#5 Oregon vs Stanford: Preview

   For the past two years Oregon has been high in the rankings with a national championship bid on the line, and have gotten it thrown away by one team: Stanford. Once again, Oregon is up there and in the spot to play in the first college football playoffs, and once again they face Stanford. If Oregon can beat Stanford, they will control the PAC-12 North and control their fate for the playoffs. If they can not win, they are done. However, Stanford is not the team that can hang on to the football for 45 minutes in a game. Unlike last year, they don't have those powerful running backs that can run through our defensive line. Stanford is not ranked at 5-3, they seem like a normal team that Oregon can run over. But I don't believe it is going to be that easy. I believe we can do it but we need to do it mentally, and stay focused for the big game. This is not the huge top 10 match up we thought it would be at the beginning of the season, but it is, once again, just as important.


  Kickoff is scheduled for 4:30 on FOX. Radio that will be AM (590) and PM (96.1).

 If the Ducks can win this game they can go to the playoffs, and will most likely be in the top four. I'm not saying Stanford will be easy, but I'm saying that if there is ever a time to beat Stanford, it would be right now.

  Prediction:
Oregon 31 - Stanford 13


- Go Ducks!

Playoff Outlook Week 10

    On Tuesday, a playoff committee will meet in Dallas and make the first playoff rankings. Up to this point, the AP Polls have been the one source for the main ideal rankings in college football.  But that will all change tomorrow.  Just like the BCS, the playoffs will have their own rankings, Unlike the BCS, four teams will be getting the bid to play in January. These rankings will change with wins and losses throughout the rest of the season. But the final rankings in the second week of December will be it. I will be explaining playoff hopes for the top teams in the latest Playoff Polls (This time it is the AP).  I will do this usually every Tuesday, but I will get you guys started now, ahead of the time.


    #5 Oregon (7-1): In order for the Ducks to slip into the top four, some teams ahead of them will need to fall, and Oregon will need to win out and win the PAC-12 Championship. The only big question left is will the Ducks get past their Stanford problem? They have big games left against Stanford, Utah, and Oregon State.  If they stay strong and pull it off, I can almost guarantee they will be in the final four.

   #4 Auburn (6-1): Auburn's only loss is to the number one team Mississippi State. However they are now back into the top four after a Ole Miss loss. In order for them to seal their playoffs hopes they will, of course, need to win out and beat number three Alabama. Whomever wins that game goes to the Playoffs.

   #3 Alabama (7-1): Alabama's one loss is to Ole Miss. They get back to number three which seems like the sweet spot for the playoffs lately. They will need to win out and beat rival Auburn, who shocked them last year in the Iron Bowl. Alabama does have a great chance to get into the final four.

   #2 Florida State (7-0): Possibly one of the best schedules in the nation to go to the Playoffs. Even though they have had problems with quarterback Jamis Winston, they will win all of their games and will win the ACC Championship and go to the Playoffs. No doubt in my mind. They have already solved the problem of winning their biggest game of the season against Notre Dame.

   #1 Mississippi State (7-0): The only team that I see that deserves to be number one. They have beaten Texas A&M (when they were good) and have beaten Auburn.  However, they must beat Ole Miss at the end of the season to go to the playoffs.


   So there they are, the top 5 for this week. Be sure to check out the playoff rankings tomorrow and I'll see you on Friday for the Ducks and Stanford preview.


- Go Ducks!

#6 Oregon At Cal: Preview

   Oregon will have their first Friday night game this season, vs. the dynamic passing attack of Cal. The only other team that has the kind of passing stats that we have played with this season, would be Washington State, and we all know how that went. We just scraped by, by seven points. The Ducks will have their defense up to par in this game, with Cal quarterback Jared Goff. The Golden Bears are ranked fourth in the nation, with over 350 passing yards a game. Although the Bears are 4-3 this season, they have the potential to cause the Ducks problems.  However, their defense is not too great. I believe the Ducks will run over Cal, but not without the Bears putting up some points.


    Here is how to watch the game; The kickoff is at 7:00 PM PT on Friday on FOX Sports 1. On the radio it is AM (590), FM (96.1). The players to watch for this action packed game is freshman Royce Freeman, who put up more than 150 yards and four touchdowns last week, vs. Washington, and Jared Goff of Cal, who I promise will throw a lot. The Duck's defense will need to show up tomorrow night, or we will have a problem stopping Cal. (This is the first college football game played in Levis Stadium, the new high tech stadium, in which the 49'ers play in.)

   My prediction is:
Oregon 52 - Cal 31



- Go Ducks!

#9 Oregon 45 Vs Washington 20

    As of this weekend, Oregon has beaten Washington now for 11 years. They did it last night as Oregon once again dominated UW in Auzten.  Freshmen Royce Freeman scored four touchdowns in his second 100 yard rushing game in a row. The Ducks looked more like a playoff contender than since the Michigan State game. The Ducks have raised three spots in the AP Polls to number six. The Ducks are in the sweet spot to possibly slip into the top four and go to the playoffs. For now, the Ducks need to beat Stanford, # 19 Utah, and Oregon State. I believe that if we win out, and win the PAC-12 Championship, we will be in the top four without a doubt.


    On Friday, the Ducks play Cal in the first game at Levi's stadium. The Ducks are 19 point favorite, and will hopefully pull off a victory against a team who loves to pull off a fight vs the Ducks. For now, we must stay focused and keep winning, an reach that main goal of the first College Football Playoffs.



- Go Ducks!

