De’Anthony Thomas Becoming a Duck:

Thomas had been a strong USC recruit, as he grew up in South Central L.A. and had little reason to leave home. That reason changed as Oregon grew into a Championship contender, and promised him the one thing USC could not, a chance on offense. USC had been recruiting Thomas as a corner back, and while they said he’d have a shot on offense, his prospects didn’t look exactly stellar. They looked even more cloudy as USC got recruits from two other quality running back prospects, meaning whatever dim hope he had at lining up in the Trojan backfield was all but gone. Oregon on the other hand is willing to commit to the explosive Thomas as a running back, and their spread offense should be a good fit for his style of running. While both schools still were going to end up with top 25 recruiting classes, this move definitely moves Oregon up a notch or two, and puts a damper on a fine USC class. Although the Trojans recruited other backs, neither look to have the quickness and agility of Thomas.

N.C. State Prepares to Lose Wilson To Baseball:

In a somewhat surprising move N.C. State has announced that they are moving on from Russell Wilson as their quarterback and are prepared to go with Mike Glennon. While everyone knew that Wilson would be going to Spring Training with the Colorado Rockies, it was assumed that he would be back for his senior season. Wilson was a dynamic runner and a passer, who really improved the overall talent of the Wolfpack. He was a dangerous quarterback and was named All-ACC this past season. He was drafted in baseball this past year by the Rockies, but had left open the possibility of playing football next fall, until apparently the school closed that door. Now I can understand them preparing Glennon like he is the starter, but to publicly announce that Wilson won’t be back like this is pretty tacky. I know you want to give Glennon the shot you have been promising him, but I don’t think this makes your program any better.

Ravens and Gaither Meet, Attempt To Work Out Differences:

The Baltimore Ravens met with their star offensive tackle Jared Gaither as they begin to look towards next season and rebuilding their relationship. Gaither who was a restricted free agent last year, was holding out for a big contract and skipped voluntary mini-camps last season, which created a rift with the team. The gap widened when he was sidelined with both a heel and back injury, that forced the Ravens to put him on I.R. While many can say the Ravens took the high road, in holding firm with their offer and putting him on I.R. when Gaither took a cautious approach in recovery, their offense paid a price for it as they surrendered 40 sacks and struggled rushing the ball all year.

While it is possible that Gaither will be a restricted free agent again this season, if the free agency rules from last year are applied, I think it is much more likely that the free agency rules will revert back to those from prior to last season, making Gaither an unrestricted free agent. If Gaither is an unrestricted free agent, it might be tough for the Ravens to resign him, given a new salary cap and other pressing free agent needs. Despite being injured last season, I’d expect Gaither to still command a hefty price tag this offseason on the open market, and it might be too much for the Ravens to compete with.

Urban Meyer Heading To ESPN: While you could see this move coming with Meyer providing some analysis during bowl season for ESPN this year, it is nice to see it finalized. Meyer is one of the nicest coaches in the nation, and it is nice to see him land on his feet. Meyer is now able to spend more time with his family and the fans get an excellent voice added to their college football coverage. I was impressed with Meyer during his stint this winter, and think he is going to be a great addition to the ESPN family.

Rutgers Does a 180, Allows Savage to Transfer to Florida Schools: Rutgers University reversed course and will now allow their former quarterback Tom Savage to transfer to a Florida school if he so desires. Originally the Scarlett Knights refused Savage’s request to go to either a Florida or Miami (much more likely), siting competitive reasons. That reason didn’t hold much weight since those schools aren’t in the Big East, and aren’t on Rutgers schedule the next few seasons. Their claim of recruiting heavily in the region doesn’t make much sense either since, wherever Savage goes, they will be less likely to recruit a quarterback (or at least high quality ones) for the next couple of seasons, which should indirectly help Rutgers out. It’s good to see the school reverse course here and not punish a kid who is just looking to play football.

