In case you haven't heard, Oregon hosts the New Mexico Lobos today. Kickoff is 12:30 p.m., with the game being broadcast to much of the state on Comcast Sports Net, channel 37. Direct TV has made a special arrangement to pick up the telecast in Southern Oregon. The Ducks have a streak of 77 sellouts in Autzen stadium, and 59,000-plus are expected today.
New Mexico finished next-to-last in the Mountain West last year. They needed a last-second field goal to beat Colorado State in November, lost by multiple, multiple touchdowns to Utah and TCU.
New Mexico has a new quarterback of their own, B.R. Holbrook. Holbrook, a redshirt sophomore, threw 34 passes as a backup last year. The Lobos run a no-huddle offense from a Pistol formation and pass more than they run. Their best player is middle linebacker Carmen Messina, who led the nation with 163 tackles. He's trying to follow in the footsteps of New Mexico's most noted football alumnus, Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher.
Oregon has only one player out with injury, third team center Karrington Armstrong.
Kenjon Barner gets the start at running back, with LaMichael James suspended as a result of an off-season incident involving a former girlfriend. Redshirt sophomore Darron Thomas won the starting job at quarterback over senior Nate Costa. Duck fans will be watching closely to assess his effectiveness running the offense and passing the football.
Gametime weather is forecast for the mid-seventies, with sunshine and high clouds, Oregon captains for the season opener are DT Brandon Bair, C Jordan Holmes, WR Jeff Maehl, and LB Spencer Paysinger.
Las Vegas oddsmakers posted the Ducks as a 34-point favorite.
Two PAC-10 teams have already won their season debut. USC was a 49-36 victor over Hawaii on the islands Thursday night, and Friday evening Arizona pasted Toledo 41-2 at the Glass Bowl in Ohio. The rest of the conference kicks off today:
UCLA at Kansas State
Washington at BYU
Oregon State vs. TCU, in Cowboy Stadium
Washington State at Oklahoma State
UC Davis at Cal
Sacramento State at Stanford
Portland State at ASU
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