USC vs. #4 Oregon: The Ducks are back!

Once again the best game of the week is in the West. The USC Trojans travel to Eugene Oregon to face the Ducks. The Trojans come into the game ranked #18 in the AP poll. They have won five of their past six games, several in blowout fashion, with the only loss coming to Stanford in triple over-time. Because the Trojans are ineligible for postseason play this game is the equivalent of their bowl game. A victory over the Ducks could set them up to challenge for the national championship race next year.

With a win Oregon clinches the Pac-12 North division and a berth in the conference championship game. But more importantly, with a decisive victory, Oregon can argue it is the best one loss team in the nation. Last weekend the Ducks destroyed Stanford 53-30 (I thought the Ducks were going to score 60!). As usual the offense was highly productive scoring six TDs on drives that lasted on average 2 minutes and 30 seconds. Three of those six TDs came on plays of 58, 41 and 59 yards, each one to a different player.

LaMichael James

De’Anthony Thomas

Josh Huff

However, the most outstanding and unexpected feature of the game was the strength of the Oregon defense. The defense forced five turnovers (one a pick-six), sacked Stanford’s QB Andrew Luck three times and pressured him all night long.

The following highlight video is quite long, no need to watch it all, just watch the hit LB Boseko Lokombo puts on Luck at the video’s 0:55 second mark. Ouch!

For all you Oregon Duck motivational video fans, here’s another.  Turn-up the volume “I’m a Monster, I’m Amazing”.