National Championship Game: 10 Reasons Oregon Football Will Beat Auburn
The wait is almost over—almost.
Remember when the bowl season was over before everyone's New Year's resolutions? Those days are long behind us. Oregon and Auburn are not set to play until Jan. 10. Nevertheless, the BCS National Championship Game is inching closer.
If suspense is not your thing and the long wait is wearing you down, I have just the thing for you. In the next 10 slides, I am going to show you why Oregon is going be passing around the championship trophy while the Tigers shuffle their feet toward their locker room, empty handed.
10. Oregon Will Score Too Easily
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Oregon's offense thrives on momentum and rhythm and that is just what they are going to have in this game. Auburn's defense has struggled the majority of the year. In eight of Auburn's 13 games, they have given up at least 24 points.
Auburn struggled to contain offenses similar to the Ducks. They allowed 31 points to an Ole Miss team that features Oregon's former QB, Jeremiah Masoli. Auburn's defense will need a better outing in this game or not even their offense will be able to keep up.
9. Auburn's Slow Starting Ways Will Doom Them
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Auburn's defense has a tendency to get off to a slow start. For example, the Tigers have given up 21 points in two of their last three games. Oregon is one of, if not the greatest second half teams in college football.
If Auburn puts itself in another hole early, it is going to be a long day. The Oregon offense gets better as the game goes. If the Ducks score 21 in the first quarter, Oregon may put up 80 itself.
8. The Ducks Pass Defense Will Create a Big Turnover(s)
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The Oregon Ducks have 20 interceptions on the year. They have accomplished that in the QB rich Pac-10. They have played more prolific passing attacks than Auburn's and they have made big plays.
Cam Newton has been careful with the ball. He has only six interceptions on the season. Still, Oregon was able to pick off the more polished passer, Andrew Luck, twice.
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7. Oregon Will Get a Boost with the Special Teams
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If the punters ever do get onto the field, Oregon will have the advantage. The Ducks punter, Jackson Rice, averages 43.1 yards per punt. His Auburn counterpart, Ryan Shoemaker, is averaging 39 yards per punt.
This is not what Auburn needs to worry about. Oregon's punt returner, Cliff Harris, is a threat to go all the way anytime he touches the ball. On 28 punt returns this year, Harris is averaging a momentum ripping,19.5 yards.
6. Auburn Will Struggle with Oregon’s Pace
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These two teams have ample time to prepare. They can simulate each other's offense in the practices leading up to the game. What Auburn will not be able to recreate is the frantic pace and efficiency of Oregon's offense.
Oregon will be scoring on the fifth play, while defenses are still trying to lineup for the second. Auburn has never faced this style of attack and even the slightest periods of adjustment or miscues could cost the Tigers the game.
5. LaMichael James Will Get His Trophy
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LaMichael James watched Cam Newton hoist the Heisman. Now it is his turn. James lost out on the Heisman in large part because Newton finished the season stronger.
James appeared to be slightly slowed by the punishment he took as the season wore on. With the roughly eight weeks these teams have had off, James is going to be fresh and ready to show why halfway through the season, he was the favorite to win the Heisman.
4. Oregon Has an Arsenal Fit for the Matrix
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Oregon had 11 different players score a touchdown while on offense. The Ducks have receivers running in on reverses and backs catching them on passes.
They have a lot of speed and talent in the skill positions and a lot of ways to get them involved. They do just enough to keep the defense from selling out to stop just one particular aspect of offense.
3. The Phil Knight Factor
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The Nike guru and Oregon alum has a vast influence in the world of sports.
The refs are going to make some very favorable calls in Oregon's favor. It won't be because the Ducks are out of position. The refs will be flying all over in their brand new, custom made Nikes.
2. The Tigers' Pride Will Bite Them
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One of the few ways defenses have been able to slow Oregon down this year is by faking an injury. Before Oregon can get another one of the rapid, no-huddle snaps off, a player will fall to the ground in some sort of fit of bad acting.
Auburn, to the Tigers credit, will not stoop to this level. Their players will have too much pride to lower themselves to that on college football's biggest stage.
1. Oregon Will Wear 'Em Out
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As I mentioned earlier, Auburn has not gotten off to the best starts this year. The Tigers certainly cannot afford that in this one. They are going to have to keep their defense off of the field as much as possible in the first half.
A huge part of the reason Oregon is so successful in the second half is because the Ducks' athletes are the only ones conditioned to play at their breakneck pace. Oregon’s offense is going to find its rhythm earlier and have the Tigers clutching their knees early in the third quarter.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
