CFI: DUCKS SMELLING THE ROSES

BY ARTHUR DiCESARE
PAC-10 INSIDER

After Oregon’s huge win over than No. 4 ranked Arizona State, the Ducks have put themselves in the driver’s seat in the Pac-10. Now ranked third in the BCS standings, Oregon has a serious shot at playing for the National championship, and pending a huge collapse have pretty much written their ticket to the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1995.

First thing is taking care of business their last three games, and coupling that with some upsets and Oregon could potentially play for their first National Championship in school history. Oregon believes they have one of the two best teams in the country and they have proved it week in and week out. Not to mention Oregon boasts one of the toughest schedules in college football.

Dennis Dixon who injured his left knee early in the fourth quarter against the Sun Devils had his knee examined this week and didn’t suffer a significant injury. With the Ducks having the week off, Dixon will have plenty of time to get his knee ready to play against Arizona. Dixon, who has been vaulted to the top of everyone’s Heisman Ballot after another terrific performance with 240 plus yards of total offense and four touchdowns, is on pace for 2,800 yards passing, 700 yards rushing and 37 total touchdown. His chances have improved after Matt Ryan’s collapse against Florida State and with Tim Tebow being a sophomore.

Oregon’s last three games will be against teams they should be heavily favored against: @ Arizona, @ UCLA, and home to rival Oregon State. I believe Oregon’s best shot at the National Championship is having Ohio State lose to Michigan the last week of the season. It will be hard for Oregon to jump LSU if everything stays the way it is. The computers love the Tigers and with LSU possibly playing Florida or Georgia in the SEC Championship game that would most certainly put LSU in the title game if they win out. If Michigan (who Oregon beat) upsets the Buckeyes that would make it easier for the computers to put the Ducks in the title game.

Regardless of which team you root for, the last month of the college football season should bring a lot of excitement and controversy with a hand full of teams vying for the top two spots in the BCS, including the Ducks from Eugene.