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The Way I See It – Week 3 Boise State vs. Oregon

The Broncos come into this game 2-0 with a so, so win over the Bowling Green Falcons. The Oregon Ducks are 3-0 on the young season with wins over Washington, Utah State and Purdue. The way I see it, this game is a put up or shut up game for this version of the Boise State Broncos. Coming off a season where the Broncos lost 3 (Washington, Hawai’i and East Carolina) of its 4 biggest games, the Broncos desperately need this win. As a win on the road against a ranked BCS  team will provide the respect the Broncos desperately need.

The Bottom Line:

It is hard to believe, but Boise State travels to Eugene, in front of a sell out crowd at Autzen Stadium, to play its first game against the Ducks of the Pac-Ten. Why does this game mean so much to Boise State and its fans? It is a simple case of so close yet so far away. Unless you have been living under a rock the Boise State Broncos have yet to beat a BCS team on the road. The Broncos have come close before. In 2000, led by Bart Hendricks, the Broncos came up short, losing 38-31 to Arkansas of the SEC. Ryan Dinwiddie and company nearly pulled off a win in Corvallis, but the Broncos came up short losing 26-24 to the Oregon State Beavers. Finally, in 2005, coming off a huge loss to Georgia, with Jared Zabransky at the helm, the Broncos came up short yet again, as the Oregon State Beavers scored the final 10 of the game to win 30-27.

The Facts:

The Ducks are ranked number 12 in the USA Today Coaches poll. As Oregon’s Head Coach, Mike Belloti is a career 17-0 against the Western Athletic Conference, including a win against Utah State this year. Oregon is fourth the nation in total offense (562.33 ypg) and rushing offense (323.33 ypg), and ninth in scoring offense (47.33 ppg). The Ducks have seven players with 50 or more rushing yards through three games this season. The Ducks are coming off a double overtime victory against the Purdue Boilermakers; however the Ducks lost QB Justin Roper to a knee injury. In the game Junior CB Jairus Byrd’s 87-yard punt return for a TD and was nominated as one of ESPN’s Game Changing Performances presented by Pontiac for Week 3 of the college football season.  Keep in mind the Ducks were a mere knee injury away from National Title hopes last year.   Needless to say, despite the awful uniforms the Ducks are good team.

The Broncos head into this week’s match up with questions. Will Sophomore WR Titus Young return to action after being suspended for last Saturday’s game for violating team rules (word on the street is,  fumbling the ball twice in one game is against Boise State team rules)? Will Middle Linebacker Derrell Ackery, who has a 50/50 chance of playing in this week, be ready for this game? Will Bronco Fans make it out of Eugene with their lives? On the positive side of things, Jeron Johnson was named WAC Player of the Week, recovering 2 fumbles and had 13 tackles in last weeks win. Freshman QB Kellen Moore ranks 10th in the nation in passing efficiency (182.7) proving he can get people the ball. Ian Johnson was close to breaking for 100 yards last week, but I think Bronco Fans hope for a 2006 Oregon State like performance this week. Chris Petersen returns home to Oregon where he previously served as WR Coach under Mike Belotti (not sure if this means much of anything, but interesting none the less).

The Broncos face a tough task in beating the Oregon Ducks.  Boise State will need to be virtually mistake free throughout the game.  This will require the Bronco to have no turnovers, no big play reversing penalties and no playing not to lose attitude.  The Ducks will not give this one away as they too have goals of BCS glory on their minds.  It will be loud, as nearly all of the 54,000 plus in attendance will be cheering for the Ducks (just think Bronco Stadium only 10 times louder).  I am smelling upset, Go Broncos!!

Oregon Ducks related links:

JT Ray on September 17, 2008 | Filed Under Blog Posts

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duxinarow  on September 17th, 2008

Funny you poke fun at Oregon’s uniforms when your field looks like a hideous blue screen background. Here is to never beating Oregon in whatever uniform we choose to wear!

duckemup  on September 17th, 2008

No matter what uniform the Ducks show up in, they will look better on the field than the Broncos. You try to knock our unis when yours are legitimately ugly. Just ask all the players… “Why’d you choose Oregon?” “I love the uniforms”. Then ask “Why’d you choose Boise State?” “Oregon didn’t offer me”
Basically…

Sara  on September 17th, 2008

You knock the guy for stating his opinion on the Oregon uni’s and then expect him to change his opinion based on what some of the players think? Hell I’m an Oregon fan and I think they’re hideous. Now if the new Oregon uni’s are like the nike samples I have seen they are 100x’s better…then our current uni’s.

