National Games with Duck Implications

There are seven unbeatens left, and Alabama lurks. The Ducks have to win to stay in the national title chase, although they'd still control their destiny for the Rose Bowl regardless, with a win over Stanford on the books and a game to come against Arizona at home in November.

Here are the games this week Duck fans have to watch, keeping in mind USC is the most important game played this week:

(one has already happened)

#3 Boise State 49, Louisiana 20

The Shetlands had another one-sided victory against another tomato can opponent in the Tuesday night not-so-special, Kellen Moore passing for two scores and receiving a touchdown on a trick play.

#1 Auburn at Mississippi

Masoli can win one last game for the Ducks, and fans have to wonder about a possible letdown for the Tigers after three wins over ranked opponents and several close calls. 8-0 Auburn has won three games by a field goal and a couple of others by a touchdown, and Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt has a knack for upsets, producing about one a year in his long coaching career. Auburn's defense is vulnerable if Masoli can get a hot hand or find room to ramble on the ground.

The Tigers' remaining games include Chattanooga at home (another reason why the SEC always has so many ranked teams) then they host Georgia before ending the regular season at Alabama on November 26. Georgia is hot right now, winners of three in a row after a slow start and playing much better football. Despite their one loss, Alabama may be the most balanced team in the country.

Should the Tigers survive these, they'd likely face a return match with South Carolina in the SEC title game, but this year everyone knows the real SEC title game is November 26 at Bryant-Denny Stadium, a day after the Ducks take on Arizona at Autzen. The BCS matchup could be finalized while we go to the kitchen for leftover pumpkin pie.

#4 TCU at UNLV

The Horned Frogs travel to #8 Utah next week. UNLV is 1-6, the one win over lowly New Mexico. TCU's senior quarterback Andy Dalton has 14 touchdowns this year against 5 picks, leading a well-balanced attack that features tailback Ed Wesley, who has rushed for 874 yards and nine tds. Their defense ranks 1st in the country in points against at 9 per game.

#5 Michigan St at #18 Iowa

The Spartans have enjoyed a Cinderella season thus far with fake punts and fake field goals and circus catches and miracle comebacks and a coach on the mend from a heart attack. They duck Ohio State this year, so tomorrow's game in Kinnick Stadium is their last in the regular season against a ranked opponent, having bested Michigan and Wisconsin earlier this month. They finish home against Minnesota and Purdue, then travel to Penn State on November 27th. The Hawkeyes are tough at home, 3-1 in Ames this year after last week's heart breaker, a 31-30 loss to the Badgers.

#6 Missouri at #14 Nebraska

Most pundits have these Tigers on top of their upset watch list this week after last Saturday's take-down-the-goalposts win over Oklahoma. Smashmouth, 6-1 Nebraska is a tough matchup for Missouri. The Huskers rank 5th in the country in rushing and the visitors are 23rd in rush defense. Missouri's Blaine Gabbert will try to test a pass defense that ranks second in the country.

#8 Utah at Air Force

This has been a close series over the years, the last two games going to the last 58 seconds in 2008 (the Utes' only loss that year), and to overtime last season. The Falcons are 4-0 at home. This game is a complete contrast of styles. Utah quarterback Jordan Wynn completes 69.8% of his throws out of a pass-first spread, while Air Force is first in the country in rushing offense at 326.5 yards a game.

Number seven Alabama is idle this week, resting up for next week's game at LSU.