Dave from Addicted To Quack has been nice enough to provide us some insight from an Oregon fan on why Oregon should win. You can find Kevan's reasons here at Addicted To Quack. Enjoy
I've been looking forward to this game for some time, and am a bit worried. I think our talent will pull through, but it won't be easy, especially with the QB situation.
Boise State. Quaint. Cute, even. All of us in Oregon like you. We really do. We root for you when you play some strange Thursday night game. We jumped up and down when you beat Oklahoma. But there is a simple fact: much like Idaho is clearly the odd brother in the Pacific Northwest, Boise State is the odd team (okay, so the Vandals don't even count). You're a cute story most years, but the fact of the matter is that even Washington State remains more relevant than you. Sorry, just comes with the territory of being a WAC team. Beating up on Idaho and San Jose State just isn't quite at the level we expect from a real football team.
Lets have a look at the facts:
Boise State is 4-17 all time against BCS teams. One of those was against putrid Iowa State. Two were against Oregon State in Boise (and we all know that OSU on the road in September is a gimme for the home team), and the luckfest against Oklahoma. This also means that you've never beaten a BCS team on the road, and you propose winning with a Freshman quarterback in his first road start in the most hostile environment in the Pac-10? Puhleaze. I should also mention that we've lost exactly one non-conference home game since 1994—and have beaten the likes of Michigan, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin in that span.
That right there should be enough, regardless of the personnel involved. But you aren't winning on that argument, either:
We have the two best running backs in the Pac-10 in Jeremiah Johnson and LeGarrette Blount. Both are going to go for 100+ against you, and keep each other fresh enough to pound you in the fourth quarter.
We have the best offensive line in the Pac-10 opening holes for those two. Your defensive linemen can prepare to be dominated. It won't help that they'll be winded because they can't handle the no huddle spread option.
And when you fall behind early, you won't be able to catch up. Your freshman QB has to go up against the best secondary in the nation in the most hostile environment on the West Coast. Need I remind you:
Autzen's 59,000 strong make the Big House sound like a pathetic whimper. It's louder than ... The Swamp at Florida, The Shoe in Columbus, and Death Valley at Louisiana State. Autzen Stadium is where great teams go to die.
You aren't exactly rolling into Las Cruces here. This is big boy football.
Good luck the rest of the season, though. I'm sure you'll win the Western Second-Rate Conference title as FSU will fold their season after the non-conference portion of their schedule is over.
Regards,
--Dave