looking ahead to the showdown @Arizona; but with the rude awakening at the hand of the Cardinal, there is little doubt that the Ducks will be prepared for this Saturday’s game.

Even if they had been unprepared, unlike Stanford, Arizona State’s offense isn’t going to pile up a ton of yards and points and put you in a hole early. The Ducks have scored 42 or more points in five straight games with Jeremiah Masoli at the helm, and have proven that the Boise State game was a fluke; if you are going to beat this team, you are going to have to score a ton of points.

Oregon may or may not get to the 42 mark this week, but there isn’t much doubt that the Sun Devils will need to score into the 30s to even have a chance. Considering they haven’t done so since week two against UL Monroe, and they are starting a true freshman quarterback against a very angry team in one of the toughest places to play in the conference?

I don’t like ASU’s chances.

Prediction: Oregon 38 – Arizona State 17

Oregon Ducks 7-2 Overall (5-1 Conference)

This Week’s Score: Stanford 51 – Oregon 42

Next Week’s Opponent: Arizona State

Heading into Saturday’s game against Stanford, Oregon had given up 58 points combined in five games in conference play.

The Ducks gave up just a touchdown less than that against the Stanford Cardinal.

The slow offensive start might have been expected as the Ducks were coming off of the huge USC win, but nobody could have seen one of the Pac-10’s best defenses getting completely destroyed for four quarters coming.

Andrew Luck and Chris Owusu chipped in with great games, but the recipe for disaster in this game came down to one man; Toby Gerhart. The Ducks had no answer for Gerhart, who had a career day rushing for 223 yards and three touchdowns on 38 carries.

Jeremiah Masoli had a career day as well, throwing for a career high 334 yards and matching his career high in passing touchdowns with three. Masoli’s great day through the air will do little to lift Duck fans’ spirits. 42 points on 570 yards on offense wasn’t the problem at all, even with the slow start; the defense never gave their team a chance.

In a remarkable turn of events, the focus has shifted from worrying about Boise State and the National Championship race to hanging on for dear life to the Pac-10 title. Not only do the Ducks find themselves on the wrong side of most of the potential three-team tiebreakers, but with Oregon State’s win over Cal, the game against their hated rival just became a must win. Assuming Oregon State beats Washington and Washington State, the Beavers will be playing for (at minimum) a share of the Pac-10 lead come the final game of the season.

And you think they might have a chip on their shoulder after Oregon cost them the Rose Bowl last year?

Arizona State’s weak offense could help get Oregon’s D back on track, but as a team, it is important for the Ducks not to ignore ASU looking forward to the big showdown @Arizona. The last thing the Ducks need is to open even more doors for the rest of the conference or plant more seeds of doubt.

It should be a wild ride down the stretch, but Oregon is still in the driver’s seat as they still control their own destiny.

Oregon Ducks (7-1) vs. Stanford Cardinal (5-3)
Saturday, November 7, 12:30 PM PST
Las Vegas Favorite: Oregon -6.5
*AllPac10 Game of the Week*

Sam’s Take (39- 15):

The two most prolific rushing attacks in the Pac-10 square off in Palo Alto this Saturday, but the offensive philosophies of these teams couldn’t be more different. Chip Kelly’s club likes to confuse and humiliate opposing defenses, while Jim Harbaugh’s squad just likes to run them over. If styles make fights, we should have a good one on Saturday.

Are the Ducks still flying high after their epic thrashing of the Trojans? If so, Stanford will make them pay just as they did the Washington Huskies, but personally, I don’t get the feeling that Chip Kelly will let that happen. Why? Because of the way Oregon practices. The Ducks play fast and furious even when they are going up against the scout team, and that kind of preparation usually allows a team to become letdown-proof. Don’t get me wrong, Stanford is a VERY good football team, but a strong argument could be made that the Ducks are the BEST football team in America right now.

Here is what we know: Oregon is tremendous on offense (#8 nationally in rush offense, #9 scoring offense) AND defense (#20 nationally in total defense) AND special teams (#3 nationally on kickoff returns). Stanford on the other hand is tremendous on offense (#20 nationally in total offense), AND special teams (#1 nationally on kickoff returns), but mediocre on defense (#67 nationally in total defense).

Quite simply, I believe the difference in the game will be the Stanford defense. Oregon should be able to score at will on a Cardinal D that lacks lateral speed, while the Ducks D should be able to put up a very good fight against RB Toby Gerhart, QB Andrew Luck and the rest of the potent Stanford attack.

