Mic

Well, they do call it 'Football'.

First off, any of you 'gamblers' out there be careful! When odds start changing before a game and it's not because of significant changes in injuries or coaching, etc. - beware. It's a reflection of bets coming in from precisely those least objective in their analysis. The gaming houses are positioning themselves to make a profit against the losses. Secondly, most of these players or coaches have no notion (or memory) of past games like this between the two (both teams in top 10). So while it helps with the hype it isn't necessarily the motivator driving them to win. All that said: enjoy the heck out of this one, win or lose. This is what makes collegiate football the most exciting fan sport to watch, imo. Even Super Bowls (the actual game) pale in comparison. Only game 7 of the World Series compares favorably and even there fans don't rush the field and tear the place down. Go Ducks!

Admit it Charles, this was a bit of "click-bait". LOL You got me!

Didn't see the post game interview but I remember thinking "this had better not come down to the kicking game" but it did - and he still came thru. This alone should get his teammate's respect if he didn't already have it. He did most of the scoring. He earned his keep.

I wonder sometimes about these recruit visits during games, esp. big games like this. I'd think the recruits are enjoying the VI.P. treatment and are awed by the facilities, maybe enjoying the popularity among fans, but what kind of an impression do you think is left in their minds if, say, UCLA beats (or trounces) Oregon while they're watching? Negative? Same question is reverse: Positive? It could be a crap-shoot, esp. if UCLA is on their list of schools. Seeing Game Day there would make a big impression, I imagine. Might mitigate a loss somewhat.

That's the good news. Now the not-so-good news: Showers forecast with a high around 58F. But of course, it never rains in Autzen Stadium so Gameday and fans need not worry. At least the rain should clear the air of smoke.

Watching Justin play with those sore ribs is painful for me, not to mention him. I hope he doesn't suffer permanent damage. Just about any other position and he could sit for a few games but not the alpha-dog QB.

Well, winning is always more fun than losing, that's for sure. Watching your team score TD's on 7-straight possessions back to back in games is pretty fun. Hearing Game Day's flying into town is fun too. Seeing needless penalties isn't much fun tho. So I guess there's up and downs - but things have definitely been more up then down. GO OREGON!

Whomever - just as long as they ride to Autzen in the Deathmobile. Think Nick Aliotti would do that?

I don't think a whole new scheme, but certainly a few new wrinkles. I think that's probably what you're referring too? Maybe some of those nifty blitz packages you illustrated a week back? Also, if what I've read is true, UCLA is still a run-oriented team, true to the Chip Kelly philosophy. Oregon can't afford to rob from Peter (run defense) too much to pay Paul. Stopping Bobo will be essential or their run game could really open up.

Has anyone heard yet if Autzen sold out completely? Standing room too? If so, that should be 60,000.

First, I just don't see the 'big talent advantage' of Oregon over UCLA. Could be, I just don't see it... yet (see Charles' post above about that). Second, as far as coaching goes, Chip's a veteran of both the CFB and the NFL, older, much more experienced and just as innovative (if not more so) than Dillingham so I don't see an advantage there either. Lastly, I am yet to get on the Tosh Lupoi bandwagon. I have no way to compare him to Chip's D.C. but so far I'm still wondering why Lanning picked Lupoi. I'm trusting him to have made the right (or was it the best available?) choice when he did but for me the jury's still out on that one too. So ... a win hands down? As I said earlier I'll be happy just to see the Ducks cover the spread of 4-pts. Any more than that and you can tell me you told us so!

There's no denying that DTR has been playing better under Chips system than ever before. And we're all with ya on this one, Oregon will need to make him play like the old DTR of previous seasons. Maybe a few hard (but legal) sacks will 'assist' O in doing that. And getting a few turnovers as the result.

