Game Preview

 

The Oregon Ducks will visit the Boise State Broncos on Thursday night to finish off the second part of a home-and-home series. Although last year’s game was their first-ever meeting, a rivalry is already brewing between the two teams.

 

The Broncos were not supposed to stand a chance last year. They had never beaten a BCS team on the road and were going into Autzen stadium—one of the toughest places to play in the nation—with a freshman quarterback whose only experience was two home games against Idaho State and Bowling Green.

 

That was the day the nation was introduced to Kellen Moore. In one of the hottest places to play, Moore was cool as could be, throwing for nearly 400 yards and three touchdowns as the Broncos upset the Ducks 37-32.

 

Boise State finished the season 12-1 with a tough loss to TCU in San Diego at the Poinsettia Bowl. They were one of the youngest teams in the nation and return most of last season’s players.

 

Oregon went on to a 10-3 record and an impressive 42-31 win over Oklahoma State in the Holiday Bowl, also in San Diego. Once they established Jeremiah Masoli as the starting quarterback, the offense became near unstoppable.

 

This will be Oregon coach Chip Kelly’s first game as a head coach after spending two years as the offensive coordinator. While some may consider this a disadvantage, remember that Boise State coach Chris Petersen led the Broncos to an undefeated season in his first season after stepping up from offensive coordinator to head coach.

 

 

Boise State will win if…

 

Boise State’s running game is effective

 

Boise State has a great pocket passing quarterback in Kellen Moore. A strong running game will force Oregon’s defense to stay honest and Moore will have wide-open receivers all night.

 

In order to do this, the offensive line must pull together. The Broncos had a tough time getting any kind of run game going against a decent team last year because there was no consistency up front.

 

Also, running backs Jeremy Avery and D.J. Harper need to carry the load they once shared with the now-graduated Ian Johnson. This shouldn’t be a problem. When Johnson was injured against Fresno State in 2007, Avery ran for 124 yards and three touchdowns while Harper added 153 yards and a touchdown of his own.

 

The interior defensive linemen are ready

 

Oregon is going to try and establish the running game with bruising running back LeGarrette Blount. The defensive line must withstand the rushing onslaught in to keep the Broncos in the game.

 

Boise State’s defensive tackles are young but showed a lot of promise in fall camp. They will line up against a young offensive line that is the biggest question mark for the Ducks.

 

If Boise State can stop—or at least slow down—Oregon’s running game, it will force Masoli to go to the air. Masoli doesn’t have a weak arm, but he is much more suited as a runner than a pocket passer.

 

 

Boise State will lose if…

 

Oregon can attack deep often

 

If Masoli demonstrates he has improved in the passing game, as some reports have indicated, it could spell trouble for the Boise State defense. They will have trouble defending a balanced attack as the secondary won’t be able to help out with the run defense.

 

They get behind early

 

If the Ducks jump to an early lead, they have the ability to eat up a lot of clock. They need to avoid turnovers and limit Oregon’s big plays in order to keep it close.

 

 

The X factor

 

The difference in this game will be how each team responds to the revenge factor.

 

It is no secret that last year’s game featured too many unsportsmanlike plays. It will be interesting to see if that carries over to this year.

 

Neither team can afford to give up the penalties associated with such plays, or to play out-of-control and make key mistakes. However, it would also be unwise to play timid for fear of the yellow flag.

 

Big hits and intensity are crucial to whoever wants to win this game. The team that wins will be the team that plays "thisclose" to out-of-control.

 

 

Prediction

 

All signs point to a close, hard-fought game. It could very well be that the team with the ball last wins.

 

While last year’s game saw Boise State jump out to an early lead before Oregon came roaring back, I see this one staying close throughout.

 

 

Boise State 34, Oregon 28

 

For the Oregon side of this "Creature vs. Creature" check out Jeff Kneis' piece.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/246979-creature-vs-creature-a-ducks-take-on-oregon-boise-state