Oh good!  It is the "We Lost to Oregon" Bowl....so let's discuss!  Go B1G!

 

 

Boise State vs Penn State in the Fiesta Bowl. In 2007 Fiesta Bowl, Boise State upset Oklahoma. The commentators did start out talking about how both teams tried but couldn't beat Oregon. 

Boise State is unbeaten in the Fiesta Bowl. They stay unbeaten. 31-27 Broncos.

Penn State has a Beast on offense in Warren, and a Beast on defense in Carter. Boise State has 1 Beast in Jeanty. Penn State 38-23.

Regardless of who wins, Oregon looks good no matter what. 

Penn St is so focused on Ashton that the passing game is wide open for BSU.

Haha.   I have just seen a field goal kick that most likely could have kicked better the this healthy age of 75...  

Im afraid I must root for Boise as I really don 't want to run into Penn St again this year.  Just my thought.  I expect Penn St to win, so good either way.

On 12/31/2024 at 4:48 PM, Jemangi said:

  I have just seen a field goal kick that most likely could have kicked better the this healthy age of 75...  

That field goal attempt looked a lot like some of my golf drives!  

KTM....   I'll play golf with you!

Boise better tap in to their creative side on offense because powering it up the middle just ain't gonna happen.

That was definitely the back of the end zone, but Warren did get one foot in. 7-0.

Watching this Penn State defensive line against the Boise State O-Line makes me realize just how special the Ducks O-Line is!

 

 

Okay, this one is heading towards worse than the 1st round games. 

Looking like this dude who mouthed off about not winning the Heisman might be having a tough night 

BSU got really fortunate recovering that fumble.

On 12/31/2024 at 5:15 PM, Jemangi said:

Looking like this dude who mouthed off about not winning the Heisman might be having a tough night 

Yep. It's up to Oregon to show how the Playoff Format & the Heisman voting are both in need of repair. 

Warren looks bigger and faster than any player on Boise State's defense. 

Penn State is on a different level.   

Alright, without Jeanty, Boise State gets a touchdown. 

On the edge of the precipice, Boise State finds its footing. 

Refs sure missed an obvious and then obvious pi call.   Wonder what they were looking at?  Not the ball, thats for sure.

Both of these defenses are better than Oregon’s, through the first half.

On 12/31/2024 at 6:17 PM, OregonDucks said:

Both of these defenses are better than Oregon’s, through the first half.

That Penn State defense is elite and Oregon hung 45 on them. No other team scored more than 30 on them all year.  
 

The media and non-Oregon fans are sleeping on Oregon’s offense right now IMO. 

Edited January 1Jan 1 by GeotechDuck

Penn St, the team that just can't quite pull away against Boise, the team that just won't go away is playing out just like you'd think it would.

On 12/31/2024 at 6:21 PM, GeotechDuck said:

That Penn State defense is elite and Oregon hung 45 on them. No other team scored more than 30 on them all year.  
 

I agree with this. Neither of these offenses are anything close to Oregon's which has a lot to do with the defense's holding the points down

Penn St. just needs to keep running the ball and mix in a little play action.  The Boise defense has played tough, but they will soon tire of tackling State’s RBs.  Especially Allen.

On 12/31/2024 at 9:31 PM, 30Duck said:

I agree with this. Neither of these offenses are anything close to Oregon's which has a lot to do with the defense's holding the points down

And, yet, they both easily moved the ball on Oregon and put up near season high in points. 
 

Yes, Oregon’s offense is elite but our defense is mediocre.  
 

Both d-coordinators in this game are focusing on taking away the opposing offense’s strengths - the running game for BSU and the TE for Penn State - and making them beat them other ways. What a novel idea (it’s called strategy)…we should try it!

 

“In war, the way is to avoid what is strong and to strike at what is weak.”

    — Sun-tzu’s Art of War

 

Edited January 1Jan 1 by OregonDucks

On 12/31/2024 at 6:39 PM, OregonDucks said:

What a novel idea (it’s called strategy)…we should try it!

Which should Oregon's strategy against Ohio State be, stop the run or the pass?

When the tight end has hands of steel not much focus on him is necessary.  At least this evening his capability to catch the ball is suspect.

On 12/31/2024 at 9:47 PM, 30Duck said:

Which should Oregon's strategy against Ohio State be, stop the run or the pass?

Like Oregon, Ohio State has a lot more balanced offense than the teams we are watching play tonight, who rely on one primary playmaker.  However, they have not been as consistent as Oregon (Will Stein > Chip Kelly?).
 

I think both teams in the Rose Bowl will try to limit explosive plays (keep everything in front) and force the opposing offenses to string together 10+ play drives but, at the same time, you cannot let the opposing team’s running game gouge you for 5-6 yards per run. So, if I had to pick one, I would try to limit Ohio State’s running game and make Howard beat me. Howard has had some really good games but also some mediocre ones, especially when pressured. So, if we can force Ohio State into 3rd and long, use stunts or zone blitzes/simulated pressures to make him uncomfortable and force mistakes.  
 

However, I would not let Jeremiah Smith beat me deep. Put Oregon’s best cover corner, Mohammad, on him and if he gets beat put a safety over the top like Michigan did.  

