#14 Oregon Ducks have Arizona State Sun Devils on the run

Oregon put its loss to Stanford safely in the rear-view mirror Saturday, fending off Arizona State, 44-21, before 58,475 in Autzen Stadium. Now 8-2 overall, the No. 14 Ducks are the lone one-loss team in the conference at 6-1, a record they’ll put on the line next week at Arizona.

By the time the Ducks and Sun Devils (4-6, 2-5) kicked off Saturday night, USC had been shellacked by Stanford, likely bringing an end to the Trojans’ seven-year run as Pac-10 champs. Then, California handed Arizona its second conference loss, opening the door for Oregon to enter next week alone atop the standings.

The Sun Devils’ run defense, the best in the Pac-10 and sixth in the nation allowing an average of 87.44 yards rushing going into the game, allowed the Ducks to gain 268 yards on the ground. LaMichael James, the don’t-blink-or-you’ll-miss-him redshirt freshman, had 119 yards and three touchdowns on 11 first-half carries. Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli completed 10 of 20 passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns. He was intercepted once.

Oregon has won five straight over Arizona State, by an average score of 42-19. The Ducks now take their first-place record to Arizona, where some very good Duck teams, and some outstanding recent UO quarterbacks, have struggled.

Go Ducks!

Arizona State (4-5) at #14 Oregon (7-2)

One week after making a statement with a 47-20 victory over then-No. 4 USC, Oregon suffered a stunning 51-42 loss at Stanford last Saturday that reduced its conference lead to one-half game over Arizona. The defeat also cost the Ducks any shot at a berth in the Bowl Championship Series title game, but wins in their final three contests against Arizona State, Arizona and Oregon State will send them to the Rose Bowl.

It was Oregon’s first conference loss, and it dropped the team from a season high ranking at No. 7. But the Ducks (7-2, 5-1) are still in good position to contend for the Pac-10 title, which has been claimed by the Trojans for the past seven seasons. First they’ll have to get by Arizona State, which has the best rush defense in the Pac-10. The Sun Devils are ranked sixth nationwide, allowing just 87.44 yards per game.

Two weeks ago, Oregon ran for 391 yards and had 631 yards of total offense in a 47-20 victory over then-No.4 USC. The Ducks had 570 yards total offense and 236 yards rushing last week in a 51-42 loss at Stanford. Last season, Oregon was able to run for 304 yards in a 54-20 victory in Tempe. Masoli and Blount each ran for two touchdowns in the game.

The Sun Devils have lost three straight games and need to win two of their final three games for bowl eligibility. After Oregon, they visit UCLA before the finale at home against Arizona. Oregon has dominated Arizona State lately, winning the past four meetings by a combined 168-73 score. The Sun Devils haven't won at Oregon since Oct. 2, 2004.

My prediction: Oregon Ducks 45, Arizona St Sun Devils 13

Go Ducks!

Stanford upsets #7 Oregon 51-42

A week after being nearly perfect, Oregon crashed back to earth at Stanford. The Cardinal score on their first five possessions and spoil Oregon’s perfect Pac-10 title run with a 51-42 victory.

The loss by Oregon (7-2, 5-1 Pac-10) just a week after gaining 613 yards in a 47-20 win over USC cost the Ducks any shot at a berth in the BCS national championhip game and took away any margin for error if they want to win the conference outright. Now, Oregon will have to settle for the Rose Bowl, if it wins out the remaining three games.

Stanford Hosts #7 Oregon

"Is there no one else!? Is there NO ONE else!?"

After pummeling the mighty Trojans last weekend, it seems as if the Ducks have finally quieted even the staunchest doubters. Just like the epic warrior Achilles, Jeremiah Masoli was the main man responsible for burning the Trojans' season to the ground. This weekend he must lead his Ducks on the road to try to knock off a Stanford team that is well rested and unbeaten at home this season.

Stanford Cardinal (5-3, 4-2 Pac-10) return to action this Saturday against the 7th-ranked Oregon Ducks (7-1, 5-0 Pac-10) at Stanford Stadium/Foster Field (50,000). Stanford is unbeaten at home this season and have won eight of its last nine home games dating back to the final game of the 2007 season. In a series that dates back to 1900, Stanford leads the all-time series with Oregon, 43-28-1. However, the Ducks have won seven straight and eight out of the last nine games in the series dating back to 1998, including last year’s game in the Eugene, 35-28.

The Oregon Ducks current seven-game winning streak is the second longest by either team in the series since Stanford won 11 games from 1900-29. Stanford’s last win in the series came in 2001, when the Cardinal upset fifth-ranked Oregon, 49-42 in Eugene, handing the Ducks their only loss of the season. The Cardinal had the upper hand in the series from 1964-97, posting a 23-8 record, which included a pair of five-game winning streaks (1967-71; 1973-77).


My prediction: Oregon 42, Stanford 6

Go Ducks!

#10 Oregon runs past #4 USC 47-20

Quick facts:
1. The Trojans entered the game ranked fifth in the nation in run defense (79.86 yards per game). But Oregon rolled up 392 yards on the ground. The Ducks entered the game averaging 201.7 yards rushing per game.

2. It turned out to be a Fright Night for USC’s defense, which allowed 613 yards. Oregon outgained USC 613 yards to 329. A bonus stat: The Ducks had 30 first downs; USC had 17.

3. Oregon QB Jeremiah Masoli completed 19 of 31 passes for 221 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions. He also ran for 164 yards on 13 carries with a touchdown. That's 12.6 per carry.

4. The Oregon defense, in the decisive third quarter, held the Trojans to 67 yards. USC scored only three points in the second half.

5. Oregon's 47 points was the most it has ever scored against USC in 56 meetings. Ducks have scored 34 twice before against the Trojans. It's the most points a Pete Carroll USC team has ever surrendered. Previous worst was 42 in a win over Fresno State in 2005. Last time the Trojans gave up more points? 1996, vs. UCLA (48).

Time to celebrate....



and the roses has definitely blooming in Oregon's turf.