BCS Championship 2011: 10 Bold Predictions for Oregon vs. Auburn
The whole college football season comes down to tonight's BCS National Championship Game. All of the jockeying in the rankings, upsets and BCS arguments are null when Auburn and Oregon meet in the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
In every championship game, there are some things that go as expected and some things that don't. Some star players continued their outstanding play and others gets shut down. There is plenty of chatter and predictions surrounding both sides of tonight's game.
Here are 10 bold predictions for the 2011 BCS National Championship Game.
Oregon and Auburn Will Not Beat The Over
1 of 10
With Oregon averaging a national best 49.3 points and Auburn averaging 42.7 points per game, Las Vegas had plenty of reason to set the over/under at 73. But both teams can play defense. And both teams have spent the last month preparing for offenses that nearly nobody has even slowed down all season.
This game will come close to beating the over, but it will fall just short. Both teams may well score more than 30 points, but they'll have enough defense to keep each other in check--kind of.
Auburn and Oregon Will Play The Closest Championship Game Since 2005
2 of 10
When Texas' Vince Young scrambled to the corner of the end zone on fourth down, scoring the game-winning touchdown with 19 seconds left in the 2006 Rose Bowl, the 41-38 finish over USC was one of the most exciting in college football championship history.
Since then, championship games haven't been nearly as scintillating, with the average margin of victory in the last four BCS championship games being 16.75 points and the closest finish being a 10-point win by the Florida Gators in 2009 over Oklahoma.
Auburn vs. Oregon will challenge Texas vs. USC in terms of excitement.
The Auburn Tigers Punt More Than Its Per Game Punt Average
3 of 10
As much talk as there is about Oregon's explosive offense, Auburn itself boast then nation's fourth-highest scoring offense. They've moved the first-down chains very efficiently all season long, averaging less than three punts per game.
But the Tigers will punt at least three times tonight. Oregon has a stout defense. The Ducks won't stop the Tigers every time, but other teams have slowed down Auburn this season, and Oregon will as well.
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Chip Kelly Will Outcoach Gene Chizik
4 of 10
Both Oregon's Chip Kelly and Auburn's Gene Chizik have catapulted to the top of the college football coaching profession by guiding their teams to tonight's game. Their abilities will be put to the test when they square off.
How much of Auburn's success can be attributed to Chizik? Surely plenty, but he also has the luxury of coaching all-world athlete and quarterback and Cam Newton. Meanwhile, Kelly has used a revolutionary offensive system and outstanding halftime adjustments. Oregon requires superior coaching and Kelly will provide it.
Oregon Will Have to Come Back to Win
5 of 10
Auburn's Cam Newton is a beast. He'll be hard for Oregon to stop and it may take some time to figure out how to stop him. Also, Auburn's defense is no slouch and will make some plays in the first half to stutter Oregon's explosive offense.
The Ducks have repeatedly made outstanding adjustments to kick-start their offense. After falling behind early in this game, Oregon will have to make changes and settle in to win this game.
LaMichael James Will Be Held Under His Rushing Average
6 of 10
LaMichael James is the nation's best running back this season, rushing for 152.9 yards per game. He's fast, elusive and always a danger to go the distance. He'll have a nice game tonight.
Still, he won't rush for 150 yards. James will probably rush for more than 100 yards, but his backup, Kenjon Barner, will have to supplement the star.
Neither Team Will Score a Touchdown on Its First Possession
7 of 10
Barring a turnover setting up extremely favorable field position, neither team will get in the end zone on its first possession. Even though both teams tout top-notch offenses, emotion plays a huge part at the beginning of most games.
Emotion favors defenses. With the defenses pumped up after being asked how they plan to stop the other team's offense for the past month, they'll each get the job done on their first opportunity. Once nerves are settled, the offenses will have more success.
Auburn Will Have a
8 of 10
The game is going to be played in Glendale, Ariz., which is about 600 miles closer to Eugene, Ore., the home of the ducks, than it is to Auburn, Ala., the home of the Tigers. Neither team has much of a geographical advantage in terms of getting fans to the game.
It's common for rabid fan bases of programs with deep-rooted tradition to travel well. Auburn meets both of those prerequisites. Oregon fills Autzen Stadium with regularity, but more Auburn fans will make the trip to Glendale than Duck fans.
Michael Dyer Will Be The Most Important Player For Auburn's Offense
9 of 10
Clearly, Auburn's offense centers around quarterback Cam Newton. He can pass it and he can run it and pretty much no opponent has slowed him down. But he can't do it all by himself.
Oregon has put plenty of work into figuring out how to slow down Newton, and if the Ducks have any success doing so, Auburn will need another player to step up.
Michael Dyer is that player. Dyer has rushed for 950 yards and five touchdowns this season.
Heisman Trophy Winners Will Go to 2-5 in BCS Championship Game
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Heisman Trophy winners haven't been fortunate in BCS National Championship Games, with only USC's Matt Leinart winning in the 2005 Orange Bowl and Alabama's Mark Ingram winning in the 2010 championship game. Auburn's Cam Newton will try improve the 2-5 record.
But he won't.
Newton will have a very good game, but not by his standards and Oregon will find itself on top by the game's end. The SEC drops to 6-1 in BCS title games.
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