Let There Be Lyles - How Will The Oregon Football Soap Opera Be In 2011?

TwistNHook:  This.............could end poorly.  Last time up in Eugene, Cal came in seemingly superior to an Oregon team.  Then, Ed Dickson just scored another touchdown.  

LeonPowe:  Yeah I'm not feeling positive about this one. I think we can slow them down but will eventually lose 35-10

Berkelium97:  Even though Pendergast brilliantly schemed against Oregon and I know he could do it again, I do not have much confidence in this one.  The defense could probably hold them under 30, but I doubt the offense will score more than a couple touchdowns.  No matter who is under center, inexperienced players generally do not do well in the Autzen Zoo.  We'll have to keep an eye on how well Maynard keeps his composure under the aural assault from the fans and the physical assault from the Ducks' front seven.

OhioBear:  We have a target on our backs for this game.  Oregon will break out the whole fake injury flap again and vow to bury us for it.  The Ducks are probably also annoyed that they managed only 15 points against us last year.  On top of that motivation, it's a Thursday night on the road.  Autzen is tough enough on a Saturday afternoon, but I imagine it will be even more raucous at night.

Of course, there is the chance that Coach P has more defensive scheming up his sleeve.  And it's also possible that Coach P  found Oregon's kryptonite last year and will wave a pocket full of it in front of them
again this year.  But, I'm sorry to say, I doubt it.  Oregon wins big in this one, 39-14.  Which would be better than 42-3 anyway.

Fuck, while I was writing that reply Ed Dickson scored another touchdown and LaMichael James reeled off a 30-yard gain.

TwistNHook:  So, what are the weaknesses for this Ducks team?  Looks like they might have some problems at receiver:

Frankly, if the Pac-12 were looking stronger as a whole this year I don't think Oregon would be a horrible candidate for a few games of regression.  People tend to overrate teams when they return flashy skill position players but lose important contributors in the trenches.  But every other team in the conference has as many, if not more question marks, and Chip Kelly has earned the benefit of the doubt.

TwistNHook:  Score predictions?

Berkelium97:  Cal shocks the college football world again by holding the Ducks to 15 points.  With time expiring, Giorgio Tavecchio becomes the hero by hitting a 33-yard field goal to give Cal a 16-15 win...or he would have if the refs did not mistakenly call it a miss.

If we're going to lose, might as well do it in as agonizing a way possible, right?  As Cal fans, we would have it no other way.

Kodiak:  With so many senior playmakers departing from the front 7, it's the Duck's secondary which is now the strength of the defense.  It surprises no one that Cliff Harris is re-instated for the 2nd half against LSU and the remainder of the season.  "He's shown great personal growth," says Chip Kelly.  Although they don't have anyone as disruptive as Kenny Rowe or Casey Matthews, their platoon system ensures plenty of solid, experienced depth.

In an homage to the "Miracle at Memorial," this one is a fast-paced shoot-out.  But although it threatens to become the "Annihilation at Autzen," Tedford's creative use of formation and schemes keeps Oregon's defense off-balance all game.  It's a speed on speed, mano y mano chess match on both sides of the ball.

HydroTech:  I think it'll be interesting to see what defense Pendergast decides to play against Oregon.  Is he going to repeat with the Cover Zero?  If he does, I'm sure Oregon will have plenty of counters for it.  Or does he go with something else?