Mic

What? Is the tee height different?

I sometimes ask myself why are certain teams so easy to dislike, like USC, ND, Wash? Is it the media coverage they get? Let 'em win 3 or 4 games in a row against almost nobody and suddenly (!) they're the cat's meow. Personally, I have no issues with Lincoln Riley, Marcus Freeman or Karen DeBoar; they seem like decent guys and good coaches (esp Riley). Only two are actual rivals, or at least until USC flees for the B1G. Common sense would dictate O fans should hope for USC & Wash to win games to lend luster to Oregon when Oregon beats them (if they can). But I just can't get myself to ever root for any of these three regardless of how it would help the Ducks when/if they play and Oregon wins. I try ... but it's not in my DNA, I guess. Sometimes fan rivalries just don't make sense; but boy (!) are they real. I hope Utah puts the smack down on USC like never before. However, I'd not put a nickel to a dime on it. Alas.

Kicking a FG in HS in front of a few hundred or maybe a thousand or two has got to be a lot different than kicking in front of 55,000 - 85,000+ and television cameras & media personal all over the field. Perhaps that's why these young kickers struggle? I would!

( Reminder to self: Go back and see why the Alabama-Tennessee rivalry (which dates back over 120 years) was 'suspended' between 2019 - 2021.)

Bold predictions debbie. I like that. I'd also like it if they come true, tho my son-in-law might be devastated if Tennessee wins. Somehow I just can't quite get myself to believe Tennessee can do it. Too many years of being dominated by Alabama whom I'm sure will have a game plan to win w/o their best QB. Here's the results of the last 12 matchups. 2007: Alabama 41, Tennessee 17 2008: Alabama 29, Tennessee 9 2009: Alabama 12, Tennessee 10 2010: Alabama 41, Tennessee 10 2011: Alabama 37, Tennessee 6 2012: Alabama 44, Tennessee 13 2013: Alabama 45, Tennessee 10 2014: Alabama 34, Tennessee 20 2015: Alabama 19, Tennessee 14 2016: Alabama 49, Tennessee 10 2017: Alabama 45, Tennessee 7 2018: Alabama 58, Tennessee 21 Alabama leads series 56-38 with 7 ties. 13 of the last 14. Twelve in a row.

1st para; Perhaps, and yes! 2nd para: Looking like it but will only know for sure at the end of the season. 3rd para: I can't pull for USC (tho it might help the Ducks), I think the game is closer than a spanking (tho I'd love it!) and all the southern teams we face are teams to beat (but I know what you mean).

In the 3rd video above the Ducks effect a sack on the Washington QB while at least two Offensive linemen are left swinging heads left & right trying to find someone to block. Meanwhile, two Ducks are pounding their QB into the turf. I absolutely love that! 4 rushers beat 5 blockers because (basically) 4 rushers beat 3 due to the confusion the blitz created.

SC at Utah my #1 watch Saturday. Go Utes! (yeah, i know I should be rooting for USC but ... I ... just ... can't!)

Know what always concerns me after bye weeks? Poor tackling and penalties. For some reason, perhaps the layoff from contact, these two problems seem to crop up with lots of teams. The fact that Oregon has struggled with both this season really concerns me. I'm anxious to see how Dan Lanning and his entire staff have dealt with these tendencies, human tendencies actually. Better than Chip and his staff, I hope.

What do you guys think. is this whole ugly mess with Name, Image & Likeness (NIL) to blame for all this B1G expansion/Pac-12 diminution process going on? (Is diminution even the right word?). It didn't come out of nowhere, methinks.

To hear all this one would think $$ is all the B1G is thinking of! What, no higher motive like, maybe, Altruism? Fairness & equality? 'All-for-one-and-one-for-all', that sort of thing? How dare you ever think the B1G is driven by a profit motive! (psssst: good post).

You forget KamK, the Bruins have had to 'suffer' thru all these at-home games and haven't had the opportunity to shine on another team's field. (At this moment in time I'm not willing to use the word 'team' to describe Colorado). Why, this is the moment they've all been (not) waiting for! My guess, UCLA enters the game -7 pt favorites. Unless the gamblers gain a spat of consciousness.

Alas, I have to agree with you. My gentle mother of a kinder spirit (may she rest-in-peace) is probably rather unhappy with my thoughts regarding these weak attempts at not loathing SC enough to root for them. I'm afraid her kindness only glanced off me, at best. 'Cause I loathe them only slightly less than the Fuskies! Finding myself in a position where I need to concede an unbeaten season for SC helps us is a painful experience. Maybe the B1G will relieve us of having to suffer thru something like this again. We can only hope.

Well, that might be a stretch.

On a clearer, more sober thought I'd like to suggest a slight change in the title of this topic. I'd suggest removing the three words "or Utah and" from it and call it good.

I will never believe the Big 10 gives a rat's arse what happens to the Pac-12. Ever. Unless raiding it means they get to cop USC and UCLA for themselves (into their $ market). What? Are we supposed to suddenly believe the Big-10 has higher, more altruistic values than just $$$ and prestige on their minds? Seriously? If you believe that well ... I know a bridge on the McKenzie Pass by-way, just south of Dee Wright for sale. Send your money to Charles Fischer and tell him it's for Mic. I'll see you get a deed to the bridge.

I'm holding you to this bold but clearly stated prediction. I have some weird sisters ready to ride thru the night to your home and haunt you if this proves incorrect, ya know. Or should I send them to LA for some pre-flight hunting instead?

Loved the trip down memory lane with the videos going back 11 years. How fun!

USC 2? !! So much for the 2nd largest media market in America. B1G: you can have 'em and good riddance!

Yeah. At home. UCLA needs to lose this just to find out what losing on the road is like. Hell, just to find out what playing on the road is like.

Says Charles about the 'Fire Blitz', and very rightly so: "You won’t see Lanning/Lupoi rush five or six very often, but the continued growth in the skills of the Duck secondary may allow Oregon fans to see more of these blitzes as the season progresses." Tis risky, as are all blitzes esp. with a DTR type of QB but - no risk, no gain. This should be a very good marker of just how good/developed our back cover is/has gotten and how good Lupoi is at calling for it at the right moment. Saddle the Lagonda, Lugg! This fire's getting hot.

While awaiting the Vegas oddsmakers to spin their webs of deceit I'll guess that UCLA will come in as -7 favorites over the Ducks. ie: 14 point favorites if back home in their own snug corner. I'll climb out on the limb and guess one of three possible scenarios (remember, this is all just for fun): 1) A wild shootout happens; ending in a draw (overtime) and Oregon prevails 52-45. 2) A wild defensive struggle occurs; ending in a draw (overtime) and Oregon prevails 49-42. 3. A wild defensive, shootout occurs where neither of the above happen. I'm pretty solid on one of the three.

(Oh, and that get-together (scrimmage, really) out in Atlanta.) If UCLA can slip into Autzen and beat us (I'm assuming they will be the favorite by maybe -7?) we'd have to say that would be the most impressive road win in the Pac so far this season. I'm expecting Oregon to make that a most difficult task to accomplish. Hopefully impossible. But if they manage it UCLA should see their stock soar.

Sans USC and UCLA (when they fly off to the B1G) that's an intriguing prospect - except for them pesky Utes and Beavers lurking on our flanks. I include the Beavers because even when they struggle to go .500 they still seem to give Oregon fits.

At just over 245,000 yes, they are not a large market but they 'own' almost the entire state of Idaho. What's more, when we vacation in Northern Nevada it's not uncommon to see Bronco flags and gear in that area as well. People like their style of play and their proclivity of giving bigger programs fits.