Edited January 1Jan 1 by OregonDucks

On 12/31/2024 at 9:55 PM, Grandpa Duck said:

When the tight end has hands of steel not much focus on him is necessary.  At least this evening his capability to catch the ball is suspect.

His hands are ok!

So I should know better than to rag on the guy and cause him to make a good touchdown grab.

On 12/31/2024 at 7:00 PM, OregonDucks said:

Like Oregon, Ohio State has a lot more balanced offense than the teams we are watching play tonight, who rely on one primary playmaker.  However, they have not been as consistent as Oregon (Will Stein > Chip Kelly?).
 

I think both teams in the Rose Bowl will try to limit explosive plays (keep everything in front) and force the opposing offenses to string together 10+ play drives but, at the same time, you cannot let the opposing team’s running game gouge you for 5-6 yards per run. So, if I had to pick one, I would try to limit Ohio State’s running game and make Howard beat me. He has had some really good games but also some mediocre ones, especially when pressured. So, if we can force Ohio State into 3rd and long, use stunts or zone blitzes/simulated pressures to make him uncomfortable and force mistakes.  
 

However, I would not let Jeremiah Smith beat me deep. Put Oregon’s best cover corner, Mohammad, on him and if he gets beat put a safety over the top like Michigan did.  

I concur. 

I just did the same thing

Ouch, Boise State TD called off due to penalty.

26 yard run for Jeanty on 3rd & 21. 

I really wouldn't want to be a field goal kicker. 

That should do it. 31-14.

I like the fact that, so far, we have beaten 3 of the 7 teams in the playoffs.

Drew Allar certainly did not play tonight like he did against OBD

I had predicted on another thread that Boise could easily be in this game well into the second half if they could shorten the game by grinding out longish drives on the ground. Of course we saw that the Broncos did not do that. But Penn State could not pull away until very late in this game. Having watched the first half very carefully, there was no longer any doubt in my mind that the Lions would win this game. But they were far less dominant than a reading of he final score would seemingly indicate.

 

I am a Ducks fan and, wearing only that cap for the moment, I'd far rather face Penn State in the final. I am not predicting that Georgia would win such a matchup (I need to see how Gunner Stockton handles the offense) but I suspect that Georgia would present some real challenges that will not be present to the same degree in a matchup against Penn State.  

 

 

But I am most concerned not about what could transpire down the road. We have our hands full at present with the Bucks and the Irish!

The only thing going through my head watching this game is frustration at the stupidity of the playoff designers. Penn State loses CCG and breezes through two rounds of the playoffs without breaking a sweat. 
 

OBD will be fighting for our lives tomorrow after the only unbeaten season in 2024 and hands down the #1 team. 
 

I guess I’ll be upset at Ohio St. also since they laid an egg against Michigan. They need to pay the price tomorrow - we need to vanquish them!

On 12/31/2024 at 10:31 PM, Nevada Dawg said:

I am a Ducks fan and, wearing only that cap for he moment, I'd far rather face Penn State in the final . I am not predicting that Georgia would win such a matchup (I need to see how Gunner Stockton handles the offense) but I suspect that Georgia would present some real challenges that will not be present to the same degree in a matchup against Penn State.  

I have tremendous respect for Coach Smart and Georgia’s defense and know that Georgia has as much talent as any team in college football; however, something seems off with your offense this year.
 

You know Georgia better than I do but, from afar, it seems that Georgia really misses the playmaking abilities of Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey and just haven’t been able to replace those playmakers this season. 
 

I think that Georgia’s defense could hold Oregon’s offense below its season average, but I’m not scared of Georgia’s offense and don’t think they would be able to keep pace with Oregon’s offense, at the end of the day. 
 

Hopefully, we’ll find out, as we both have long and tough roads ahead…

50% of the semifinals is B1G!

 

Hats off to Penn State. 

 

BLAST BRUTUS!

On 1/1/2025 at 8:16 AM, OregonDucks said:

I have tremendous respect for Coach Smart and Georgia’s defense and know that Georgia has as much talent as any team in college football; however, something seems off with your offense this year.
 

You know Georgia better than I do but, from afar, it seems that Georgia really misses the playmaking abilities of Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey and just haven’t been able to replace those playmakers this season. 
 

 

Winner winner, chicken dinner. You just identified the biggest single offensive problem, loss of these two guys. Bowers went to the NFL and looks like he is back at Georgia, He broke Mike Ditka's rookie TE receiving record and was leading all pass catchers of any stripe in receptions and yardage through week 13, all of this while playing for the Las Vegas Raiders and their substandard QBs. McConkey is one of the best rookie wide receivers of all time in receptions and yardage in such esteemed company as Jamarr Chase, Justin Jefferson, and Devonta Smith. He,,though has the advantage of an excellent QB, none other than Justin Herbert.

 

These two were both injured and tried to give it a go in Georgia's 3-point loss to Alabama in the SEC Championship game, Georgia's only loss in 2023.  Unfortunately both guys were limping around out there and were ineffective. Thus, Georgia was omitted from the playoffs (the committee really had no choice last year) Had they got in and a month to heal for the playoffs, I truly believe they would have won the whole shebang because they matched up extremely well with Michigan. But thems the breaks.