Da Ducks vs. Da Broncos on the Smurf Turf

WHEN: Thursday Night
WHERE: Bronco's Stadium
CAPACITY: 30-34,000
"TALENT" Level: 7
NETWORK: ESPN
LINE: Boise St. +3.5
LEAN: Da Ducks+points, but skiddish on this one....


Last year Oregon took out the Boise St. Bronco's in Autzen stadium 37-32 for Boise St.'s only loss of the season last year. This year it may be a different story as the Ducks try to invade the smurf turf to take on the Bronco's for round II of a home and home series for these two high octane offensive programs.

Da DUCKS

First off, first year Head Coach's are 42% ATS all time in there first game, and that doesn't bowed well for Chip Kelly. He is starting his conquest as the leader of the the Ducks this year after Mike Bellotti stepped down to take the AD position. Kelly is very familiar with the program, calling the offense for many years below Bellotti and earning a #7 ranking in the country in offense averaging 484.9 yards a game last season. He has several weapons on the offense to maybe improve on that number and is returning 10 starters all together.

Jeremiah Masoli is back after throwing for over 1700 yards and 13 TD's before getting hurt. He is a smooth operator under pressure and can move around in the pocket if necessary. This may be good because the O-line has a combined 20 starts between all of them. Lagarrette Blount, the tater carrier, is back as well. He scampered for just over 1000 yards and 17 TD's last year. He will be the focal point in the back field this year getting 99% of the carries. He has great hands and can find open space out of the backfield, which maybe a good thing as Terence Scott, the Ducks leading receiver is gone. Picking up the slack is Ed Dickson who should give JM a great, big target on the outside and a nice route runner to boot. There is not a lot of depth at WR, so health is a big concern right no for Kelly at this position.

The defense should gel this year and will be tested early and often against the Bronco's. The LB's will be asked to anchor this unit and step up to stop the run as well as fall back into coverage if necessary. The Secondary will be key in this game, because Boise St. likes to chuck it around, and this unit was not a bright spot last year but improvement is on the horizon, and if they can create some big plays early, they can allow Kelly to rely on his offense to take care of business.

Da BRONCOS

Chris Peterson returns 13 starters, but the spotlight will be squarely on WAC Freshman of the Year Kellen Moore. Moore racked up some gaudy numbers last year as a freshman throwing for 3400 yards and 25 TD's. Moore lost his favorite target from a year ago in Jeremy Childs and 10th year senior Ian Johnson. Moore has 3 solid receivers coming back to help out with the spread attack and Jeremy Avery to do the work in the backfield. All that hinges on a starting front O-line that has several questions marks that WILL get tested against the Ducks. If Moore has to run for his life all night, then it may be a long night for the home team in "Tater Town".

The defense for Boise St. is STOUT (they don't play the toughest of schedules, but they do play nonetheless) ranking 3rd in the country last year averaging 12.6 points allowed last year. The most they gave up at home last year was 14 to Utah St....that gets a YO! The secondary is the heart of the defense with Kyle Wilson who will be a first round draft pick leading the way. They are a ball hawking hard hitting bunch, so Oregon better strap it up and come to play. The D-line was exposed against TCU last year giving up a HEFTY 275 yards rushing, and if they let Oregon run wild like that then they will get drug at their own place.

This should be a GREAT football game if you love lots of offense and very little defense. I like the Ducks right now, and that probably won't change, but the public is all over the Ducks and the public usually get slaughtered, so tread lightly.


Enjoy,

Da GOAT