Nevada Dawg

One thing I think I know: Dan Lanning would love the kinds of challenges that Georgia presented this year (though maybe not in his first game at the helm). That game was very diagnostic for the coaching staff and did, I submit, more good than harm. PAC-12 schools need to play big intersectional games and win some of them if they want to be taken more seriously by the dudes doing the rankings. As for being afraid to leave home turf, Georgia has at least one home and home coming up fairly soon with UCLA and others of note like Clemson as well. Many Georgia fans, myself included, would love to have a home at home with Oregon so they can see what playing in Autzen is all about. Georgia fans, who travel very well, would also look favorably toward H & Hs with Washington and USC as well.

My own opinion is that Oregon will not leapfrog 1-loss Tennessee on strength of schedule. Also, Alabama went to the playoffs in 2017 when they did not win their division or play in the SEC Championship. Oregon would have an argument for inclusion should they win the PAC-12, but I'd bet they are not getting there by displacing a 1-loss Tennessee.

SI projections for bowl matchups are historically bad...just saying. I still believe that if TCU goes undefeated, they are in the playoffs. Of course the Frogs could lose, but it is not immediately apparent who will take them down. My best guess if it happens is Texas in Austin. But I wouldn't lay a bet on that outcome. I also expect a one-loss Tennessee to make the field.

Yep I did tell you that you'd come to love Lanning and will add that I hope that the Ducks gain a rematch with the Dawgs, for several reasons. I have always been a closet Ducks fan and am a Lanning fan. The playoffs are still far from certain, even if the Ducks win out--lots have to happen. From my selfish perspective as a Dawg fan and no disrespect intended, I'd rather face the Ducks in the playoffs than the Vols again. Now that last sentence ought to expose me to some shots from the Ducks fan base, but without an intersectional resume other than 49-3, I really have no basis for knowing how good the Ducks really are. I do think that on a neutral field (as in the playoffs) they are even money to take down either Michigan or Ohio State who have no intersectional resume either. Ohio State did beat ND in game one at home, but like Oregon, ND has improved mucho since September.

Wow I did not know about the 5-game contract with the ACC. Can they simply become a member for football and retain their financial contract apart from the conference pie? Being able to play for a conference championship could be in ND's interests with respect to seeding in the coming 12-team playoff format.

LSU now controls its own destiny in the SEC West but is a 2-loss team. Don't see how they get to the playoffs. Tennessee is still very much in the picture and I don't expect them to lose again. Oregon now has a pathway to the promised land but they will still need to win out and receive further help along the way. If TCU remains undefeated, no way Oregon leapfrogs them (no pun intended).

Man I hope that Oregon never goes to the B1G. I've said it before and will say again, The B1G plays boring football and is the most overrated conference in America. Assuming the money distribution stays reasonably competitive in the PAC-12, I firmly believe the Ducks would be better off right where they are. I don't know about USC, but I suspect that UCLA will eventually regret their move to the Midwest. Imagine playing mid-week basketball games in Maryland or Rutgers. This is nuts from a travel point of view, And having lived in the Midwest, the BIG fan bases will certainly not welcome the California schools with open arms. Just my $.02 worth and sorry if these points have already been made over the past couple months.

This is true and the injury ends a brilliant college career. According to Kirby, Nolan remains important as a "coach on the sideline".

Georgia cannot simply replace Nolan Smith. He is an important team leader and a coach on the field. Yet that hardly means they are doomed to lose the game. His position will be played by committee with some of the committee members being young but talented and relatively inexperienced. I don't mean to come across as a self-handicapper here. It is quite possible that Tennessee could win this game with Nolan playing. A football chat buddy who is a rabid Tennessee fan and ex-Vol player thinks Georgia wins this game if the team is really dialed in. However, if Georgia is the least bit lackadaisical, as they were for their two FCS games, his money would be on the Vols. My best guess is that Georgia will not be the slightest lackadaisical and will probably win a tight one--but my confidence in this outcome is not real high. But one thing I do know: Should Georgia lose, Kirby will gladly congratulate the Vols and certainly not try to pin the loss on Nolan's absence.

Yeah the mathematical laws of cumulative probabilities make almost any outcome seem highly improbable when aggregated over 4 or 5 events/games still to come.

McClain is a south Florida kid. He probably has some affection for the Hurricanes and tie big bag ensures that he can stay home and do South Beach up right. Believe me, as a "fun" locale, Miami has it all over Tuscaloosa or Gainesville, FL.

