Oregon-WSU Preview: Ducks Face Cougars After Bye Week

Before we get to the meat of the matter, let me apologize to the Ducks for jinxing the Cal game by:

a) Not posting a preview, though in my defense my computer died on Thursday and I had to take it into the shop.

b) Not camping out to get a student ticket so I could be there for the game.

c) Not meeting up with my Uncle’s band of fans to have the traditional pregame breakfast at the Glenwood restaurant in Eugene.

That's three of four turnovers (possibly including the last one at the goal line) which could be attributed to bad luck I brought on.

Also, until after I take my Mathematics GRE Nov. 3, my schedule is pretty tight, so these previews are going to be somewhat terser than usual.

Now let's get down to business.

After a bye week to digest the coulda, woulda, shoulda, didn’ta’s of the Saturday before last, Oregon is back in action against a Washington State team that is also coming off a loss to an unbeaten conference rival, Arizona State.

The Ducks are without their one-time leading receiver, Brian Paysinger, and defensive playmaker A.J. Tuitele.

Given WSU’s productive passing game, led by Eugene native Alex Brink, the Ducks cannot afford to lose their focus by wondering about what might have been.

Althoguh the team has said all the right things, it's what happens when they step back on the field that will determine whether this will be another great season with a tough loss or two, or a complete meltdown like last year.

Turnovers will be the key for Oregon to get back on track (four cost them the game against the Golden Bears). Oregon’s secondary is talented and should be able to do a decent job against the Cougars' wide outs, but the only real defense against WSU’s passing attack is to keep the ball away from the offense.

Jonathan Stewart and Jeremiah Johnson will be called on to grind the way down the field and help keep time of possession for Oregon’s opponent to something reasonable (for once).

Without Tuitele, the Ducks defense is looking even more vulnerable to teams running the ball at them, and if the Cougars are able to get in second and short situations, things may get dicey.

Oregon’s quick-strike offense should be enough to outgun the Cougars if they win the turnover battle and force WSU to try attempt to score through the air. If Oregon lets the Cougars get a running game going and WSU gets a few breaks, the game could turn ugly.

But given the Autzen edge, an overall talent advantage, and memories of last years’ humiliation in the Palouse to motivate them, I cautiously predict a Ducks victory.

Final Score: Oregon 41, WSU 30

Conference Calls

Coming off a stunner in the Coliseum in front of a newly rejuvenated fan base against a questionable TCU team, I’ll take the Cardinals over the Horned Frogs in a close one.

USC is reeling, but I don’t see them getting taken advantage of twice in a row at home, as long as their offense doesn’t tank for the second week. The Wildcats just don’t have the talent to outscore them.

Cal should stay on track in Corvallis, assuming they don’t let the Beavers passing game come alive, but do remember the last time a top five team went into Reser Stadium.

It's gut-check time for Washington. What started as a promising season seems to be going down the toilet in a hurry, but with the Sun Devils brimming with confidence and hungry for respect I don’t see Willingham’s team making the turn around this weekend.