After the Oregon football team got mashed like an Idaho potato at Boise State in the season opener, I looked at the team’s upcoming schedule and laughed.
“Looks like the Ducks have their Halloween costumes picked out this year,” I said. “They’re gonna dress up like football players.”
Indeed they are. But after six consecutive wins since that loss to the Broncos, the outfits won’t be costumes in the tradition of the Oct. 31 holiday; they’ll be appropriate work attire for a Top 10 team that is poised to knock off another Top 10 team in prime time.
ESPN’s College GameDay crew will be on hand for the 5 p.m. kickoff at Autzen Stadium between the fourth-ranked Trojans and the 10th-ranked Ducks. The game will be broadcast live on ABC — UO’s third consecutive game on the network and fourth of the season.
It’s tough to image that in the aftermath of that 19-8 season-opening loss at Boise, any UO fan would have fathomed the Ducks being at this point. Most were cracking on the team the same way I was, thinking it could be a long season, embarrassed by LeGarrette Blount’s actions on national television, a little weary of the annual hype machine that had built up the Ducks’ potential to a seemingly unreachable point.
And yet, one win at a time, Oregon has erased all of that and replaced that initial hype with a reality that far exceeds early expectations.
The team has been hit by injuries and suspensions, and has responded at every turn, getting outstanding play from inexperienced youngsters along the way.
But now comes the biggest test to date, and the pressure on these players is greater than it’s been all season: USC, ESPN’s CollegeGameday, live national television, under the lights on a Saturday night.
So many things are plausible. It’s not difficult to image the Ducks laying an egg, given all that’s at stake. And remember the erratic play of quarterback Jeremiah Masoli early in the season? Has he really overcome those early issues, or will the jitters and the inconsistency return?
Can the defense keep up its stellar play and continue stifling teams like it has been? It’s one thing to hold Cal to three points, Washington State to six and UCLA to 10; quite another to keep one of the nation’s top offenses in check.
Can the youngsters continue playing beyond their years and maintaining the veteran-like poise they’ve displayed in the last few weeks, or will the spotlight finally get to them?
The answers to these questions will go a long way toward determining the outcome of this game.
And I see the Ducks responding much the way they have the past six games.
Oregon 31, USC 24
I really hate to say it, because I don’t want to jinx anything, but I’ve just got a good feeling about this game. In fact, after watching USC play a few times this season, at this point I’m more scared of Arizona and OSU.
Ducks 31, USC 20.
The way Oregon is rolling right now, I see them beating any team. And I feel like they will continue to roll through USC, it’s gonna be their toughest game so far, but they pull ahead in the 3rd quarter, and win 38-24. GO DUCKS!!!
I think this could be a relatively low scoring one. I like the way the Ducks are playing, I like that they're at home, and I think this could be one of the loudest crowds they've ever seen at Autzen. I can't get a fix on the Trojans at all. They look pretty weak offensively compared to past USC teams, but then they turn around and score 42 on a pretty good OSU defense. Their defense is great — until they give up 36 points to the Beavers and nearly blow a three touchdown lead against Notre Dame.
That said, 27-21 Ducks. It'll be close until they pull away in the fourth quarter.
USC 31 Oregon 17
I like USC if it’s raining, and it looks like it might be wet. Masoli has a rough history throwing in the rain, and the Ducks’ running game won’t do it alone against a team like SC. My pick: 28-24, Trojans.
If it’s dry? Hmm … how ’bout 34-28, Ducks, with John Boyett coming up with a pick off Barkley to kill USC’s last (dry) drive.
I think this could be a relatively low scoring one. I like the way the Ducks are playing, I like that they’re at home, and I think this could be one of the loudest crowds they’ve ever seen at Autzen. I can’t get a fix on the Trojans at all. They look pretty weak offensively compared to past USC teams, but then they turn around and score 42 on a pretty good OSU defense. Their defense is great — until they give up 36 points to the Beavers and nearly blow a three touchdown lead against Notre Dame.
That said, 27-21 Ducks. It’ll be close until they pull away in the fourth quarter.
USC 31 Oregon 17
USC 31 Oregon 17
28-17 Ducks
28-17 Ducks
28-17 Ducks
wow…looks like i might've underestimated the scoring in this game. looks like we all might've. 24-17 in the first half.
Final score: Oregon 47, USC 20. It's the most points ever allowed by USC under Pete Carroll.
Aaron was the closest with a prediction of 38-24…I think it's safe to say that nobody quite expected this outcome, though. The Vegas betting line was USC by three points.
Oregon's offense was rolling, and Jeremiah Masoli and LaMichael James both looked incredibly sharp running the ball, both making great cuts in the open field and turning what should've been short gains into long runs. The USC defense looked confused and out-of-sorts for most of the game, and Oregon played mostly flawlessly on offense, with a few exceptions.
So, Oregon moves to 5-0 in the Pac-10 and seemingly in the driver's seat for the Rose Bowl.
wow…looks like i might’ve underestimated the scoring in this game. looks like we all might’ve. 24-17 in the first half.
wow…looks like i might’ve underestimated the scoring in this game. looks like we all might’ve. 24-17 in the first half.
Final score: Oregon 47, USC 20. It’s the most points ever allowed by USC under Pete Carroll.
Aaron was the closest with a prediction of 38-24…I think it’s safe to say that nobody quite expected this outcome, though. The Vegas betting line was USC by three points.
Oregon’s offense was rolling, and Jeremiah Masoli and LaMichael James both looked incredibly sharp running the ball, both making great cuts in the open field and turning what should’ve been short gains into long runs. The USC defense looked confused and out-of-sorts for most of the game, and Oregon played mostly flawlessly on offense, with a few exceptions.
So, Oregon moves to 5-0 in the Pac-10 and seemingly in the driver’s seat for the Rose Bowl.
Final score: Oregon 47, USC 20. It’s the most points ever allowed by USC under Pete Carroll.
Aaron was the closest with a prediction of 38-24…I think it’s safe to say that nobody quite expected this outcome, though. The Vegas betting line was USC by three points.
Oregon’s offense was rolling, and Jeremiah Masoli and LaMichael James both looked incredibly sharp running the ball, both making great cuts in the open field and turning what should’ve been short gains into long runs. The USC defense looked confused and out-of-sorts for most of the game, and Oregon played mostly flawlessly on offense, with a few exceptions.
So, Oregon moves to 5-0 in the Pac-10 and seemingly in the driver’s seat for the Rose Bowl.
I definitely didn’t see a 27 point win, but I loved every minute of it. Prediction for next week at Stanford, Ducks 44, Stanford 17.
Incredible game and I love to read what you write, Adam. I won't get to see this coming Saturday's game because I will be gone but I have the recorder set so I can see it after I get home. Go Ducks!!
Incredible game and I love to read what you write, Adam. I won’t get to see this coming Saturday’s game because I will be gone but I have the recorder set so I can see it after I get home. Go Ducks!!
Incredible game and I love to read what you write, Adam. I won’t get to see this coming Saturday’s game because I will be gone but I have the recorder set so I can see it after I get home. Go Ducks!!