Ducks Look To Poach The Trojans: With Signing Day 24 hours away teams are making a last push for recruits. Not only are the undeclared prospects getting the attention, but a number of verbal commits are also being swayed. Now given the number of high profile coaching changes this offseason, and a high number of players declaring for the NFL Draft (opens up early playing time at some schools, as well as a number of extra scholarships at schools) it has left schools and kids scrambling to find matches. Oregon is using its National Championship appearance as a last ditch effort to sway some recruits from other schools, to land a class more befitting their place in the Pac-12. One player they are pursuing heavily is USC recruit DeAnthony Thomas. Thomas is one of the top recruits in the nation, as ranked by all the major scouting services, and is capable of playing early in his career. While he is primarily thought of as a running back, he could also profile as a receiver or corner back as well. If he is willing to redshirt he would be a great fit for the Ducks to replace LaMichael James after next season. He could also look to start as a receiver and switch to running back down the line. Either way it would be a huge get for the Ducks and a big loss for USC.

National Championship Game Ends In Spectacular Fashion: This was one of the oddest National Championship games in recent memory, as the two best offenses in the country were stopped cold and held to a combined 41 points. Both team’s star players came up with big plays, but they just weren’t able to find the end zone with their usual regularity. The Oregon offense wasn’t its usual self as three of their red zone trips ended up with a field goal or a turnover. Two turnovers in the red zone, including a 4th and goal from the 1 is the difference in this game. Now it wasn’t just Oregon’s lack of execution that held them back, but rather Auburn’s defense playing their best football with their backs up against the wall. Nick Fairley and company dialed up their intensity and held the line when the game mattered the most. Fairley in particular had a great game, but really stepped up his play in the red zone. Although Auburn had its share of offensive stars Fairley was the true MVP of the game. None of Fairley’s heroics though might not have mattered, if not for Michael Dyer’s crazy run.

Dyer a true freshman had a great overall game, but it was not until the last drive that he really showed how special of a player he can be. On first and 10 from the Auburn 40, Dyer took the hand off and ran for about 5 yards until he was ‘tackled’, except his knee never hit the ground, and while all 22 players on the field didn’t realize a whistle never blew, the Auburn sideline knew and yelled for him to keep running. Keep running he did as he turned a 5 yard gain, into a 37 yard back breaker. Dyer wasn’t done with his heroics, as three plays later on a 3rd and 4 from Oregon’s 17 yard line Dyer ran 16 yards to the half yard line. Not only is a 36 yard field goal no guarantee in college football, which is what it would have been if Oregon stopped him, but it meant Oregon would have gotten the ball back with 35+ seconds on the clock. While it would have been a long shot, one or two big plays could have set up a game tying field goal. Considering the big play ability of Oregon, and the fact that the clock stops for first downs it might have been enough time to get it done.

Pitt Names Todd Graham Their New(est) Head Coach: After Pitt’s first head coach, to replace Dave Wannstedt, Mike Haywood was arrested and subsequently fired, the Panthers decided to open up their check book to ensure they could get a better option this time around. Todd Graham is one of the top young names on the coaching circuit as he has rebuilt, both Tulsa and Rice, as well as being a top notch coordinator. While Graham has his background as a defensive coordinator, he always brings high powered offenses where ever he goes. Pitt’s offense and defense will undergo a makeover, as the offense will become more of a spread attack, and their defense will likely be more of a 3-3-5 (or some hybrid version of that). Graham will be hurting a bit when it comes to talent as three top juniors declared for the NFL draft yesterday, to go along with the loss of a number of key seniors. Graham needs to sit down with Pitt’s remaining players and ensure that no one else declares for the draft or looks to transfer. While Pitt doesn’t have the perfect personnel to run Graham’s system they have some key pieces and they need to make sure those players know how they will be utilized. Graham also needs to rebuild Pitt’s recruiting class that has been dropping left and right with all the coaching issues in Pittsburgh. Graham can’t let anyone else move on to another school, and he needs to try to land one or two good prospects to go with the remaining class. It could be a bad year for the Pitt program, but I think Graham is a good fit for the job. I understand there is some concern about Graham moving on to greener pastures (aka more money) in a couple years, but that is the reality of the college game. If LSU can’t ensure they can keep Les Miles, how can Pitt ensure they will keep Todd Graham, it just doesn’t happen like that anymore and people need to realize that. Graham can hopefully have a successful run, so Pitt’s program will be near the top. If he leaves, that hurts, but if the right man takes the reins Pitt might not miss a beat. I wouldn’t worry about a few years into the future, until Graham starts winning big at Pitt.

