Oregon Ducks vs. UCLA Bruins: Top 5 Storylines

The Oregon Ducks are the consensus best team in the country. Tonight they face a challenge in the Rick Neuheisel led UCLA Bruins.

On paper, the Ducks are clearly the better team, but as last weekend showed, anything can happen in college football.

With the BCS polls shafting the Ducks, can Oregon respond with a large victory?

Or will the Bruins take advantage of the situation and come away with a win?

1. How Will Oregon Respond to the BCS Polls

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EUGENE, OR - OCTOBER 2: Head coach Chip Kelly of the Oregon Ducks looks encourages his team during warm ups before the game against the Stanford Cardinal at Autzen Stadium on October 2, 2010 in Eugene, Oregon. Oregon won the game 52-31. (Photo by Steve Dy

In both the Coaches and AP polls, the Oregon Ducks are the No. 1 team in the nation.

But the BCS has them ranked second, a definite blow to a team expected to be No. 1. One computer ranking went even lower, ranking them 11th in the nation.

Can the Ducks hold together after such a disappointing outcome from the computers?

2. Can Oregon Handle the Pressure

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EUGENE, OR - OCTOBER 2: Wide receiver D.J. Davis #10 of the Oregon Ducks looks for some running room on cornerback Johnson Bademosi #27 of the Stanford Cardinal after a reception in the second quarter of the game at Autzen Stadium on October 2, 2010 in Eu

By the same token, can this Oregon team handle this much pressure?

In 2007, the Ducks were rated No. 2 in the nation before losing to Arizona. After falling to Arizona, the Ducks continued to decline until they finally righted the ship, winning the Sun Bowl over South Florida.

The most important question is: Can Oregon win while remaining healthy?

3. How Will UCLA Respond to Playing the No. 1 Team in the Nation

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PASADENA, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Head Coach Rick Neuheisel of UCLA yells at the referee during the second quarter against Stanford at the Rose Bowl on September 11, 2010 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

It’s been years since UCLA has been a top-flight football program. But, once again, they will be facing a top-ranked program.

If they respond well to the pressure and Oregon falters, the Bruins have a chance against the nation’s best offense.

4. Will LaMichael James Keep Up His Run for the Heisman

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EUGENE, OR - OCTOBER 2: Running back LaMichael James #21 of the Oregon Ducks breaks in to the end zone for a touchdown in the third quarter of the game against the Stanford Cardinal at Autzen Stadium on October 2, 2010 in Eugene, Oregon. James ran for 257

Despite missing one game this season, LaMichael James is still a contender for the Heisman trophy. He is fifth in the nation in rushing yards at 848 and 10th in the nation in yards per carry at 7.4.

If the Ducks make it to the BCS Championship Game, LaMichael will be a large part of that, and has a good chance of winning the Heisman.

5. Will Oregon Do Enough to Move to No. 1 in the BCS

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DALLAS - OCTOBER 02: Quarterback Landry Jones #12 of the Oklahoma Sooners drops back to pass against the Texas Longhorns in the fourth quarter at the Cotton Bowl on October 2, 2010 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

The Ducks must blow out opponents by even larger scores than they already have been doing this year.

They can’t afford a nail-biter against a mediocre opponent like UCLA if they want to go to the National Championship Game.

It is imperative that the Ducks do even more these last few weeks of the season.