Oregon-Stanford: At Autzen, Ducks Have the Game Won

The game of the week, a big test for both teams, and there is not a better place to hold the game than the infamous "Autzen Zoo." 

Stanford looks to extend its luck (no pun intended), and prove the fact that they are a top team that can run with the big boys. 

First off, Stanford is not a top team. Sure, they handled UCLA, who beat Texas, who was No. 7 in the nation, and blah, blah, blah...All I can say is, they are in for a rude awakening.

The only reason why any Duck fan would be scared about this game is their big boys up front on the O-line. Yes, they have the "fantastic" Andrew Luck, but without a front line to hold that defense back, there's no quarterback in the nation that can do much against a home crowd and the No. 4 team in the nation. 

Don't get me wrong, Andrew Luck is a great player, but he is overrated. I have seen it a million times—from the high school level up to the pros. A player comes out of nowhere with a little talent and a huge help from a phenomenal supporting cast, and all of the sudden he is Heisman material. Until of course, people realize that he is just a solid player who had a teeny bit of help from a running back last year by the name of Toby Gerhart, and the best O-line in the Pac-10.

Come on, the whole Pac-10 was focused on stopping that 230-pound beast and trying to figure out how to handle those five 300-plus-pound linemen Luck had posted up right in front of him. Those guys were a brick wall. 

All that said, Oregon only lost to Stanford last year by nine points, and that was with a Stanford field goal with 11 seconds to play. Gerhart rushed for 223 yards and suddenly Andrew Luck is a big threat?

It did not make sense, and still does not to me.

The reason Oregon lost that game a year ago was because Stanford's O-line absolutely controlled the game. It was six-yard rushes all day, and the Duck's front seven had no answer for it. Even if Gerhart was stopped at the line of scrimmage, which happened rarely, he would still fall forward for another three or four yards. 

Again, do not get me wrong. Stanford is a good team. Andrew Luck is a good QB. But, when he steps out on the Autzen turf for the first time, and feels the heat of a pumped-up Oregon defense with the whole nation watching, and an Autzen crowd that is notorious for destroying teams, it will be all over from there. 

Oregon struggles when their offense can't get rolling. Their offense struggles when they do not have momentum. Oregon gets momentum from the defense performing, and in my mind, Oregon's D performs at its best at Autzen Stadium—where the crowd is loud, and "Where great teams come to die." A direct quote from the Michigan Daily.

To me, this game all comes down to Oregon's defense. The offense will get help from the crowd and the defense, which makes for an easy win for the Ducks. It will be fun to watch in the first three quarters. Go Ducks.

Prediction: UO 42, Stanford 17