Both Auburn and Oregon feature explosive offenses and top ranked defenses. Here are my Keys to the Game for each team:

Oregon Ducks:

1. Run Your Offense: The biggest mistake the Ducks could make is trying to respond to every Auburn score or series. Oregon needs to run their game plan and allow the run set up the pass. If Auburn goes up early, don’t worry and make a mistake, execute your game plan and you should be fine. The Ducks will need to continue with their fast paced attack, and can catch defenses napping and they shouldn’t slow down their approach until the final minutes of the game. Even if Oregon is up early in the 4th quarter, I wouldn’t try to milk the play clock, and try to eat up time. The only thing that allows is for the Tigers defense to catch their breath and diagnose your formation for longer. Also, since your team is more practiced at quick snaps, allowing them to sit there in their stance can only lead to false starts and blown assignments. Keep the pressure on Auburn and the Ducks should be fine.

2. Neutralize DT Nick Fairley: While Cam Newton might get all the fame and glory, defensive tackle Nick Fairley is really the Tigers most dangerous player. Fairley is the most disruptive defensive lineman in college football, and is nearly impossible to block one-on-one. The Ducks have a solid interior offensive line, but they don’t have a single man who can neutralize Fairley so they will need to double-team him the majority of the game. Fairley could also force the Ducks to run outside more, and do more bootlegs away from him. The good news for Oregon is that the Tigers don’t have that many additional playmakers on defense, which helps allow them to scheme for just Fairley. While you don’t want to completely take away your inside running attack, you will have to be more cautious with Fairley there.

3. “Dance With The Girl That Brung You”: With all due respect to Darron Thomas, Jeff Maehl, Kenjon Barner, and the rest of the Oregon Ducks, but LaMichael James is the reason Oregon is in the Championship Game this year. Sure Oregon’s depth as a team and many impressive skilled players are important, but James is the heart and soul of this team. For the Ducks to win this game they need James to have a big game, and find his way into the end zone a couple of times. Part of the reason Thomas and company have had such success this year is that opposing defenses are keying on James. If the Tigers have success bottling James up from the start then they can look at how to attack the rest of the Ducks offense. If on the other hand James is making them pay, and they keep having to adjust their defense to him, I believe the Ducks will find success with their other weapons. Oregon needs to get James involved early and often, and force the Tigers hand.

Auburn Tigers:

1. Newton Time: There is little doubt that the number one key to this game is getting Cam Newton going early. And it is a pretty simple situation for Auburn, If Newton struggles they struggle, if he is successful they are successful, and if he is incredible they are incredible. The problem for Oregon is that Newton has been pretty much successful or incredible all season meaning the Ducks will have their hands full. Newton’s speed and agility will allow him to not only elude the pass rush, but pick up big plays when he does. While much of the focus with Newton centers around his legs, I think this game will come down to his arm. The Ducks have beaten some teams with top quarterbacks this season, but they haven’t been able to completely shut them down. Both Andrew Luck and Nick Foles had some success throwing the ball against the Ducks, and if Newton has a similar game (to go along with his threat on the ground) it will haunt the Ducks.

2. Help Out Fairley: Now the Tigers will need a good game out of Fairley if they want to impact the Ducks defense, but if they get a great game out of him they should be National Champs. Now individually there isn’t anything Fairley can do to help him tonight, but the team can plan around him to try to allow him more freedom to work. I’d recommend an assortment of stunts to help confuse Oregon. I’d also look to do some overload/inside blitzes to force more single teams on Fairley. The Tigers should also use Fairley as a bit of a decoy, by sending delayed blitzes and even lining him up at end at some points. The more looks they show early that can confuse the Ducks will set them up for big plays later in the game.

3. Be Prepared to Make Second Half Adjustments: If you watched any Oregon football this season one thing has always been clear, the Ducks are a 2nd half football team. While it might have frustrated their fans and scare them a little bit at times this season, the Ducks have been far better in the 2nd half of games than the first half. Ducks coach Chip Kelly makes great adjustments on both offense and defense, so if you had a defensive plan that slowed down the Ducks in the first half it likely won’t work anymore as the 3rd quarter starts. Similarly if your offense could move the ball in the first half, you should expect to grind to a halt in the 2nd half. This is the toughest challenge for Auburn coach Gene Chizik, as he will need to play a mental chess match with Coach Kelly if the Tigers are to win. Now usually that chess match is pretty much done while the game is going on, but here I’d expect significant changes from Oregon by the time the 2nd half rolls around, so Auburn will have to mirror the Ducks moves. If Auburn can continue to adapt to a changing Oregon gameplan and set their own tone they can win this thing.

