gpikeOregon vs Auburn Preview
January 8th 2011 19:50
Monday night brings us the final game of the college football season and the finale of the 35 bowls. The two best teams during the year face off for the national title trophy. Oregon (12-0) takes on Auburn (13-0). Neither team has glaring weaknesses on the surface, so this has the makings of a classic. Let's take a closer look.
Oregon last game was over an month ago in the Civil War versus Oregon State. Auburn last played the same day, wiping out South Carolina, in the SEC Title game. The Ducks have never won a football national title, Auburn won in 1947.
Looking at Oregon's schedule, the one thing that is strong right away is a lack of competition. New Mexico, Tennessee, and Portland State, all defeated by a combined score of 189-13. The first PAC-10 game on the schedule was Arizona State, Oregon won again with little trouble. The Ducks kept on this blistering pace until November 13th, when they traveled to Berkley and faced California. The Golden Bears kept the Ducks offense off the field, and held Oregon to just 15 points. Though the Ducks won. Later on after the game, the news came out how the Bears were instructed to fake injury to slow down Oregon's pace. There is no rules against this, even if it was frowned upon after the game. A couple of scares after the Cal game with Arizona and Oregon State but still victories.
Oregon is led by one of the best offensive minds in football, coach Chip Kelly. The Ducks put up 49 points per game, tops in the nation. Darren Thomas has been a huge upgrade over Jerimaiah Masoli at quarterback. Thomas on the year has 28 touchdown passes. He can also do it with his legs rushing for 492 yards, third on the team. Thomas's favorite receiver is senior Jeff Maehl who made 68 catches and 12 touchdowns. LaMichael James, third in the Heisman voting, led the country in rushing this year. He rushed for 1,682 yards and 21 touchdowns. Oregon's defense has had their moments in the first half of games, only to make adjustments and shut down opponents in the second half, giving up on average, 18.4 points per game good for 14th nationally.
Auburn, like Oregon has questions about their non-conference schedule, with teams such as Louisiana-Monroe, Arkansas State, Clemson and Chattanooga. Auburn blew out each team by an combined score of 166-53. But with conference play, Auburn faced five teams in the top-18. The Tigers had an odd schedule starting with conference foe Mississippi State in the second week of the year, then coming back to Clemson. Both games saw the Tigers winning by the slimmest of margins, just three points. October 16th, was when Cam Newton came of age, in leading Auburn to a come from behind victory of Arkansas, 65-43. Newton for the game had 25 rushes for 188 yards, and three touchdowns. Tough games with LSU and Alabama, highlighted SEC conference play. Both teams blew out their opponents in bowl play, Alabama over Michigan State, and LSU over Texas A&M. Auburn beat Alabama by one point, in another come from behind victory, and held off LSU by an touchdown. A dominating performance concluded the season, with the TIgers killing South Carolina, 56-17 in the conference title game.
Newton has thrown for 28 touchdowns, and 2,589 yards for the year. He leads the Tigers in rushing with 1,459 yards, and 20 touchdowns. Freshman Michael Dyer, placed second on the team in rushing just missing the 1000 yard mark. Darvin Adams leads Auburn with 48 catches. The Auburn offense averages, 42 points, sixth in the country. Auburn's weakness comes with the defense, everyone other then a strong defensive front, is a question mark. Defensive tackle Nick Fairley, is on the likely top pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, anchors the defense. Fairley went for 55 tackles and 11 sacks on the season, three of these came versus LSU. Auburn as a team is 54th nationally in scoring defense, giving up 24.5 points.
This game comes down to defense, not offense. Which defense is able to hold the opposing offense at bay, will win. Oregon only played one team this season in the top-20, Stanford, and won with little trouble, 52-31. Auburn due to the SEC schedule had a little more difficult road here. Newton doesn't have history on his side, as previous Heisman Trophy winners are 2-6 in BCS Title games. Chalk up another loss to this mark. Oregon, gains respect for the PAC-10, and prevents the state of Alabama from enjoying two straight national title winners, in winning a shootout. James, Thomas, and backup running back Kenyon Barber have big days. Ducks defense keeps Newton under 300 yards of total offense in the victory.