No, you're right. I'm a firm believer in trying to understand how certain teams match-up better against others because it often explains why when Team A, who beats team C by 20 (whom beat Team B previously) cannot always be expected to beat Team B just because of the earlier results. Comparing like opponents is a good indicator but doesn't often take everything into account. Throw in home field advantages, injuries and penalties on top of individual matchups and it can become a crap shoot in a hurry. For example: say O hands UCLA it's lunch Saturday (hopefully). Does that follow that O will then smoke Utah who lost previously to UCLA? I wish it were that simple but it never is. One would think if we can beat UCLA we will certainly beat Utah and we all know that's not guaranteed. Not by a long shot.

Sometimes I wonder if Justin Flowe isn't trying too hard to live up to the reputation he has and play with effort - but under control. He can't be making tackles on every play, just the ones that come his way. Maybe he needs to learn to stand his ground when asked, charge when it's schemed or necessary. So much of what linebackers do is in reaction to the offense but you have to be working within the scheme or you can find yourself charging all over the place to ill effect. But far be it from me to be giving the young man advice, that's for Lanning and Lupoi to do. He has the talent, the desire and the courage to be a great linebacker.

While many are watching to see if Nix can have a big game for Oregon to win, we should be watching to see if our LB'er (and Flowe) have a big one to contain UCLA. In fact, it might even be more important that they do because Nix is only one of our many offensive weapons; he need not put the whole offense on his back - just run the offense efficiently and get the ball into the hands of O's other 'weapons' as well. I'd be happy with 20 points if UCLA only gets 19. Of course, the chances of that are probably nil.

1st, I didn't watch the UCLA - Utah game so I'll take your word on that. 2nd, Oregon has let-up off the gas this season too, but with arguably lesser competition. 3rd, Even after watching Utah twice I'm still not convinced they have the offense to keep up with Oregon's. They certainly didn't to keep up with UCLA's. What's making this hard (and interesting) is neither UCLA or Oregon have played anyone in common so direct comparisons can't be made. What we do know is that UCLA was able to slow down Utah and USC wasn't, while at the same time Utah was able to score points on USC where Oregon couldn't on Georgia. Which all makes for more intrigue because how much better is Georgia than USC? A Lot, we hope. But even Missouri put a real scare in Georgia!

A lot!

Stats can be both revealing and mis-leading in that one has to consider who all the opponents were. Georgia & EWU! There couldn't be a larger contrast between two games both in talent & score. And outcome. One could argue UCLA has played the better competition lately in beating Utah and Washington vs Arizona and Stanford for Oregon. So stats are hard to compare accurately.

Given the way Auburn's been playing recently, you could be right. But he sure played well the first time we saw him in an Auburn uniform.

Now, I can reply: I don't think half the state will turn on him (see above post to Log Haulin) and I think most will still be grateful for how we've gotten here at 5-1. If they don't I'd be very surprised. After what happened in Georgia I think a lot of people were thinking 6-6 season coming up and a lousy bowl -at the very best.

No, I don't think so, Log Haulin. Not unless he stinks the place up and nothing he's done this year so far, including the Georgia game, has made us think he will.

No, I don't think so. Or maybe I should say I hope not? oops, this was meant to be my reply to log haul's post not your hayward. sorry

Thanks to Darren Perkins for the interest glimpse of the to QB's. Yeah, I think the winner of this up coming game will likely move up or down on that elusive list but I don't see Nix ever getting to the top 4. Not unless he really, really out-plays DTR. That will require the rest of his team out-playing UCLA as well. In summation I'd have to say Bo's up-side potential (if he wins) is higher (coming from 15th place) than DTR's (if he wins) being already at #5. Likewise, Bo's down-side (if he loses) is lower than DTR's should he lose. It's just the way things work when one player sits 11 positions or more higher. This should translate to more pressure on DTR to perform. Both are older veterans with lots of experience. DTR has the advantage of maturing within Chips offense where as Bo has the disadvantage of having had to remake himself in a new one. The game ought to be a doozy!

But without the same performance.