I suspect the "grind" will not be a problem for this staff which, I am sure, is challenging its players to work hard and get better every day. If they are getting their message across, and it seems as if they are, the team is not close to peaking yet.

The answer is Nooooo! Georgia has played games on the coast before although it has been awhile. They have a home and home with UCLA on the schedule, first game in he Rose Bowl in 2025 if memory serves me. They had a home and home with Ohio State coming up that Ohio State bailed on. They also had upcoming home and homes with Oklahoma and Texas on the docket that the SEC struck down because these teams will be in the league and the dates do not work with the revised scheduling formats. Uga fans would love to have more intersectional games with the PAC-12, and the second most desired away game, after the Rose Bowl which will no longer be in play as a PAC-12 home, is probably good ole Autzen. SE chickens? Hardly!!

Well there is one thing I can promise you: Should the stars align such that the Ducks and Dawgs match up in the playoffs, you can bet that Bo's interview, if on tape, will be recorded and broadcast on a cycle in the Dawgs' workout sites prior to that game. I could ask for no better bulletin board material. I personally know or know of, some of whom comment here, several Dawg fans that follow Oregon football and will continue to do so. Believe me, these SEC fans most certainly do not hate Oregon. Kirby Smart also maintains great relationships with all his ex-assistants who have become head coaches. He may try to beat their brains out between the lines, but he wishes them all well and is happy when they succeed.

I concur that the Duck offense has improved a lot but it has faced nothing like the Dawg defense since September 3. I'm guessing in a playoff game, the Dawgs prevail 42-17.

I never liked MC as a coach from the first game I watched when he went on a forth and 2 late from somewhere around mid-field, got stuffed, and the opponent (maybe Stanford?), moved the ball a bit and kicked a last minute. field goal to win. Why he didn't punt the ball for a sure win was beyond me. I was really incensed by Mario not having the Ducks more game ready against Utah for either game last year. I understand that much of Utah's squad returned this year. Having said that, I can almost guarantee that this year's Utah game will bear faint resemblance to last year, not only because the Ducks have an experienced and far superior QB now, but also because Lanning will have them ready to play the damn football game in a way that Cristobal never could. Yeah, Cristobal did you a big favor by leaving and you made the most of it by hiring DL. Congrats!

I'm with Debbie Duck: It is an undefeated UCLA or bust for the PAC-12 this year as far as playoffs go. My prediction: Bust after the Ducks throttle the Bruins tomorrow. Lanning, of course, wants to win em all, but he'll take a first year trip to the Rose Bowl as a sign of a stupendous first year (as well he might).

I think Corso, if he comes, dons the Duck Head. I know he loves the mascot.

Oregon: Improving USC: Overrated (and I thought that prior to USC's losing to Utah

Yeah for us as well, though it may not matter ifno one beats Tennessee.

I think it was in my first post on OBD that I said that you were going to love Lanning while also cautioning against heaping unrealistic expectations on a first-year coach and his staff. I expected miscues on his part and we may see some yet this year. But quite frankly, things are going better so far than I had anticipated. I think what I am seeing here, based on team play and statements from some players, is the establishment of a new culture that players are buying into. A culture based on sound fundamentals will lead down the road to a team chemistry in which the older players will encourage the younger ones to buy in and to work hard to get better every day. If I am right, I expect really good things to happen for the Ducks in the coming years and a level of excitement in Eugene that is something to behold. Rest assured that I will be rooting along with you!

The biggest problem with being in the B1G is that the state with the abundance of high school talent is Ohio and Ohio State "owns" it recruiting-wise. That being the case, they will continue to dominate the B1G. A 12-team playoff field means that Oregon in the PAC-whatever will reach the playoffs more often but...3 out of every 4 seasons seems to be excessive to me.

That is a very good point Kurt and you are probably right. But it certainly would be impossible to to exclude an undefeated PAC-12 champion. I actually think that Bama will have their hands full with Tennessee IF...IF Bryce Young is unable to go on Saturday.

Yes I think so. Bama has been a bit uninspiring this year and could easily have lost two games already. Those things make a difference when there are many potential deserving teams.

In my view, the Ducks have looked very good since week one. I could actually see them running he table but will not be shocked if they don't. UCLA and Utah look legit to me and SC could loom in a title game. If I had to guess, I'd bet that the Ducks end up in a New Year's 6 bowl. Someone in this conference is going to have to be ranked a lot higher to make the playoffs. One of the teams is going to have to become dominant for that to happen I think.