Bottom line: I believe the dream season (since Sept. 3rd of course) will continue for the Ducks, as they come away with a big road win on the Farm.

Prediction: Oregon 35 – Stanford 23

Oregon Player to Keep an Eye On: LB Casey Matthews - Gap control is the name of the game when facing Stanford’s power running game, and Matthews will be a key to containing #7 in red.

Stanford Player to Keep an Eye On: FB Owen Marecic - I believe Marecic is the most underrated player in the Pac-10. Seriously. He is as good a lead blocker as you will find in college football, and he is also capable of catching the ball out of the backfield.

Dave’s Take (42 – 12):

No disrespect to the Stanford Cardinals (who have one of the best and hardest working teams in the Pac-10), but this game starts and ends with the Oregon Ducks.

After what we saw last week, it looks to me that if Oregon is at their best, there isn’t a team in the nation that can beat them. Yes, I said it, any team in the nation. USC didn’t have a single turnover in the game (until an interception on the very last play of the game), and still got completely manhandled. USC! Oregon was so strong and fast on both sides of the ball that they looked untouchable.

Stanford could be a very dangerous trap for this team. Toby Gerhart is one of the best backs in the conference and is the most powerful. Andrew Luck has incredible poise for a redshirt freshman, and the passing attack has been working this year to compliment Gerhart’s rushing attack. If Oregon partied a little too hard this week and let themselves start to believe that they are the best and they are the Pac-10 champs, they could be in for a very rude awakening this week.

But I don’t see that happening. The team already had an extremely humbling experience this season (@Boise State), and I think Chip Kelly will get the message to his players that nothing short of their best effort will be acceptable this week. With the way the defense is swarming and Jeremiah Masoli and LaMichael James are clicking on offense, I can’t go against this team.

Prediction: Oregon 38 – Stanford 24

Oregon Ducks 7-1 Overall (5-0 Conference)

This Week’s Score: Oregon 47 – USC 20

Next Week’s Opponent: @Stanford

I have been passionately following the Pac-10 conference for the last nine years, which coincides with the length of Pete Carroll’s tenure at USC thus far. In these last nine years, I have watched a lot of big games take place within the conference, and ‘SC has been involved in most of them.

After each game, a familiar thing would almost always happen: “Fight On” would be stuck in my head the next day. No matter how bad I fought it, I could never shake that familiar Trojan fight song playing over and over. Even an occasional USC loss (i.e. OSU 2006, 2008, Oregon, 2007) would not be enough to counteract the strong effect. After all, that band makes its presence felt no matter the venue and the Trojans have been in EVERY game until the very last play.

So what is the formula for ridding yourself of a “Fight On” hangover? Replace one fight song with another. After Saturday’s Halloween Trojan Massacre at Autzen, I subconsciously began to hum “Mighty Oregon” for the following 24 hours. It was a feeling that I never believed would be possible, but it happened because the often overpowering ‘SC band had basically been rendered useless.

Needless to say, Oregon’s win over ‘SC was quite the spectacle. The stats are truly unbelievable: 47 points (most allowed by USC since 1996), 613 yards of total offense for UO (most an ‘SC D has allowed since 1946). The dynamic duo of Jeremiah Masoli (222 passing yards 1 TD, 164 rushing yards 1 TD) and LaMichael James (183 rushing yards 1 TD) has never looked better, but I may have been even more impressed by an o-line that physically punished the ‘SC front seven. Four of the Trojans top six tacklers were defensive backs, and I believe that is one of the most telling stats of the game.

The other telling stat? USC only turned the ball over one time (at the very end of the game), which is a clear indicator of how thoroughly the Ducks dominated this one.

I also think Nick Aliotti deserves a ton of praise for Saturday’s outcome. Even though the UO offense is making all of the headlines (and deservedly so), the Ducks D attacked downhill all night and never allowed USC to get into a consistent rhythm.

While this is certainly a time to celebrate for Chip Kelly’s club, the party can’t last very long. Oregon travels to Palo Alto to face a very good Stanford team, and critical showdowns at Arizona (Pac-10 title game?) and in the Civil War finale still loom. The Ducks have a lead in the Pac-10, but they have by no means clinched the conference yet. Still, if Saturday is any indication of what is to come, the 2009 season will be one for the ages.