Prediction: We know both teams can score, and usually I’d give the game to the team with the best offensive and defensive players in the game, but I’m going with the Ducks here. I think they are more balanced and a deeper team. I also am more of a believer in Chip Kelly and consider him one of the best coaches at any level. Oregon wins a shootout 49-38.

Auburn and Oregon Meet For the National Championship Game: While everyone knew this would be the case on Saturday when both of these teams won, it is nice to see it official. While no one can call these teams true underdogs, it is interesting that neither team was ranked in the Top 10 to start the season (another reason why preseason should have no bearing on perceptions). We will get into the details of the game later, but it will be a fun game to watch. With Cam Newton on one side and a LOADED Ducks offense on the other, it should offer plenty of entertainment. The only downside is that the game is more than a month away, giving us plenty to time to lose our excitement for the Championship.

Biltzburgh Comes Up Big: The Steelers were trailing by 4 with 3:20 left in the game and Baltimore was moving the ball. Things did not look good in Pittsburgh for stealing a win in Baltimore and taking the division lead, that is of course until Troy Polamalu took over. The Ravens had 2nd and 5 at their own 43, with momentum firmly on their side. As Joe Flacco went back to pass, every fan (at the game or on TV) could see what he couldn’t, Polamalu storming in from his blind side. Not only did Polamalu get the sack, but he knocked the ball out which was recovered by the Steelers. When the play was over the Steelers had it 1st and goal from the Ravens 9 yard line. One play, and one player changed the entire course of the game (though major credit goes to Redman and Roethlisberger on offense as well), and with it potentially the season. When you hear statements like “Defense wins Championships” that play is exactly what they are talking about.

A Slicks Picks Guest Blog By Fanspeak Contributing Writer Matt Cerimele:

OK – now that i have built some ‘street cred’ on correctly predicting the UNDER with WVU/UCONN game, and even suggested OT could decide the game, i figured another post was warranted, especially if you arent sure which BIG games to pull the trigger on tomorrow.  Listen UP!

First, time to get off of the SPARTY bandwagon.  IOWA finally ends the madness and not even a triple sow cow will save Mich State this week.  IOWA is in charge from start to finish.  Defense way too strong and Mich State is ultimately exposed, like we all knew they evetually would be.  Take the hawkeyes, lay the 6.5 pts.  IOWA 30, MICH ST 13.

Ok, lets move on.  MIZZOU.  oh, MIZZOU.  nice win last week – home game, at night, #1 oklahoma coming in…and miserable loss this week.  the old black shirts do the same thing to MIZZOU that iowa does to michst.  NEBRASKA is simply better.  and believe me, vegas knows it.  lay the 7.5 points, and take the huskers at home in a battle of two very good big 12 teams (or big ten, whatever).  NEBRASKA 36, MIZZOU 27.

You want more PRIMETIME games – fine.  SLICK SAYS, bet USC.  colin cowherd said USC will win outright.  i love the herd.  i also love HOME teams, and i really LOVE home teams named USC, getting points.  USCs defense has had plenty of time to get ready for this one, and although they arent going to stop oregon, they will contain them, and USC can flat out score, just like oregon.  chip kelly said it, they have more 4 and 5 star players than anyone, and tomorrow, they will prove it.  Take USC in a high scoring affair, take the points (i htink youre getting at least 6.5 so take it before it comes down further).  USC 38, OREGON 35.

And, why not, ive gone against every other undefeated team, so lets get the tigers too.  AUBURN comes in with the highest expectations this week.  After a huge win last week in which Cam Newton simply took over the college football world, it just doesnt get any easier, and OLE MISS is waiting to put an end to his media frenzy.  wait, but auburn is lights out a better team and didnt ole miss lose to jacksonville state, at home, and vandy, at home!?  call me crazy, but im taking the HOME team again.  OLE MISS and 7 points is enough for me.  AUBURN wins, but not by enough.  AUBURN 31, OLE MISS 27.

Let me close with a few more interesting lines, that drew my attention.

