BCS Championship Game: 10 Obvious Reasons Oregon Will Beat Auburn
The BCS Championship Game: It's almost here.
After a long and grueling college football season, we're less than two weeks away from the game everyone wants to see.
It's Chip Kelly vs. Gene Chizik.
It's LaMichael James vs. Cam Newton.
It's Oregon vs. Auburn.
It's the BCS National Championship Game.
And if Oregon's first 12 games are any indication, it'll be another win for the Ducks when the final gun goes.
Here are 10 obvious reasons why it'll be all Oregon when the title's on the line.
10. Darron Thomas
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Darron Thomas has been ridiculously under-appreciated all season long.
Oregon's sophomore quarterback has completed 60.7 percent of his passes, and thrown for more than 2,700 yards and 28 touchdowns (the same number as Cam Newton) to just seven interceptions (just one more than Newton).
Thomas has also averaged 5.7 yards per carry on his way to racking up 488 rushing yards and another five touchdowns on the ground.
He has four games this season with at least four total touchdowns, and he's only been picked off twice in the team's last seven games.
Cam who?
9. Pass Efficiency Defense
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Oregon ranks sixth in the country in pass efficiency, which takes into account several different factors to come up with a rating (similar to quarterback ratings).
The Ducks have given up 2,568 passing yards, which is their weakest aspect in the formula, but they've also allowed opposing quarterbacks to complete just 53.5 percent of their passes.
That's right on line with top defenses like Ohio State (54.1) and Alabama (52.7).
Oregon's defense also has 20 interceptions—only Ohio State and Virginia Tech have more—and has given up just 13 touchdowns through the air all season.
8. Margin Of Victory
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On the season, Oregon is beating its opponents by an average of 30.9 points per game.
The Ducks have won five games by at least 35 points, two games by at least 69 points, and have only won one game by less than 11 points (at California).
Auburn, on the other hand, wins its games by just 18.2 points per game.
The Tigers have won three games by just three points, one game by one point, and have won six total games by single digits.
There's no question that the Ducks like the blowout a lot more than the Tigers do.
7. Cliff Harris
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The X-factor in this game is Oregon's Cliff Harris.
The cornerback/return man has taken four kicks to the house so far this season, and he averages 17 yards per punt return and 25 yards per kick return.
Harris has also added 30 tackles and five interceptions on the defensive side.
Auburn will want to avoid both throwing and kicking Harris' way, because he's usually one play away from turning the tide of a game.
6. Rushing Defense
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Oregon's offense is obviously the team's biggest strength, but the team's defense isn't filled with a bunch of no-name slouches who give up a ton of yards.
When the Ducks take on the Tigers, Auburn will rely heavily on its sixth-ranked rushing offense, which averages 287.2 yards per game.
And Oregon will be prepared to stop it.
The Ducks rank 15th in the nation in rushing yards allowed at 117.6 per game and also give up just 3.3 yards per rush--that's 2.5 yards less per carry than Newton averages (5.8).
5. Scoring Defense
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Oregon's defense ranks 14th in the nation in scoring at just 18.4 points per game.
The Ducks have two shutouts on the season, and have allowed 16 points or fewer in four separate games.
Oregon limited Stanford's ninth-ranked scoring offense (40.3 points per game) to 31 points, and has allowed just 77 points in the second half this season--that's just 6.4 points allowed per game after half-time.
The Ducks defense really buckles down late in the game.
4. Auburn's Defense
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Auburn's defense been the team's biggest weakness in 2010.
The Tigers rank 61st in the nation in points allowed (24.5 per game), 97th in interceptions (just ten on the season), and allowed 43 points to Arkansas earlier in the season.
The team does have some defensive studs, like tackle Nick Fairley, but the Tigers have allowed at least 24 points in eight of their 13 games.
Auburn also has only held two teams under 17 points, and one of them was Louisiana-Monroe.
3. Offense
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Oregon's offense started off hot and hasn't wavered all season.
The Ducks rank first in the nation in scoring (49.3 points per game), second in total yards (537.4 per game), fourth in rushing yards (303.5 per game) and 18th in pass efficiency offense (quarterback rating of 151.8 for Darron Thomas).
Oregon has only scored less than 37 points once this season, which is pretty outrageous.
The bottom line is that Oregon's offense can get it done through the air and on the ground, and the Ducks have only been slowed down once all season (at California).
2. Turnovers
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If one play can truly alter the outcome of a game, then Oregon is in good shape.
The Ducks are ranked No. 3 in the country with 35 turnovers gained on the season--they have 20 interceptions and 15 fumble recoveries.
Oregon also ranks seventh in turnover margin at +13.
Conversely, Auburn has forced only 20 total turnovers on the season, and the Tigers are just +5 in turnover margin (ranked 37th in the country).
1. LaMichael James and The Oregon Rushing Attack
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They say that Ducks usually fly, but not if you're Oregon.
These Ducks have the nation's No. 4 rushing attack at 303.5 yards per game and are led by sophomore running back LaMichael James.
The Heisman Trophy finalist has racked up 1,681 yards and 21 touchdowns on the ground this season.
James averages six yards per carry and has a season-long run of 76 yards.
He's undoubtedly been the best running back in college football this year, and it will be damn near impossible for Auburn to keep him in check for four quarters.
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