National Games with Duck Implications

Now there is only one. Auburn faces 9-3 South Carolina in the SEC Championship Game at 1:00 p.m. on CBS, a rematch of their game four clash on September 25th. Auburn won that one 35-27, Cam Newton passing for two touchdowns and running for three scores and 176 yards.

South Carolina led 27-21 going in to the fourth quarter, but the Tigers capitalized on two Stephen Garcia fumbles, Newton throwing his two tds on short field drives, the clincher coming with 6:23 to go. Auburn held Marcus Lattimore to 14 carries for 33 yards in the first game, but he figures to be a bigger factor this time. The sensational freshmen finished second to Newton among SEC rushers with 1114 yards and 17 tds. He also displayed soft hands for a young back, catching 23 passes for 328 yards and two more scores.

The Gamecocks biggest weapon may be 6-4 233-lb. wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, who racked up 1351 yards receiving this year. Last time he torched the Auburn secondary for 8 catches, 192 yards and two scores. He's a fast, physical receiver with great hands, a very tough matchup for a unit that may be Auburn's only weakness.

The other X factor in the game is Steve Spurrier. The 65-year-old ball coach built a dynasty at Florida, winning six SEC titles at a school that was under NCAA investigation when he got there and hadn't won a conference crown in 57 years. He won one national championship in 1996 after playing for his first one in 1995. Some say he'd lost his touch by the time he came to South Carolina hovering just above .500 for the first five years, taking the team to four minor bowls before breaking through this year. At Florida he won five league title games in seven tries, but this is his first trip with SC. He's known as a masterful playcaller and big game coach.

So far this season, no one has put four quarters together against Auburn. Like the Ducks they've met every challenge. The Tigers have met and beaten four teams ranked in the top 12. They've survived four games decided by a field goal or less, including a 27-24 come-from-behind overtime win over Clemson in game three.

Duck fans probably want Auburn to win out. Meeting and possibly defeating the best the SEC has to offer would answer any lingering questions about Oregon's strength of schedule and resume. A game with TCU would not have the same impact on the national stage.

Oregon, of course, has a challenge of its own tomorrow. A few fans might take some quick peaks with the remote, but the Duck players and coaches will have their full focus on a Beaver team that wants desperately to upend them.