I'll go with a bye into the quarters. One more week to get healthy, one less chance of a loss, less chance of injury (in theory!), rely upon last year's lessons in regard to a long layoff.

We seem to get dinged up in practices as much as games. That's a tough call for me.

Depends. If you're the 5th or 6th seed then I'd take the playoff game. You still get around 3 weeks of rest and your first opponent is either a G6 representative or the lowest P4 team that qualifies.

I would want a playoff game at Autzen, the players & fans deserve it, imo. I think it helps a team get tuned up more and better prepared for the quarter finals.

If we could move up eventually to a number three seed, then I would take the bye. I just don’t want to face Ohio State until the finals…

Have to agree with Charles... Hopefully it would allow Oregon to resurrect a couple of currently unavailable players from injured reserve status.

If not, #5-6 is probably OBD best option.

It could potentially give an opportunity for the reserves to shine.

It would have to do with which bracket path puts us in the most advantageous position. Tend to agree with FD that no Buckeyes until the last game would be best.

First round game at Autzen. Get those injured guys back on the field and warmed up for a good run.

A month off with a bye is a LONG time and for someone like Dak who has missed all of November his last game would have been 2 months ago at that point and now it's against a team that had a warm up game.

Let's have the warm up. Especially if we are the no. 5 seed and will probably need to go throw Ohio State to reach the championship game.

Depends on the year. For THIS season it would be best if the Ducks can back their way into a bye (which they could easily do if either Georgia or Texas Tech lose their conference championship games). They have lots of injuries (Dakorian Moore, GB Jr, Stewart, multiple OL, etc), that I'd take as many days off as possible. It would be great this year because they would potentially be getting a bye WITHOUT having to play the B1G championship game.

But last season the Bye was stupid, because it wasn't a real bye week. When you have to play in the conference championship game, then you'd not actually getting any additional time off, because you had to play an additional game ahead of the playoffs.

2 hours ago, Charles Fischer said:

I just don’t want to face Ohio State until the final

I'm not giving them the W against Indy just yet.

What ultimately matters is the opponent you’re matched up with. As we learned last year, even if you’re perfect, you have no control and could land in a bad matchup with a hot team.

I don’t think a home playoff game at Autzen in late December weather conditions is going to be nearly as sexy as everyone thinks. However, pummeling the ACC or American conference champion is a great use of energy.

Without understanding the full extent of the injury situation, it’s purely speculation on what the doctor is asking for.

On facing Ohio St, I’d rather take them on in a semi-final. If you’re going to catch them with their guard down, that’s the time to do it.

Edited 28 minutes ago28 min by mikethehiker

No play and knock the rust off. I was at the first PAC 12 Championship Game, not sure anything can get colder.