Oregon-USC: "All We Need Is a Little Execution, and a Lot Of Luck"

Is it just me, or does every week seem like an entirely different college football season now?

Two weeks ago, Oregon looked like a bunch of Ducks with their heads cut off running around the field against Boise State, and the USC Trojans were the invincible lords of the west.

After Saturday, Oregon got their groove back against the Cougars, while the Trojans were shown to be mortal by a very physical Oregon State team in Corvallis.

This Saturday afternoon in the Coliseum could decide the inside track to the Pac-10 title. Despite their strong performance against the Trojans, the Beavers have already lost a game in conference, and one more slip-up would leave them all but eliminated from the title picture.

With that in mind, the Trojans could still win the Pac-10 for the umpteenth time in a row by running the table.

Oregon, on the other hand, is 2-0 in the Pac-10 despite their meltdown at home against the Broncos. If they beat USC, even a letdown against Cal or Arizona State would still leave them in the thick of the race.

Ducks fans are looking for any reason to give themselves a good feeling about their team having to play an opponent with the most raw talent in the nation away from the comforts of Autzen Stadium.

Some might be tempted to point out the similarities between the upcoming game and last year’s successful trip to Ann Arbor. Like the Wolverines, the Trojans are a team that was extremely highly regarded coming off a humbling loss to a less talented opponent.

Unfortunately for the Ducks, that is where the similarities end.

USC’s isn’t in the midst of a losing streak across seasons that will lead to a coaching change—they just hit one bump in the road. The Trojan players know that there is still a lot for them to play for. After all, they recovered from losses to Stanford and the Ducks last year to win the conference.

Also, like the Ducks after the Boise State game, they are pissed off and looking to take it out on somebody. Unfortunately for Oregon, they are the only other team on the field.

For all the publicity USC’s handful of losses in recent years has garnered, none of them has been by more than seven points, including last Thursday. USC has had more than a full week of practice to get ready for the Ducks and are hungry for redemption from last week and revenge for last year in Eugene.

If Oregon does pull off a win, you can bet your bottom dollar it will go to the wire.

The big question for Oregon’s offense, as it has been all season, is the passing game. Justin Roper’s knee has healed enough for him to play, but he was battling the flu earlier this week, and it is not known how much practice time he will get before Saturday. If the coaches decide he cannot go on Saturday, they will turn to Jeremiah Masoli.

Masoli certainly didn’t have a bad game against Washington State: 9 of 16 for 161 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. However, he completed passes to a grand total of three different receivers, and his completion percentage certainly didn’t break any records for efficiency.

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