Who: Kansas State Wildcats (11-1) vs Oregon Ducks (11-1)
Where: Arizona
When: January 3rd, 8:30 PM EST
TV: ESPN
Line: Oregon by 8
Both of these teams slipped up just one time this season. The Ducks fell in OT against a Stanford team that would go on to win the Rose Bowl and the Wildcats fell to a Baylor squad that got hot at the end of the season. At one point, it looked like this might be the BCS National Championship Game but now it's "just" a BCS game.
Oregon is second in the Nation in points scored (50.8), 4th in total offense (550 ypg) and 2nd in rushing offense (323 ypg). Those numbers stay pretty consistent for Oregon no matter the competition. The only real slip up on the schedule was the Stanford game that they lost.
Statistically, Kansas State's defense falls in line with that of Stanford. Kansas State has a better turnover margin but doesn't stop the third down conversions as well.
A big question for me is how focused will this Oregon squad be? Chip Kelly has been reported to be interviewing with three NFL teams so his mind has to be elsewhere. What are the players thinking right now as these rumors of their coach swirl over their heads?
Chip Kelly is 1-2 in bowl games and Billy Snyder is 0-2 since coming back to coach the Wildcats. I think this will be a close game and see this one as a toss up that could go either way. I think the Wildcats offense will give Oregon problems and will keep the Ducks off the field more than they would like. If the Wildcats can play mistake free football (they've only lost the turnover battle twice this year) then I like their chances here. I'm feeling frisky…give me the upset.
Kansas State 41 Oregon 38
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