Now back to the article at hand. I think Boise State could be a trap game. The only slight advantage I see is it being a home game. Our defense played great for 2 and a half quarters last week. Lets just hope they can make it 4 quarters this week. I’m not sold on Harper. I think Masoli has all the upside. He can scramble, run, and has the stronger arm. He’s played in a spread offense last year and let them to a JC National Championship. Harper is the future no doubt but I only see him as a situational player right now until he improves his throwing.

I hope Oregon fans dont come into this game feeling cocky like last week. I think it’ll be closer than expected. I just hope Oregon pulls our the victory!

duck1fan  on September 17th, 2008

Uhhhhhh we have over 59,000 fans not 54,000!! I think our team is better off with Masoli and Harper at the helm rather then Roper. Watch out for alot of rushing yards from every impact position come saturday!

James  on September 17th, 2008

I think the previous posters said what needed to be said about criticizing Oregon’s uniforms.

So to the football. I’m really excited for this matchup because I think it will produce an entertaining game. I believe that Masoli will become the near-term starter and that Roper will have a difficult time winning back the starting job. I like Justin. He’s a gritty player with a good arm. He can even run a bit, in the open field.

Masoli is a competent runner, and has one of the strongest arms I have seen. Roper really struggles when he has to throw on the run. This limits play calling because there are no roll-outs and when his interceptions have come when he’s been flushed from the pocket. Masoli throws very well on the move.

Like all football games, this will be decided in the trenches, where Oregon has the edge. Boise State has a young QB who will face a huge challenge playing against a great defensive backfield AND the Autzen crowd.

If the Ducks can limit “explosion” plays, then they will win this one by 10-14 points.

JT Ray  on September 17th, 2008

Duck Fans, it is all in fun. The article is intended to Bronco Fans, but I appreciate all viewers and the comments. Duck fans have proven over the last few weeks on this site they have a true love for their team and that is wonderful. Yes we get crap about the blue turf and we take it in stride. If indeed your staduim holds 59,000 all the better, my research pointed to 54,000. Looking forward to a great game no matter the outcome.

Coastal Duck  on September 17th, 2008

As has been intimated by others, I am a little concerned about the mental effects of the double-OT we had to go through last week – the “hangover,” if you will.

That may last only until the Ducks come out of the tunnel and onto the Autzen Stadium turf to the ringing-of-the-ears loud partisan crowd. At least I HOPE we can get ‘em going!

Autzen – Not a nice place for a freshman QB – regardless of his successes on the Smurf Turf. (Don’t get me started on THAT issue!! Sheesh – what an abomination!)

Desertfan  on September 17th, 2008

The real question both Duck and BSU fan’s should be asking is why is this game not getting national TV coverage somewhere. This is easily the 2nd biggest game in the Pac 10 this week, yet only local coverage? Thanks Tom Hansen, for the brilliant Pac 10 TV coverage…

PDX Duck  on September 17th, 2008

BSU fans will appreciate the Autzen atmosphere, game day in Eugene is pretty awesome…

Looking forward to a good game! Good luck Broncs, but as always…

GO DUCKS!

BSUfan  on September 19th, 2008

Alright now I have to say that this is just appropriable that there has been so much response from Duck fans on a site that is based on fan ship of the Bronco’s…. Here’s what I have to say: I don’t care about uniforms that is what female fans worry about, and as for the blue turf we are all fans of it here. The only reason anyone questions it is out of pure jealousy that we have the only let me repeat the only NCAA approved (meaning others have tried and others have been denied) colored turf in College ball.
Now that has been said. It is about the game, and yeah we have a Freshman QB, who I will add is surprisingly talented (10th ), we have lost 12 games in at home against PAC 10 teams situations. This may be the toughest game of the year for us, but we have a lot to prove and trust me when we show up from this one street light town don’t be lulled into thinking that your stadium is going to scare us. Rather you should stop bragging of your team history, and be a little bit more concerned about that upset that we may very well pull off. If that is the case you can say good bye to your BCS hopes this year. BSU Football is an underdog story every time! Watch yourselves it’s Duck Hunting time….

Oregon Fans Like to Comment a Whole Lot | Bronco Nation N.O.W.  on September 19th, 2008

[...] after making 2 posts that mentioned the Oregon Ducks, I learned that Oregon Fans are much more vocal then Boise State fans and like to let people know. I am not complaining, in fact I think it is [...]

BSUfan  on September 20th, 2008

All I have to say is that today spoke for it’s self.

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