AIR FORCE +7 V UTAH. did i mention i LOVE home teams, especially in big games.  i also LOVE flyovers.  air force is tested, and coming off of a defeating loss to TCU, air force will have an easier time finding the end zone.  take AIR FORCE, take the points.  AIR FORCE 30, UTAH 28.

MICHIGAN -3 @ PENNT ST. What?!  how is michigan favored against anyone?  Ok SIN CITY, ill take the maize and blue.  MICHIGAN 30, PENN STATE 24, take that.

TEMPLE -29.5 V AKRON. ok, i know akron is awful, but when were the owls favored by almost 30 points against anyone, in football?  is john chaney coaching this owl team?  i dont care who is coaching, ill lay em all, give me TEMPLE.  TEMPLE 44, AKRON 10.

and finally, i also enjoy totals.  i noticed two…

TAKE the OVER in NOTRE DAME V TULSA. 63 points!  wow , thats a lot.  not so fast my friend, both teams will score at will, and ND runs away late.  i see at least 80 points in this one.

TAKE the UNDER in BOSTON COLLEGE V CLEMSON. only 41!?  really, you mean 24-21 still isnt good enough.  yes, thats what i mean.  SLICK says, follow your gut, and although clemson will probably win this game by a score or two, my gut says 23-13 is about all youll see.

SLICK SAYS: Can we PLEASE put BOISE in the CHAMPIONSHIP GAME already!!??

(7) Florida (-8) @ (1) Alabama: In a matchup of the past two National Champions, the Florida Gators will face their biggest challenge yet. Early on this season Florida, with new quarterback John Brantley, struggled with their consistency and ability to sustain drives. Now Florida will need to be perfect, as they take on #1 Alabama. It won’t be an easy road for Florida having to go play at Alabama. And to make matters worse their star running back Jeff Demps, is returning from a foot injury. While he is expected to play it’s likely he won’t be 100%, which will put a lot more pressure on Brantley. The injury news is worse for Florida kicker Caleb Sturgis, who will miss tonight’s game with an injured back. In a game that is expected to be close, it is never a good sign to be without your kicker. As for Alabama, one week after having a top 10 matchup (and barely surviving) with Arkansas, they face another SEC battle. Luckily they have this one on their home turf, and have a good chance of winning the matchup. Dual running threat Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson should carry the Tide to victory. The main key for Alabama will be how their defense will contain Demps and confuse Brantley. I think Alabama holds on to their number 1 status with a 27-21 victory.

(9) Stanford (+6.5) at (4) Oregon: This Pac-10 matchup will be a battle of two different offensive philosophies. Stanford behind quarterback sensation Andrew Luck will look to put the ball in the air to take pressure off of their rushing game. While Oregon with their spread offense will look to establish the run behind RB LaMichael James, RB Kenjon Barner and QB Darron Thomas, all have the ability to take the ball the distance anytime they touch the ball. Both teams have balanced offenses overall, but will rely on their bread and butter in a game like today. Overall Stanford’s defense might matchup better, since Oregon’s secondary has been susceptible this season to the deep ball. Oregon though is not without their advantages. Their overall team speed and weapons on offense are the reason why they have scored at least 42 points per game this season. Oregon is also at home in front of their crowd, which should give Stanford fits all game. Oregon will keep their national title dreams alive with a 38-27.

(21) Texas (+3.5) vs. (8) Oklahoma: The Red River Rivalry isn’t quite as big of a game as it has been the past couple of years when these two teams had one of the best quarterbacks in the country. The Longhorns are a long shot to compete for the Big 12 this year as they are in full blown rebuilding mode, but they are a young team with plenty of potential. The Sooners are looking like the team to beat in the Big 12, and have an outside shot at the National Championship. Oklahoma has become a bit too much of a one dimensional team, but they are very good in that dimension. Landry Jones is making Sooners fans forget about Sam Bradford, and has the Sooners in a great place. If he has a big game today Oklahoma will knock off their biggest rival and be in the drivers seat for the Big 12. Oklahoma wins this game 28-23.

(11) Virginia Tech vs. Tennessee: I like the Hokies in this one, both teams are similar with a good running game and a great defense. In the end though I think Tech has more overall talent and will win a close game 24-21.