#9 Oregon Vs Washington: Preview

    Twenty years ago the Ducks were leading with 1:08 left in the game against rival Washington. The University of Washington had beaten Oregon six years straight before that year.  That year the Ducks were picked to finish 8th, in the PAC-10.  UW quarterback Damon Huard dropped back and threw the ball to the left end of the end zone.  What would happen after that would be the most legendary play in Oregon Football history.  Kenny Wheaton would intercept that pass and run 97 yards to score and seal Oregon's victory.  The Ducks would go on to win the PAC-10, and go on to the Rose Bowl. On Saturday the Ducks will honor "The Pick" with throwback uniforms that they wore 20 years before.

    Here is how to watch the game: Kickoff is at 5:00 PM PT on FOX Sports 1. Radio is KUGN-AM (590) and KZEL-FM (96.1). Oregon is 5-1. Washington is 5-1. Oregon is the favored by 20 and half points.

   On a side note the beavers lost last night. That is good if you hate the Beavers, but when you think about it, who doesn't. (insert smiley face here)

Also make sure you tune into the #5 Notre Dame vs #2 Florida State game. You might have to juggle the remote, because it is also at 5:00, on ABC.

   My prediction is:

Oregon 49 - Washington 31

- Go Ducks!

#12 Oregon 42 At #18 UCLA 30

    The Ducks had a lot of doubters about their season after a disappointing loss against Arizona the week before, but they silenced all of them this weekend, and routed UCLA 42 - 30.  After the impressive win, Oregon seems like Oregon again.  Marcus Mariota shot back into the Heisman race, and Oregon proved that they are not out of the playoff discussion. The biggest player of the game was freshman running back Royce Freeman with 18 carries for 121 yards and 2 touchdowns. If the Ducks win out and win the PAC-12 Championship, they will most likely be in that top 4. The offensive line looked great after giving up 12 sacks in two games. They gave up none vs UCLA.  It was not only a physical help, but also a mental help to the offensive line to have senior left tackle Jake Fisher back after an injury. The defense seemed to give up in the 4th quarter, and gave up 20 points in under 10 minutes.  But all those things can be fixed.


    Next week, Oregon will face rival (5-1) Washington in Eugene. They have beaten Washington every year for the past 10 years.  This is also the 20th anniversary of the legendary "Pick."  After the big win, the Ducks boost up 3 spots to be back in the top ten at number 9.


- Go Ducks!

#12 Oregon At #18 UCLA: Preview

    The Ducks were beaten last week vs a well and ready Arizona team.  Now they face a team who also is just coming off a defeat at home, to Utah. Both teams were in the top 10 when they lost last week, meaning that this could actually go any way. The question is which team has enough mental toughness to beat the other team, and that's really whats it's going to come down to. The Ducks are a 2 1/2 point favorite on Saturday, which is the lowest they have been for as long as I can remember, The last time the Ducks lost two games in a row was in 2007, when they lost to an Arizona team, and then to UCLA.  I really hope that coach Helfrich will be able to ready these guys off a sore loss.


    Here is how to watch the game. 12:30 PM PT Kickoff. Television: FOX. Radio: AM 590, PM 96.1.


   Last year Oregon was able to score 28 points in the second half against the Bruins. UCLA's star QB Brett Hundley has a injured left arm, but he is still up there for one of the best quarterbacks in the PAC 12.  It will really only come down to who can overcome the loss last week.


    My prediction:
    Oregon 24 - UCLA 14



- Go Ducks!

#2 Oregon 24 Vs Arizona 31

   Last night, Oregon got beat on all sides of the football. Their defense broke down, the offensive line cracked, and the crowd was quiet. Two weeks ago the Ducks narrowly escaped Washington State by a touchdown. Eventually, with the way they were playing, someone was going to beat them. That team was Arizona.  For a second straight year, the Ducks lost to Arizona while being in the top five. The bigger question is, what happened to the Ducks? They were a 23 point favorite, and they had all the play makers (and those snazzy pink uniforms). But somehow they just could not get it done. Arizona did a great job on defense and offense to stop Oregon.


   Can the Ducks bounce back from this painfully loss?  They most likely will not fall too far in the rankings. I think they will remain in the top 10. But it is still early in the season, and there is a lot of ball left to be played.  But when the Ducks face UCLA next week who, may I remind you, are ranked number eight, and then Washington and then #14 Stanford.  It is unlikely that the Ducks will remain a one loss team for much longer, with the offensive line and the defense, but all we have right now is hope. We will know the official rankings on Sunday, at which point I will post where we are and where our PAC-12 friends are with us.  Just keep this in mind if you are feeling a little melancholy this weekend.  It is possible.  We can still do it. (Make it to the playoffs). Right?




- Go Ducks

#2 Oregon Vs Arizona: Preview

    I hope you enjoyed your BYE week, but life is just not the same without a Duck game. Tomorrow, the Ducks will play a foe not like Stanford with big slow guys.  (Now don't get me wrong, I'm not a fan of Stanford.)  Last year Arizona, and their fast and lean operating mode, embarrassed us by ending our Rose Bowl hopes, beating us 42 - 16. This year The Wildcats also look good.  At 4-0, they have enough passion to win this game and take down a number two team. The Ducks will try to do their best, but with recent dangers such as our offensive line, who gave up 7 sacks to Washington State's defensive line, we could have serious problems.


    In other news, the Ducks will wear their famous pink uniforms for breast cancer awareness month against Arizona. They wore those uniforms last year against WSU. Tomorrow will be Oregon's 100th straight sell-out at Auzten Stadium. However there are 500 tickets still available, so please pick them up if you can, and sell out Autzen for a 100th time.

    Here is how to watch the game on Thursday: 7:30 PM PT ESPN. On radio, it's 96.1 FM. The Ducks are a 22 point favorite.


   My prediction for the game is:

Oregon 49 - Arizona 20



- Go Ducks!