Oregon Football: What a Win over Stanford Would Mean for the Ducks

Tonight the seventh-ranked Oregon Ducks clash with the third-ranked Stanford Cardinal, a match-up that has been marked on everyone's calendars since Andrew Luck declared he would forgo the NFL draft.

The Ducks enter the game as a three-point underdog, but that should mean little to nothing by the time the ball is kicked off.

Many analysts have picked the Ducks to triumph over the Cardinal, which would mean amazing things to come for the Ducks.

After the Stanford game, Oregon would return to Autzen to finish out their season against USC, Oregon State, and hopefully either Arizona State or UCLA in the inaugural Pac-12 Championship Game.

If Oregon beats Stanford, they not only control the Pac-12 and give them a shot at a BCS Bowl, they re-enter the National Title talks.

To really understand Oregon's chance of getting back to the Natty, you have to look at the rest of the Top 5.

No. 1 LSU should beat Western Kentucky and Ole Miss before entering the game against the eighth- ranked Razorbacks of Arkansas. The game will be a showdown, but LSU should still pull out with the win at home to win the SEC West before defeating Georgia or South Carolina in the SEC Title Game.

I have penciled in LSU to play for the championship, which could set up for an epic rematch between the Ducks and the Tigers in New Orleans.

I am going to come back to Oklahoma State in a moment to explain their predicament.

Stanford, who is ranked third, will lose to the Ducks tonight in this scenario, so that leaves either Oregon or Boise State to move into the third slot.

Fourth-ranked Alabama plays Mississippi State tonight, a team which is 5-4, and is out of the national title hunt unless LSU loses to Ole Miss and Arkansas, and then win the SEC Title Game.

At fifth is Boise State, who are currently in a struggle with TCU, so Oregon has a great chance to jump them, Oklahoma and Alabama with a win tonight.

Now back to Oklahoma State. The Cowboys are ranked second in the nation at this point, and deservedly so. After today's rout of Texas Tech, they too should play for the National Title. However, if Oklahoma beats them to close out the season, they are out of the title hunt, leaving three teams to try and play for the Natty.

No. 5 Boise State, No. 6 Oklahoma, and No. 7 Oregon.

As you can see, a win tonight would be huge for Oregon. They re-enter the ring to play for a national title and will be the favorite by many to get that No. 2 spot.

Between those three, most experts will pick Oregon over an undefeated Boise State or a one-loss Oklahoma.

The Broncos just don't face good enough teams to deserve a shot at a championship, and then Oregon's one-loss to LSU gives them the edge over Oklahoma's one-loss to Texas Tech.