Gotta’ Run That Football
The running game is clearly Oregon’s strength.

Wait, wait wait. Nick, if that’s what you call insight, I can’t wait to hear what’s coming next. I suppose you’ll tell us all that foreclosures are bad for the economy. Please, continue.

As I was saying, the running game is clearly Oregon’s strength. 300+ yards a game is a ridiculous number. LaGarrette Blount is the best back in the nation that no one is talking about. Combined with Jeremiah Johnson – he of “So You Think You Can Dance” fame, there is not a better 1-2 punch. Anyone that watched USC against Oregon State knows the Trojans have some questions to answer on the defensive line. Perhaps it takes a 5’6″ squirmer to make the Trojans look that bad, but you have to attack what appears to be a vulnerability.

Don’t let a USC running back get into rhythm.
Pete Carrol’s biggest flaw is his inability to pick a running back and stick with him. He’ll rotate players at the position all game if he doesn’t see one guy getting it done and the running game will be ineffective. Running backs need reps to get going. If Oregon can continue it’s strong run defense early, they could disrupt USC for the entire game.

Hit Mark Sanchez
No, don’t be like Boise State and take a cheap shot. Do it legitimately. Get burned on a blitz or two, but make sure you knock Manchez (FOTB’s name, not mine) down. He’s not as perfect as he was made out to be early in the season. He makes mistakes, but like any good quarterback, if he has time to make decisions, he will beat you.

Let Masoli Be Apart of the Running Game
The Trojans have an outstanding defense. They will limit Oregon’s offense and that’s a fact. The more dimensions you incorporate, though, the more difficult they will be to defend. USC has typically struggled against dual-threat quarterbacks. Even two years ago, when Oregon scored only 10 points, it was Dennis Dixon’s mistakes that stopped the Ducks. I believe – and remember, this is a lazy, non-fact checking blog – Oregon had four empty red zone trips in 2006. The Ducks can’t afford to protect Masoli and keep him limited. When you go against USC, you don’t hold back.

All the Usual Talking Points
Force turnovers, don’t commit any. Score early and take the crowd out of the game. Don’t be scared of big, bad USC. Don’t give up big plays. Blah, blah, blah. That analysis is so below my level of thinking.

There you have it. Do all these things, Oregon, and you’re sure to win. It’s that easy. Hell, I’d do it myself, but well, I’m too busy blogging. Enjoy football everyone.

PreNicktion
USC 31, Oregon 17 (After all that, you’re giving it to the Trojans by two touchdowns? That I am dear reader. That I am.)

The Dennis Erickson Award for “It’s Been Fun, But it’s Time to Move On”
…And the Winner Is: Taylor Mays, USC Safety. An overwhelming consensus first-round pick by every useless mock draft the internet has to offer, the junior is a season away from becoming an early entrant to the 2009 NFL Draft.

The Mike Bellotti Award for “If the Game Was Only 61 Minutes Long, I Would Have Won”
…And the winner is: Kevin Riley, Cal Quarterback. Some advice for you this year, Kevin: spike the ball, call a timeout, or run out of bounds.

The Pete Carroll Award for “I Don’t Care If You’re Good, I Just Don’t Like You”
…And the winner is: Rudy Carpenter, Arizona State Quarterback. I don’t feel like I should have to explain this. Actually, I’m not even sure if I can. I just don’t like him.

The Tyrone Willingham Award for “I Looked A Lot Better When I First Got Onto Campus”
…And the winner is: Ben Olson, UCLA Quarterback. He’s injured. Again. As a former “5-Star Recruit,” big things were expected and yet, it never happened.

The Paul Wulff Award for “Player You’ve Never Heard of and Probably Never Will”
…And the Winner Is: Jeff Bowen, Washington State Offensive Lineman. The criteria here was to find a guy on the consensus 10th place team that is a senior and listed 4th on the depth chart at his position. Hopefully, Jeff Bowen Googles his name someday and finds out about this prestigious award. Also, given that he is 100 lbs heavier than me at the same height, I would appreciate it if he has a sense of humor.

The Mike Stoops Award for “Biggest Douchebag”
…And the Winner Is: Mike Stoops, Arizona Head Coach. Congratulations, you just won your own award. I’d say the voting is rigged, but I think we can all agree, you earned it coach.

The Rick Neuheisel Award for “Player Most Likely to Get Penalized”
…And the Winner Is: Jeremy Perry, Oregon State Guard. He wins for two reasons: (1) He’s an offensive lineman and those guys hold on every play and (2) He’s quoted on ESPN.com saying, “I’m nasty, even if the whistle blows, I guarantee I’ll get the last shove.”

The Mike Riley Award for “The First Month Doesn’t Really Matter Anyway”
…And the Winner Is: Tie between Jake Locker (UW Quarterback) and Mark Sanchez (USC Quarterback). Both players have suffered injuries that could cause early season issues for their respective teams if they don’t come back healthy.

The Jeff Tedford Award for “Yeah, He Was Great When I Coached Him, But What About Now?”
…And the Winner Is: No, not Joey Harrington, Trent Dilfer, Kyle Boller, Akili Smith, AJ Feeley or Aaron Rodgers. The winner is Mitch Mustain, USC Quarterback. The hype is there for the heralded transfer from Arkansas. Will he deliver, especially if Mark Sanchez can’t go?

The Jim Harbaugh Award for “I Probably Shouldn’t Have Said That, But I’ll Go Ahead and Back It Up Anyway”
…And the Winner Is: Carson Palmer, former USC and current Cincinnati Bengals Quarterback. All’s quiet among current players so far in 2008 so we turn to Palmer’s ill-advised diatribe against Ohio State. Sure, he’s right and his alma mater will back him up, but that doesn’t endear you to your current Ohio fan base.