Game 11 Preducktion: Can the Ducks Avoid a Black Friday Surprise?

For a number one, undefeated team the story lines become predictable. Is this the week for an upset, an overlook, or a letdown? The opponent has talent and motivation and nothing to lose, and the stakes are so high. Can the Ducks stay perfect under all that pressure? What if their poised, remarkable sophomore quarterback has hit the wall? What if the Wildcats stymie LaMichael James the way Cal did? The Bears stuffed Oregon's offense, and beat up their star, holding him to a season-low 91 yards on 29 bruising, battering carries. He left the field on crutches.

Thanksgiving Day Comcast Sports Net ran a marathon of the season's first ten wins, and it was amazing to look back, remembering the moments of anxiousness and uncertain starts, seeing them line up at a certain down and distance, knowing a big play was about to happen. Oregon has 20 plays of 40 yards or more from scrimmage this year. Only Baylor has more, with 21. The Ducks have added 7 punt returns of 40 yards or more, and 9 kickoffs of 30 or more. That's more big plays than anyone in the country, a big reason why they are first in the country in scoring at 50.7 points per game.

That's a lot of success. To put it in perspective, the all-time NCAA record is 56.0 per game by Army in 1944. There's little mystery why Army had the best team in history the year Eisenhower launched the invasion of D-Day. But it is a mystery how quickly Duck fans, in a season of unprecedented excellence, can be reduced to quivering doubt by one close game. Sure, Cal played them tough, but in the end Oregon did everything necessary to win. Who has a better blueprint, Oregon at 10-0, or Cal at 5-6?

One tough game doesn't negate a season of excellence. These are the same Ducks that hung 52 on #6 Stanford, 60 on UCLA, 53 on USC, and 53 on Washington. Arizona won't be able to grab jerseys the way the Bears secondary did with impunity in Strawberry Canyon. Darron Thomas, Jeff Maehl, Drew Davis, Josh Huff, and David Paulson have had two weeks to work out the kinks in the passing game. They were half a step off from another half dozen big plays last time out, shoestring tackles, overthrows, drops, uncalled PIs, slight glitches in the timing. Thomas needs another count in the pocket, another second to scan and get set. Huff needs a few plays called for him. They all have fresher legs, and they've had two weeks of home cooking, and Jim Radcliffe's training expertise to re energize them.

We'll see a rejuvenated, efficient, loose, confident team in Autzen stadium Friday night. They'll be acclimated and dressed for the weather, playing together at home for the final time this year. The offense will be back to scoring early and often, and the defense will be inspired by an enthusiastic holiday crowd on national TV.

Tonight, the country will see why Oregon is number one in the country. The kids are all right. They are far more than all right. They love playing football, and are determined to finish this dream.

Oregon 43, Arizona 17