Game day is here, but it’s still a long wait until this evening when the No. 13 Oregon State football team locks up with No. 7 Oregon in Autzen for the right to live in the state, the Rose Bowl and the Pacific-10 Conference title.
Big game, huh?
To get you in the mood early, check out the above video of Civil War highlights. The rap song is pretty funny, too.
Read about all you need to know about the game in my main Thursday story in the GT here. From there you can catch up on my older stories on the game that ran the last two weeks.
Here’s a link to my five keys to victory. The Beavers need RB Jacquizz Rodgers to have a big day, and they must stop Oregon QB Jeremiah Masoli. It’s that simple. Both teams are evenly matched, know each other and are healthy.
As for my pick I had a hard time deciding. I followed home-field advantage and the Vegas line, and went with the Ducks 42-38 because the GT sports staff is in a tight weekly picks competition.
I could very easily end up wrong. On a personal level I hope I am. It’s much easier to deal with players after a win. I love big stories and would love to cover the Rose Bowl again. Plus, it just works out better if the Beavers win on many levels. (Don’t tell my wife that. She’s a San Diego native.)
The Corvallis and Eugene mayors are getting into the game. Check out their bet here. Read this about that platypus here. And to cut off the thought of riots about this game, check out this PSA by the university presidents, here.
Anyway, the blog will be active throughout the day. Please keep checking back and at twitter.com/cliffgt. There are tailgaters to hit and radio shows to be a guest on.
And here’s my advertising plug again. Please download the Pepsi coupon, use it and help show the higher ups that my idea to get Pepsi on here was a good one.
As expected, Corvallis is abuzz with Civil War talk. My older son’s school has many students and teachers in Ducks or Beavers colors. Mine is wearing transformers stuff, of course.
3 comments
ObjCritic says:
Dec 3, 2009
Better than sustaining long drives, I think the Beavs need at least 3 field position victories where they get three and outs, short drives, and touchdowns. In rare occasions where UO gets regular three-and-outs, it seems to disrupt their flow (Boise State, first 3 quarters of UA).
Players that need to step up (beyond the usual suspects) include Hardin with his speed and great open field tackling (I hope he gets a lot of time), Poyer – speed and awareness on D (safeties have been a week spot covering the middle of the field in passing) and his special teams abilities, and Pa'alhui (sp?) manning the middle.
I have to think there's some special teams trickery potential with both Poyer and Hekker being former quarterbacks.
aaron_ says:
Dec 3, 2009
I agree with OBJ, i think the key to winning this game will be the abliity to make a couple 3 and outs. I still believe it will be a shoot out but if the beavs get thos couple stops i think they can do it.
Paea, Kristic, the DE's need to be huge. The Rodgers bro's, Canfield and Adeniji (sp?) need to be huge.
beaverpride says:
Dec 3, 2009
After reading more crap than I can handle about this game, my brain hurts and I'm ready for it to begin already. Regardless of the outcome, I will be proud of my Beavs. I think it all boils down to Canfield. I don't think we stop Masoli. Maybe we can cause a few TO's, but he's going to get his. If Canfield plays well, then I think the Beavs win regardless of everything else…. and that still scares me despite how well he has played as of late because of Oregon's homefield fans. If he can keep his poise and not have any TO's I could even see the Beavs getting up big.