Mic

Oh, say it isn't so Joe. Er, Jon... Say it isn't so!

Well, a 'gentleman's' bet doesn't include any $, just a tacit agreement that we disagree on the question and we wait to see which one of us fine gentlemen (ahem) proves correct. We'll have to hang around for a few years, maybe, say 4-5 (?) and see how the Beavers and Cougars wind up. When a long enough period of time has elapsed I'll claim you the winner if OSU & WSU "sink under their own weight" (I admit that's a bit vague) and their "revenues dry up". If not then you will declare me the winner and we go somewhere and grab a beer. Loser buys the 1st round. Winner buys the 2nd. That way it's revenue neutral: the gentlemen's bet.

By pac2 I infer you mean OSU & WSU. Care to take a gentleman's bet on this?

Yes. But the optimist in me wants to think Kenny Dillingham is genuinely impressed with what the Ducks are doing right now in Lanning's 2nd year and Will Stein's 1st with his own tweaks on the Offense. From one Offensive guru to another, I think it's a sincere observation and compliment. I'd rather hear it from him than from just about anyone else, save maybe Chip Kelly. It's why I posted it.

Alas, this is probably correct. But would it be that much better if Oregon beats UW in Las Vegas (assuming the Beavers don't beat them first)? Alabama may get a rest this weekend playing Chattanooga but it doesn't do much to gild the lily and that's the Ace Texas holds right now. Fingers crossed.

What I think is this is one thing that keeps a 'good' team from being 'great'. I also think this is what keeps inferior teams in the game and makes every win harder than it should be. I also question team discipline. But that's risky because a lot of the penalties have nothing to do with discipline but referee calls.

Each time I see these particular unis I'm reminded of how much I like the all Yellow w/chrome helmets. Maybe we'll see those next Friday against the Beavers.

You're close to my guess, as I was going to say 42-10 Oregon. But then I began the research. The only thing I couldn't find were the odds on the last time Oregon went down to Tempe ranked #6 and lost. This year the odds are -24.5 for O. But then, there's that nagging little reminder of 2019. Yeah, Oregon should win this going away. We'll see.

The last time Oregon played the Sun Devils in Tempe (2019) Oregon was ranked #6, ASU not rated, (just like this year). That year, the Sun Devils surprised Oregon 31-28. A huge upset. In 2017, 24th ranked Oregon also lost to non-rated ASU 37-35. Another upset. In 2015, the Ducks won, but in a very close slugfest 61-55. In the last three matchups between these two teams (in Tempe) ASU has scored 123 points, Oregon 124. Tempe seems to be a venue Oregon has struggled in recently for whatever reason, ranked or otherwise. Just an interesting sidelight to make one wonder what it is about Mountain America Stadium (or the Sun Devils) that has caused Oregon such angst. Will this Lanning-coached team break this recent trend?

Speaking just for myself, Augduck, I could wish (but never expect it) for all trash talking to go away forever. I'm old enough to remember when trash talking which didn't even have a name then, was considered unsportsmanlike behavior and not allowed by coaches or the organizations they worked for. It's all too common on today's landscape. Probably got it's impetus from the trash talking NFL, filtering down into our collegiate ranks. Coach Dillingham's nice comments about the Ducks could be analyzed on a host of different levels but at the base of it I suspect it's just plain truth of observation and a reflection of what his team is about to have to deal with. Nothing more fancy than that.

It's becoming a 'tradition'...

UW: only if the loss is to OSU and not Oregon. Followed by fervent prayer to the Gods of CFB. So to boil it all down to the syrup: only a 12-1 Oregon or a 13-0 UW has any chance, probably.

It's nice to hear the players express their gratitude for the way Dan Lanning handled the issue. You just know this is going to make them want to play even harder for him - if that's even possible. Talent: check. Coaching: check. Scheming: check. Passion for the team: Double check.

What's the chances UCLA upsets (would it be an upset?) USC?

In summation: Yes. OSU: you're screwed no matter what you do (probably) UW win out - or at least beat Oregon again and pray.

I didn't hear that and I was wondering myself if what I heard might not have been abbreviated. I had edited the post you quoted just before you posted because I think Kenny would maybe know better than to risk peeving the O Defense. There's also the theory that when you think your team might be about to get smoked, you admit before the game they're opponent is great. Now, I don't know how well Oregon is going to do in Tempe, but I have a good idea and I sure hope I'm right. But ASU did figure out how to stop Chip's offense. Oregon had better take good note of that - as I'm sure Dan and Will are. Sure makes this game more interesting.

And very honest - at least in this regard. Of course, this might all be part of a psychological mind game starting but he shouldn't have left praise for the Defense out. Might be a slight miscalculation on his behalf. OR... there was more to the audio I didn't hear?

I'm taking in to account that one of the top 4 will lose. Michigan plays Ohio St eventually. One of those two will have at least 1 loss. For Oregon, already with one loss, they need to beat an unbeaten UW to get moved up. UW needs to win out all the way thru Championship game and remain unbeaten themselves or at least beat a one-loss Oregon again should they lose to OSU Saturday. OSU Beavers could win out and probably not crack the top 4. 2 losses won't get things done for them. OSU, you're screwed though you could definitely screw with the chances of UW and Oregon both. All IMHO. GO OREGON!

Just listened in on an audio on KPNW of a TikTock posting by Kenny Dillingham yesterday about the Oregon Ducks. He was very complimentary, effusive even, of the Oregon' offense, calling them the best since the Chip Kelly - Marcus Mariota years, maybe better. Even lots better than last year under his own leadership. I won't go into all the details but he talked about there being no weaknesses anywhere on the Offense. Now, I admire and like Kenny very much and O owes a lot to him for getting Dan Lanning's team off and running offensively - giving Will Stein a great base to build on. But, there was no mention (at least on the audio clip I heard) about the Defense whatsoever. If I were on the O defensive unit I might take a bit of umbrage with that. Does Kenny think they're exploitable and he has a plan to do just that? Does he think they're definitely the "weak link: on this team? Oh... you might not want to poke this bear 5 days before you have to face them on the field. No Sir!

Amen to that.

UCLA was once a marquee program with a rich, historic past. They probably have more than a few rich and influential donors and a influential media corps built around their sports programs. After all, they were able to lure Chip there when he left the NFL. You just know there had to be a lot of other schools that wanted him. (Maybe not so much now, but that was then). Donte will probably land on his feet after this blows over. Chip... maybe not so much.

I really hope Oregon doesn't have to mine the transfer portal for another QB but can rely on Ty Thompson instead. Or Austin Novasad, or whomever from within the program. I mean, how many guys like Bo Nix are out there? And how long can a team rely on transfers at the key positions?

Oh. I was under the understanding that he had one more year. Thanks for correcting me. Well, I still think DeBoer will likely stay but seriously, who really knows nowadays given the insane salaries some schools are willing to cough up for a good coach? Has anyone heard any rumors to the effect T A&M is interested in him?

Very nice to read, Charles. Thanks for this! We saw this most emphatically in the Utah game. Utah wasn't prepared for what happened to them.

True that. Plus Oregon has lots vested in Ty Thompson right now. Regarding his choice of UCLA who of Donte's caliber wouldn't want to play for Chip Kelly? He HAD a pretty amazing reputation of building blazing hot offenses at Oregon. Once, long ago...