Oklahoma vs. (21) Stanford: This is going to be a fun game to watch Stanford’s Toby Gerhart against the tough run defense of the Sooners, led by All-American Gerald McCoy (DT). While Stanford’s the ranked team, they will be without their starting quarterback and have to be underdogs against Oklahoma. As long as Gerhart’s on the field I would never want to discount the Cardinal’s chances, but I think they come up short against a Sooner team that wants to avenge their disastrous season. Oklahoma wins 31-20.

(3) Cincinnati vs. (5) Florida: Instead of the Sugar Bowl they should call this the “Coaching Uncertainty Bowl” with the controversy we’ve seen at both schools over the last month. As much as I love the Bearcats and Tony Pike, I don’t think they have the ground game or defense needed to stop Florida. I think the Gators will be able to move the ball effectively, and their defense should be able to slow down Pike and Gilyard (note to Florida, kick the ball out of bounds instead of kicking it to Gilyard. If you don’t believe me, ask the Pitt Panthers) enough for Florida to win this game pretty easily, 38-24.

(8) Ohio State vs. (7) Oregon: The Rose Bowl this year should be a fun (and high scoring game to watch). Both the Buckeyes and Ducks have electric offenses that can score from anywhere on the field. The Ohio State offense is a little less refined but is more balanced overall. The Ducks on the other hand are very good and running back, quarterback and tight end, but lack top notch talent across the board. The Ducks defense isn’t as talented as Ohio State’s, but shouldn’t be taken lightly otherwise you will find yourself on the other end of a blowout (just ask Cal and USC). In the end I think the Ducks better execution will win the day in Pasadena 42-38.

(12) Penn State vs. (13) LSU:  History has shown that Big Ten teams don’t fare to well when they go head to head with an equal from the SEC, and I think history is about to repeat itself tomorrow. Penn State has some elite talents on their football team, but they lack the vertical attack to match the Tigers score for score if need be. While the Nittany Lions have a couple players who will be playing on Sunday’s next season, they lack the overall defense needed to stop the Tigers size and speed. I think Penn State keeps it close early, but the Tigers pull away in the end 31-17.

(16) West Virginia vs. Florida State: The “Bowden Bowl”, a match-up of his current team against his former team, is a nice retirement party for Bobby Bowden (though I don’t know if he’ll like his parting gift from the Mountaineers). I suspect that Florida State will be fired up for their coach, but emotion is about the only advantage they have over WVU. The Mountaineers have an immensely talented (and quick) offense, and while they’ve had their share of inconsistencies I see them putting on quite a show tomorrow against FSU. The Seminoles will be starting a freshman at quarterback, and while he has a promising future, I think he will have his hands full with the Mountaineers defense tomorrow. If the Mountaineers can get pressure on the quarterback early, they can neutralize the Seminoles extremely talented receiving corps. WVU wins this one easily 38-24.

Oregon Outlasts Oregon State: The Ducks won the Civil War game and the Pac-10 championship with last night’s win over Oregon State. The game was a bit more of a shootout than the Ducks wanted, but they still made it to the promise land with their relentless ground game. A ground game that got a boost from a surprising face, RB LeGarrette Blount. Blount was suspended for most of the season after his infamous punch after Oregon’s loss to Boise State in week 1, and last night was his first action since that game. Oregon capped off a great regular season that now leads them to a tough Rose Bowl matchup with Ohio State.

Pens Cruise Again: The Pittsburgh Penguins won their third straight game, and six of their last seven to remain atop the Eastern Conference tied with the Washington Capitals with 40 points. The Penguins have outscored their opponents 17-6 during their three game stretch, and now have the league’s best record with 20 wins. Star Center Sidney Crosby has paced the Pens with 7 goals during the three games. Which now places him second in the league in goals scored and third in Points.

Celtics Win 6th Straight: The Boston Celtics took down the Spurs last night in a 90-83 battle for their sixth straight win. Boston is now tied for the best record in the Eastern Conference with the Orlando Magic. The Celtics are winning with one of the most balanced attacks in all of basketball with five players averaging double figures, and Rasheed Wallace chipping in 9+ off the bench. Boston is on a hot streak right now and they will look to keep it up tonight against the Thunder in Oklahoma City.