Oregon last game was over an month ago in the Civil War versus Oregon State. Auburn last played the same day, wiping out South Carolina, in the SEC Title game. The Ducks have never won a football national title, Auburn won in 1947.
Looking at Oregon's schedule, the one thing that is strong right away is a lack of competition. New Mexico, Tennessee, and Portland State, all defeated by a combined score of 189-13. The first PAC-10 game on the schedule was Arizona State, Oregon won again with little trouble. The Ducks kept on this blistering pace until November 13th, when they traveled to Berkley and faced California. The Golden Bears kept the Ducks offense off the field, and held Oregon to just 15 points. Though the Ducks won. Later on after the game, the news came out how the Bears were instructed to fake injury to slow down Oregon's pace. There is no rules against this, even if it was frowned upon after the game. A couple of scares after the Cal game with Arizona and Oregon State but still victories.
Oregon is led by one of the best offensive minds in football, coach Chip Kelly. The Ducks put up 49 points per game, tops in the nation. Darren Thomas has been a huge upgrade over Jerimaiah Masoli at quarterback. Thomas on the year has 28 touchdown passes. He can also do it with his legs rushing for 492 yards, third on the team. Thomas's favorite receiver is senior Jeff Maehl who made 68 catches and 12 touchdowns. LaMichael James, third in the Heisman voting, led the country in rushing this year. He rushed for 1,682 yards and 21 touchdowns. Oregon's defense has had their moments in the first half of games, only to make adjustments and shut down opponents in the second half, giving up on average, 18.4 points per game good for 14th nationally.
Auburn, like Oregon has questions about their non-conference schedule, with teams such as Louisiana-Monroe, Arkansas State, Clemson and Chattanooga. Auburn blew out each team by an combined score of 166-53. But with conference play, Auburn faced five teams in the top-18. The Tigers had an odd schedule starting with conference foe Mississippi State in the second week of the year, then coming back to Clemson. Both games saw the Tigers winning by the slimmest of margins, just three points. October 16th, was when Cam Newton came of age, in leading Auburn to a come from behind victory of Arkansas, 65-43. Newton for the game had 25 rushes for 188 yards, and three touchdowns. Tough games with LSU and Alabama, highlighted SEC conference play. Both teams blew out their opponents in bowl play, Alabama over Michigan State, and LSU over Texas A&M. Auburn beat Alabama by one point, in another come from behind victory, and held off LSU by an touchdown. A dominating performance concluded the season, with the TIgers killing South Carolina, 56-17 in the conference title game.
Newton has thrown for 28 touchdowns, and 2,589 yards for the year. He leads the Tigers in rushing with 1,459 yards, and 20 touchdowns. Freshman Michael Dyer, placed second on the team in rushing just missing the 1000 yard mark. Darvin Adams leads Auburn with 48 catches. The Auburn offense averages, 42 points, sixth in the country. Auburn's weakness comes with the defense, everyone other then a strong defensive front, is a question mark. Defensive tackle Nick Fairley, is on the likely top pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, anchors the defense. Fairley went for 55 tackles and 11 sacks on the season, three of these came versus LSU. Auburn as a team is 54th nationally in scoring defense, giving up 24.5 points.
This game comes down to defense, not offense. Which defense is able to hold the opposing offense at bay, will win. Oregon only played one team this season in the top-20, Stanford, and won with little trouble, 52-31. Auburn due to the SEC schedule had a little more difficult road here. Newton doesn't have history on his side, as previous Heisman Trophy winners are 2-6 in BCS Title games. Chalk up another loss to this mark. Oregon, gains respect for the PAC-10, and prevents the state of Alabama from enjoying two straight national title winners, in winning a shootout. James, Thomas, and backup running back Kenyon Barber have big days. Ducks defense keeps Newton under 300 yards of total offense in the victory.
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