NCAA football preview: The Oregon Ducks host the Arizona Wildcats
The Oregon Ducks (10-0, 7-0 Pac-10) are likely just a pair of wins away from another Pac-10 title, as well as an invitation to this year’s BCS (Bowl Championship Series) title game. First, they’ll have to get past the No. 21 Arizona Wildcats (7-3. 4-3 Pac-10)
who they host on Friday 26 November.
Although the Wildcats have dropped two straight contests, they started the year 7-1, and have the potential to upset the No. 1 team in the land should the Ducks overlook their opponent. A victory for Oregon, however, would likely give the team its second consecutive
Pac-10 championship.
The Ducks lead the conference by one-half game over the Stanford Cardinal. However, the Cardinal have just one game left on their schedule, as they host the Oregon State Beavers in their season finale on Saturday 27 November. The Ducks, meanwhile, will face
the Wildcats before heading to Corvallis, Oregon, next weekend to take on the Beavers.
Nonetheless, Oregon’s starting running back, LaMichael James, isn’t taking any chances and remains focused on the task at hand. “When you look ahead you get beat. I think everybody knows that,” he told reporters this week.
Boasting one of the most prolific offences in all of college football, the Ducks haven’t looked too far ahead all season, outscoring their opponents by nearly 34 points per game this year. And with two regular-season games and a bowl appearance remaining on
their schedule, Oregon has a great chance to eclipse their best single-season win total (11), set back in 2001.
The Ducks head into Friday’s match-up averaging 542.2 total offensive yards per game, which ranks second in all of college football. Meanwhile, their 50.7 points per game this season is the best in the country. Much of their success can be attributed to James,
as well as quarterback Darron Thomas. The pair of sophomores have accounted for 45 of the team’s 67 total touchdowns this season.
James’ impressive play this year has propelled him into Heisman Trophy contention. His 1,422 yards on the ground lead the Pac-10, while he has found the end zone 18 times this season, including once on a pass reception from Thomas.
The Ducks' offence is predicated on tempo and team chemistry, and it starts with James and Thomas. “They complement each other very well,” Arizona coach Mike Stoops said during his weekly press conference.
As such, the Wildcats might try to employ the same strategy that the California Golden Bears used earlier this season against the Ducks. The Golden Bears, though ultimately unsuccessful, allegedly faked injuries in an attempt to slow down Oregon’s potent offensive
attack, limiting the Ducks to season lows in terms of yardage (317) and touchdowns (just one).
James, however, does not feel as though that approach, or any other for that matter, will deter his team.
“We are human,” he said. “We put our pants on just like everybody else does. We are different because of our tempo. We practice and play hard. That’s the big key for us.”
Expect them to play hard again, as it appears that nothing will prevent the Ducks from a date with their national championship destiny.
Prediction: Arizona 17, Oregon 44
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