Aaron Fentress is right in one sense. If the Ducks lose a game the rest of the year it will be an upset. Every one of those victories will have to earned, but they’ll be favored each and every week.
Close calls by Miami last night and Texas A&M last week show how treacherous life is in the Top Ten, even more so the losses by Stanford and Georgia. Mike Bellotti used to say, “It is easier to be the hunter than the hunted” and there is a huge element of truth in that: the Ducks are in a position now where teams circle the Oregon date, and many have scores to settle that go back six and seven years. Oregon State last beat the Ducks in 2007, and in the ensuing five losses they’ve been denied two Rose Bowl trips and suffered a 65-38 pasting in their own building. The Cougars last beat Oregon in 2006, which was also the last time the team achieved a .500 record at 6-6. Oddly, they are 5-4 against Washington in the last nine meetings, in spite of having some woeful teams.
For tomorrow night’s game in Autzen there are not likely to be any Apple Cup miracles, nor are the Cougar likely to wake up the echoes of Rueben Mayes, Drew Bledsoe or even Alex Brink. Mike Leach will coach the beejeezus out of them tomorrow and for the rest of the season, and the most likely outcome is they will just make or just miss a bowl. Against Oregon, they’re likely to be swept under a wave of talent and superior preparation. The Ducks have become a relentless machine, infantry, artillery, air support and pretty girls. The Duck will be busy.
Look for Oregon’s secondary to brutalize the WSU passing attack. There will be some swipes and probably a score. Byron Marshall and Thomas Tyner should combine for 200 yards, provided they play long enough. Brandin Cooks caught 11 balls for the Beavers last week against the Cougs, and Bralon Addison and Josh Huff, the Starsky and Hutch of the Oregon passing attack, will bust a few perps and slide over the hood of the Gran Torino with ease. It’s a promotional poster waiting to happen.
Addison and Huff are every bit as dynamic as this duo. Currently the two Ducks are one of the biggest box office attractions in college football, ready to unleash Le Tigre on the Washington State secondary.
Oregon 64, Washington State 10. Please leave your prediction below.
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