#2 Oregon (9-1) Vs Colorado (2-8): Preview

   This BYE week could not have come at a better time for the Ducks. With a host of injuries
to the offensive line, defense, and the TE position. But there is good news amidst these injuries. Offensive lineman Hroniss Grasu promised that he would return by the end of the season, Andre Yruretagoyena who injured his knee in the Michigan State game will be back for this game. Saftey Ifo Ekpre - Olomu is most likely going to be playing vs Colorado on Saturday. However TE Pharoah Brown will be out for the rest of the season due to a leg injury. Now let's get to Colorado. The Buffaloes have not been able to grab a PAC-12 victory this season. This could be a great game for the Ducks to get back into the groove for a stretch vs the Beavers, and the PAC-12 championship.


   The Ducks vs the Buffaloes is scheduled for kickoff at 1:30 PM on PAC-12 Networks. For radio it is KUGN-AM (590) and KZEL-FM (96.1). On a side note, Marcus Mariota was pulled over by police over the BYE week for speeding near Veneta. He was reportedly going 80 in a 55 MPH speed zone. He will not face any suspensions because of this. However he will have to pay a 200 dollar fine.


   My prediction is that they will pull the starters in the second half.
Oregon 52 - Colorado 10

#4 Oregon 51 At #17 Utah 27

   As the Ducks entered Salt Lake City they were on edge against the number 17 Utah Utes, as they should of been, because for the first quarter, the Ducks could not get anything moving against the Utes. The 46,000 fans made Marcus Mariota work hard to snap the ball. They had upset on their minds. I saw it run out in my head. Utah would beat us and we would be done for the playoffs, and when Utah quarterback Travis Wilson threw a 78 yard pass to wide receiver Kaelin Clay, who then beat a Duck defender to the end zone for what appeared to be a touchdown that would put Utah up by 14 in the second quarter. But what Clay forgot to do, was bring the ball with him. He dropped the ball for celebration 2 feet before crossing the end zone. As the crowd and the whole Utah nation celebrated, Ducks defender Joe Walker picked up the ball and ran down to the opposite side of the field, and with a herd of Ducks, scored. After that embarrassing play the Ducks would score 24 unanswered points.


   The Ducks would not only win the game but seal the Pac-12 North to go to the Pac-12 championship. However a win would come a price with injuries to Pharaoh Brown, Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, and Hroniss Grasu. It will remain to be seen if the Ducks can overcome these injuries. They will have a nice BYE week, then a easy game against Colorado and then Oregon State. With Auburn losing to Texas A&M, we should jump into the number three spot.


- Go Ducks!

Playoff Outlook Week 11

   Last week in college football, it spelled the end for Ole Miss and the end of the Stanford Cardinals for Oregon. Utah fell to Arizona State. Arizona State went up in the rankings to #9.  Here is the top four for week 11, of the 2014 season of college football.


   #4 - Oregon: The Ducks had a impressive win over Stanford last week, beating them 45-16. This week Oregon will face a tough test against 6-2 Utah. This will also be Oregon's fourth away game of this season. If the Ducks win out, I believe that they will grab that final four spot.

   #3 - Auburn: Auburn just scraped by Ole Miss in a win, 34-31. However, they proved that they are a team that should be in that top four. Auburn does have a test against Alabama at the end of the season. I think that if they win that game, as well as the others, they will and should be there.

   #2 - Florida State: Florida State has the easiest schedule in these top four teams, but they have not looked really all that good after almost losing to Louisville. But since there is no one else in the ACC that could really cause FSU any problem, I think they will win out, and go to the playoffs.

   #1 - Mississippi State: Mississippi State won 17-10 against Arkansas on Saturday, and they will face a beat up Ole Miss team at the end of the season. But I have not seen enough to think that Mississippi State will keep that number one ranking for long. I am almost certain that they will fall eventually. They have a great Quarterback in Dak Prescott, but they have not looked like an overall playoff team lately. They would need to get some big wins to switch my views throughout the season.


   So there it is. Week 10 is in the books, and week 11 is prepared to be just as important. Some big games that I did not mention is #5 Alabama vs #16 LSU, and #8 Michigan State vs #14 Ohio State. I'll see you on Friday for a preview of Oregon vs Utah.



- Go Ducks!

#5 Oregon 45 vs Stanford 16

   The Oregon Ducks solved their "Stanford" problem in spectacular fashion. The Ducks ran over Stanford without a problem. Marcus Mariota once again put the Ducks on his back and won this game with four total touchdowns. Stanford gave it their best, but never really clicked on offense or on defense. The Cardinal ran and ran, just like they did the past two years, but the Ducks were not fazed, holding Stanford to just 132 yards on the ground. With this win over Stanford, Oregon will most likely pop into the top four after #4 Ol' Miss lost to #3 Auburn.


   The official College Football Rankings will be out Tuesday, and I will make sure to post my second Playoff outlook then. Next week, Oregon will face #20 Utah.  Like Stanford, they have a big defense, but after this win I think that we will beat Utah in flying fashion. This week, Marcus Mariota proved that he is the most deserving football player to win the Heisman this year or any year in the past few.


- Go Ducks!