Jets Win, Sanchez Hurts Another Knee: The Jets outlasted the Buffalo Bills last night to improve to 6-6, keeping them somewhat in the playoff picture. Their defense was dominate, especially Darrelle Revi, who shutdown Terrell Owens all night. The Jets offense had no trouble running the football, and Mark Sanchez managed the game extremely well. While he was only 7-15 and threw for just over 100 yards, he didn’t throw an interception, which has been his biggest problem so far. Sanchez did make one mistake in the third quarter when, fighting for extra yards he dove head first instead of sliding. Sanchez came up hurt on the play and left the game. While he get the first down, Sanchez made a risky mistake, one week after hurting his other knee by not sliding. If it was a different situation I might have given Sanchez a break, but the coaching staff obviously wants you to slide (I mean they didn’t bring in Joe Girardi for a photo op) so you got to do it. The Jets were up by 6 at the time and the defense had been pretty stingy. Punt the ball away and live to play another series. The Jets and Sanchez need to hope this injury doesn’t linger. Sanchez is still a raw product, he needs as much work in practice and games (though part of me thinks he’s too raw to be starting on a team with playoff aspirations) as possible. He can’t develop if he’s injured and on the sidelines. Maybe this week the Jets will bring in a Slip ‘n Slide for Sanchez to practice on, because they need to teach him how to protect himself.

This year’s Civil War game has more on the line than just the pride of the state of Oregon, as the winner will take the PAC-10 championship and their ticket to the Rose Bowl. This rivarly always gets heated, and the Beavers will want redemption after losing 65-38 last year (and their ticket to Pasadena). The stakes are higher this year, as the Rose Bowl is on the line for both teams. So who has the edge tonight?

The easy answer is the Oregon Ducks, they are the higher ranked team and are at home. But Oregon knows full well not to take the Beavers for granted, so this game will be settled by the players on the field. As loud and as passionate as the Duck fans can get, I don’t see them getting into Beavers quarterback, Sean Canfield’s head. What will get into his head is the Oregon defensive front seven, particularly DE’s Kenny Rowe and Will Tukuafu. They should be able to get good penetration against Oregon State’s offensive line. The Ducks will need to rely on pressure to help out their young secondary against Canfield. The Ducks defense will have their hands full against the Beavers running game and Jacquizz Rodgers. Rodgers is as good as any back the Ducks have faced all season (which is saying something in the PAC-10). Stopping the run has been a mixed bag for the defense, as some running backs they’ve shut down completely and others have had a field day against the Ducks. If Oregon can at least slow down Rodgers, then they should be able to come away with a victory.

On offense the Ducks have their own young running back LaMichael James who has been running all over opponents this season. James, along with quarterback Jeremiah Masoli lead an impressive Ducks spread attack. James and Masoli are as good as any other 1-2 running attack in this country. Masoli can also beat teams through the air when necessary, making smart decisions when he does put the ball in the air. In addition to being a great runner and a good passer, Masoli brings one other tool to the spread attack, deception. Masoli sells the option fake as good as any quarterback in the country. Half the time the camera man (to say nothing of the opposing defense) is following the running back, while Masoli is ripping off a big gain on the other side of the field. Given their run focus, the Ducks don’t have the impact talent at receiver that other teams have (though they do possess good depth), but they do have one pass catcher that has given opposing defense’s headaches all season, tight end Ed Dickson. If it is 3rd down or the Ducks are in the Red Zone, look for Dickson to be the target. And don’t be surprised if he ends up making a big play. Dickson has been sure-handed all season for Masoli and the Ducks, and always finds a way to get open. He should be a big challenge for the Beavers defense that lacks the athleticism needed to cover him.

With Canfield, Jacquizz Rodges, and WR James Rodgers (Jacquizz’s older brother), the Beavers have the weapons to score every time they have the ball. Unfortunately, they lack the supporting cast and offensive line that will allow them to score at will. While I expect Oregon State to put up their fair share of points tonight, I think they will be stopped or turn the ball over on a few crucial drives. All in all though, offense isn’t the Beavers biggest concern, except when it comes to how their defense will stop the Ducks offense. Oregon State has struggled against the outside rush this year (an Oregon specialty), and doesn’t have the secondary to man up against the Ducks wide receivers or Dickson. I think Oregon State will keep it close early, but I’d look for the Ducks to pull away with a 42-31 victory.