Auburn Doesn't Scare the Ducks, They Don't Scare Me, and They Shouldn't Scare You Either

Since the Ducks clinched their berth in the National Championship Game I've watched video of every Auburn game I could get my hands on. I've watched the SEC Championship twice, Auburn vs. Alabama, Auburn vs LSU, and Auburn vs Kentucky. From national "experts" and ESS EEEE SEEEE honks, the consensus is pretty clear: Oregon doesn't have a chance. They won't be able to stand up to SEC speed and physicality. The Ducks' defense won't be able to stop the Tigers offense. Oregon's defense doesn't have the size and toughness to compete with Cam Newton and Auburn's attack. There is no X factor for the Ducks.

Nonsense.

Auburn is a very good football team. But they are not the '85 Bears, the '79 Steelers, or the 2004 USC Trojans. Oregon is better than Kentucky, LSU and Alabama, and all three of these teams took the Tigers deep into the fourth quarter. The Tigers are physical, but so is Stanford, and the Ducks beat the Cardinal by three touchdowns. Nick Fairley is a beast. So are Stephen Paea, Jurrell Casey and Malik Jackson, and LaMichael James managed to find running room against all of them. Lots of it.

Watch video of Auburn struggling with Kentucky, Clemson, LSU and Alabama. It's available on ESPNU or CBS College Sports. True, it's SEC footbaw, but these teams aren't better than Oregon. They're not better than Stanford.

If Kentucky's offense can hang 34 on the Tigers, so can the Ducks. If Alabama and LSU can hold the unstoppable Gus Malzahn juggernaut to 28 and 24 points, Oregon can too. Arkansas State scored 26 on the Auburn defense, Chattanooga 24.

I watched Cam Newton loping free running at three-quarter speed on those slow-developing running plays and I think, where's the pursuit? He's cutting back at will downfield, and I envision Josh Kaddu, Bo Lokombo, Eddie Pleasant and Kenny Rowe ripping and stripping. Oregon's defense swarms to the football. They created 35 turnovers this year. The Auburn offense is full of talent, and their offensive line is big, but no more so than USC.

In the passing game, Newton throws from his shoulder. He's 6-6 but the release point isn't much higher than Ryan Katz's. The Ducks had ten batted balls in the Oregon State game, four interceptions and three sacks. The Beavers aren't as good as Auburn, but they're as good as several of the teams in the Tigers' roster of victims, half of whom came with a few points of ending their dream season. Oregon had one escape this season. The Tigers had five. They needed overtime to defeat 6-6 Clemson, a last minute field goal to beat 6-6 Kentucky. Mississippi State rallied late but lost 17-14. They beat Alabama by a point and LSU by a touchdown.

The SEC fans will tell you how dominating, intimidating and unstoppable SEC defenses are. View the recordings yourself. Count the missed tackles. Watch #41 of Kentucky in pass coverage, confused, not even contesting a 20-yard out route, tip-toeing around the receiver, avoiding contact, his hands in the air like he'd just been arrested for attempting to impersonate a cornerback. Take note of the complete breakdowns in the South Carolina secondary. Think Cliff Harris or John Boyett could cover this play (51-yard Hail Mary to Darvin Adams) better than that?

Auburn is plenty good. It will be a compelling game, and Oregon will have to be prepared and play their best football to win. They need to be focused and get off to a better start, taking care of the football and taking advantage of their opportunities. But pundits and War Eagle spit-screamers who say it won't be a competitive game are flat wrong.

Respect all, fear none. Talk is cheap, and all we have right now, but we'll find out in three weeks.