What can be said. We looked at the Ohio State game last week and murmered “Okay, that team is beatable”. Then a very close Duck Fresno State game at Autzen where murmers became fans scratching their heads in bewildered angst. Is Fresno State THAT GOOD? Did the injury to Thibideaux drag the defense down that much? Were we holding back not to show our cards next week? Is our pass defense that inept to be susceptible to crossing patterns? I believe it was a combination of all of the above.
both teams, Ohio State and Oregon are beatable on any given Saturday. The best team out of the gate and best third quarter will win. So far, our third quarter has sucked BUT we have only one game to rate our response to third quarters. It has not become a THING yet. Thibideaux back, I reiterate, DAMN, we need him. he is a game changer. The fact we have an away game, since being covid robbed from the home game, might be the telling tale of the contest but I think Fresno is really good and our defensive pressure wasn’t all the way there.
i believe the Ducks win in a squeaker and pull this out by one ahainst ALL other predictions
So put that in your pipe!
I agree that Oregon and Ohio State looked beatable in their first games. Minnesota had the wind taken out of their sails with a targeting that wasn’t called that resulted in a fumble and change of possession as Minnesota was driving for a TD that would have made for an interesting end of the game. The Big 10 officiating administrators have stated that they made a mistake on that call and they have apologized to Minnesota in a classic case of too little, too late. Oregon played a tough Fresno team that already had one game under their belts. Oregon is better than Minnesota, but they are tasked with playing an early morning game against the #3 team in the nation on their home field, which just happens to seat a hundred thousand fans. KT’s leg isn’t broken, so you can count on him being back, albeit less than 100%. Even a less than 100% KT will create problems. Ohio State has the two best wide receivers in the nation, the best offensive line in the nation, and one of the best tight ends in the nation, so Oregon needs KT back in the mix. Stroud is young, but all he has to do is deliver the ball and his fine running backs and receivers will do the rest. OSU will score. Oregon’s defense will have to play with their hair on fire in order to keep the game winnable for the Ducks. Oregon’s offense is going to have to execute a more creative plan than the vanilla playbook they showed vs Fresno, and Oregon’s coaches will not be afforded much room for error. Stumbling on the turf before getting the ball on a fourth down go for it play isn’t going to fly. All things considered, Ohio State is capable of lighting the Ducks up, and that might happen. Realistically, however, I think the Ducks hang with OSU in the first half, but the OSU superior personnel come through in the end to result in something close to what the odds makers are predicting. I see a 14 point OSU win.
Odds be damned for once. I’m too much of a homer I’m afrafraid. I’ll stick with my Ducks and hope for the best. I may be one of the only ones this week. Well, my brother and I, but shit happens when one has faith. Not always good shit however.
GO DUCKS