I hated writing that headline, but I’ve run into more than a couple of Oregon fans on X over the last week who believe college football began when Phil Knight started pouring his personal wealth into the Oregon football programWhile , and probably aren’t aware of how bad for decades Oregon was in all sports except track and field. I was in southern California a number of years ago where I saw a number of Oregon supporters at Disneyland. They reminded me of the fans of the school that thinks college football started in 1990 and ended in 2010 … the Handbags.
Anyway, I love Dan Lanning and detest the Just for Men spokescoach, Ryan Day. While Oregon fans don’t rise to the toxicity level of Ohio State, I only have the perspective that someone has to lose, so I’m here for the impending fan meltdown occurring about 8:00 on Wednesday night regardless of who is doing the melting. Let’s get to the first look at run for the roses.
Series Record: Ohio State leads 9-2, but Oregon enjoys a 2-game winning streak in the series.
Last Meeting: Oregon knocked off Ohio State 32-31 earlier this season in Autzen Stadium in what was likely the best game of the season to date. Oregon kicked a late field goal and then held off a final drive using an illegal substitution penalty as a way to waste precious seconds off the clock. The teams combined for over 960 yards of total offense with a -1 turnover margin being the difference maker for Ohio State.
Gambling Degenerate Facts: Ohio State is a 2.5-point favorite and is -109 on the money line (Oregon is -111) with a point total of 55.
How Should a Refugee Watch This Game: I know many of you will be watching the game to pull for Coach Lanning and to get Ohio State out of the playoff. I can totally understand that perspective. That’s the only reason I consider Oregon as the lesser of two evils. I detest Ohio State … enough said.
From the perspective of the game itself, as Georgia fans, I’m guessing many of us haven’t seen much of Oregon this year. I’ll be watching them to see how well we may match up with them if the two teams meet in the championship game especially against the Oregon passing game. I’m also interested in how we can find a way to move the ball consistently against the Oregon defense.
Interesting Statistic: 4.06 / 4.89 yards per play allowed by OSU and Oregon, respectively
The teams have been generally mirror images of one another, but the OSU defense has been consistently better than the Oregon defense throughout the season. The difference in yards per play really reflects how the Buckeyes’ defense has been the unit that Day has built his team around. They have been solid against both run (2.94 yards per carry allowed) and pass (104.06 defensive passer rating) and have been spectacular defending the red zone (59% conversion rate with touchdowns only being scored on 63% of those red zone conversions).
Early Outlook
As I have thought about this game, the more and more I come back to the fact that the main reason Oregon won round 1 due to a short field created by an early turnover although Oregon made plenty of mistakes as well. If one of the teams plays a clean game from a turnover and penalty standpoint, that team is likely going to have the inside track to victory. If OSU puts a game together like they did in Columbus against Tennessee, the Buckeyes will win. The Ducks are going to need to be better on defense than in game 1 to advance to the semifinal in Dallas.
While I hate the prediction, I just think Ohio State eventually gets the job done and sends Oregon back to Phil Knight for more NIL money to spend in the transfer portal. Ohio State heads to Dallas to get a shot at the winner of the Peach Bowl.
What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.
I like Lanning, can’t stand Day. Generally detest Ohio State and Oregon is whatever. But in the end I say F both those MFers cause they stand in our way. Go Dawgs!
Ryan Day looks like Steve Seagal’s “After Picture” from Jenny Craig
That may be as good as “Just for Men spokescoach”
If your game day headdress was used to make a holiday pie, you might be a ass wipe….
If your fan base colors are worse than texass, klempzun, Boise state and those terrapin color schemes, you might be a duck fan….
Boise St is worse than Oregon IMO
I do hate Boise more for historically playing an even more overhyped cupcake schedule.
Ya gotta give Oregon credit for pushing the uniform design envelope.
Credit? I would use the word blame instead.
I give credit to Penn St for pushing against the trend in uniform design.
The Duck can be funny, but Nike is evil and tOSU is the school satan wouldn’t send his kids to so for those reasons, I’m out.
Yeah. He sends his kids to NATS.
Outstanding assessment FPD you clearly have a deep understanding of each program.
Totally agree, turnovers decides the game. I can’t figure out who is the better team and it’s a neutral field.
I don’t like the 2 teams but this is an easy choice. Pulling for the Duck.
Ohio St vs Texas would be a real meteor game.
I asked someone once why they were an Oregon fan. They told me because they liked the uniforms and the west coast vibe. I told them “yeah my wife likes teams based on how cute their uniforms are, too. Do you also pull for the sexier quarterback like she does?”
They didn’t talk to me much after that.
Your witty and southern charm, might have been a bit much for duck fan to consume in one sitting, that west coast vibe, WAS located in socal, not in friggin oregon….GO DAWGS!!
The few times I’ve stayed up and watched Oregon, I couldn’t help but notice the smoking hotness of their cheerleaders. Hell, I figure that’s as good a reason as any to pull for a team. Before anyone gives me any crap, no, they are not as hot as UGA cheerleaders.
Gotta pull for Oregon, primarily because I hate tOSU more, which is how I decide all these things. Also the Buckeyes are the team I worry about the most giving the Dawgs trouble.
Fun fact, I went to a Georgia-Oregon game in 1977 (?) when I was a kid. It may have been the first time I heard the F-word, as a drunk Dawg fan came out of a bathroom at Sanford before the game, shouted :Fuck the Ducks!” and continued on his merry way.
Same as to which I will pull for but I think the Buckeyes win. Notwithstanding the Michigan game, I think that the Buckeyes are the most formidable team in the field based on what I saw in the first round. Ohio State should have had a chance to attempt a game winning FG against Oregon. Will Howard had one of his best games of his career at Autzen (over 300 yards, a couple of TDs, and 80% completion percentage). The slide a couple of seconds late was an unfortunate end to an otherwise phenomenal game with a chance to slide earlier, call a time out, and attempt a FG. The only limiting factor that I see for Ohio State is the coaching staff because they freaking have top-tier talent everywhere on the field.
I have watched Oregon only three times all season. I don’t really know what to think about the Ducks. I only saw highlights, Penn State in the B1GCG, against Oregon, and Boise State. Season started a little rocky with the shaky Idaho game and the close game with Boise. I thought they’d roll Penn State but that was a game. In fact, I might say that Oregon probably was trending in the wrong direction in November with the squeaker against Wisconsin, a closer game than I thought against Michigan, and a closer game than I thought against sub-.500 Maryland.
I was a senior that year. It may have been me coming out of that bathroom. That game was the high point of that season.
You’ve move into this roll with the refugees well another enjoyable read.
tOSU fans I’ve met are arguably the most obnoxious I’ve ever come across. I get that’s a very strong statement. I’ve been to every campus in the SEC except for ATM’s. tOSU fans are next level cocky arrogant.
I’ve seen Oregon play a few times this season. They were lucky to win the first game against tOSU. I really like Dan Lanning if there’s any negative there. I think he too often makes risky calls injecting coaching when it’s not needed. It’s going to be hard the beat a well motivated tOSU. As much as I don’t like it tOSU has the best roster money can buy. Probably the most talented team in the playoffs. Hopefully Steven Seagal’s look alike Just For Men spokescoach finds a way to torpedo his team again in a big game. If so it couldn’t happen to a more deserving fan base.
Y’all need to flip to Citrus Bowl on ABC. Bielema is taunting Beamer on the sidelines. There’s going to be a scrap at midfield after this game.
Bielema was over near the SC sideline for an injured player and taunted Beamer. Beamer was ready to fight.
Rooting for Lanning. An OSU needs to be gone from the playoffs.