National Games with Duck Implications

When a team is ranked number five in the country, a much broader range of games have implications for the season. For example:

(Thursday night) #19 Miami 31, Pittsburgh 3

The Canes crushed Pittsburgh at Heinz field last night. Jacory Harris threw for 248 yards and two scores, while the Hurricane defense forced three turnovers and held the Panthers to 232 yards.

Duckplication: Miami, which doesn't have a ranked opponent left on their schedule in the ACC, is likely to continue to move up in the polls, which helps strengthen #2 Ohio State's suspect strength of schedule. The Buckeyes beat Miami last weekend in the Horseshoe, aided mightily by Harris' four interceptions.

(Friday night) #4 TCU 41, SMU 24

SMU hung with the Horned Frogs for a while but got steadily worn down and outmanned. TCU quarterback Andy Dalton isn't a top flight passer but he doesn't have to be. The Frogs don't venture outside the Mountain West for the rest of the season, and a November 6th date at Utah is their only remaining game with a ranked opponent.

Duckplication: If TCU continues to play only to the level of its competition, the Ducks will probably vault them if they keep winning, perhaps as soon as next week should they get past Stanford.

Saturday games of interest:

#1 Alabama at #10 Arkansas, 12:30 PST

Behind another former Michigan QB, Ryan Mallett, the Razorback fans have their highest expectations in quite a while, getting Alabama early and at home in a matchup of 3-0 teams. Mallett has thrown for 1081 yards and 9 tds so far this season. They won at Georgia last week 31-24. The Tide has rolled to three easy wins so far, but in the next three weeks they face Arkansas, host #9 Florida, visit #12 South Carolina, and they travel to #15 LSU on November 6.
They host Mississippi and former Duck Masoli on October 16th.

Duckplication: If Mallett gets a hot hand, who knows? On the other hand, if Alabama survives this gauntlet, they are a unanimous number one in every poll. Wouldn't it be a story if Masoli stole one from Alabama?

#24 Oregon State at #3 Boise State

The Beavers have an inexperienced sophomore quarterback who will be good but hasn't begun to put it together yet, and they have little-to-no pass rush. Bronco quarterback Kellen Moore, an accurate, precise passer, will thrive with time to pick his receivers. Unless the Beavs make a big leap forward, BSU will move on to WAC play without a blemish on their record, and just enough on their resume to maintain credibility as they roll through an easy conference schedule. The closest thing to a difficult game on their remaining slate is a November 26th tilt at Nevada.

Duckplication: The Beavers would be celebrated across the country if they pull off the upset. If they don't it's up to San Jose State, Louisiana Tech, Utah State and the rest. The Broncos schedule ranks 103rd among FBS teams, and OSU is rationality's last chance against the-one-hard-game-and-ten-byes Broncos. Oh by the way, number two Ohio State hosts Eastern Michigan tomorrow. #6 Nebraska hosts South Dakota State. The Huskers schedule is barely more difficult than Boise's: they play one remaining ranked opponent, number 7 Texas in Royal Stadium on October 16th.

On the other hand, if USC, Stanford, and Arizona keep winning, that sets the Ducks up with three games against top 10-15 opponents, plus competitive games with Cal and OSU. The Ducks will have plenty of strength of schedule within conference play to make a case for moving up.

Provided, of course, they keep winning. Starting with Arizona State in 22 hours.