The last two years the Beavers had their fate in their own hands. A win in the Civil War would send them to the Rose Bowl. It did not happen. The Ducks blew out the Beavers in 2008 at Reser Stadium and then last year the Beavers lost a civil war battle 37-33 in Eugene once again watching their Rose Bowl hopes fade away. This year there is not as much on the line for the Beavers. At 5-6(4-4) the Beavers are just hoping to make a bowl game. The Ducks on the other hand are undefeated 11-0 and ranked #1 or #2 depending upon the poll you look at. A win by the Ducks would send then to the first National Championship game for either school.
So the Beavers have something to play for after all. It has always been the custom that when someone does something nice for you that you should return the favor. Well this year the Beavers will be attempting to return the favor to the Ducks by knocking them out of the National Championship. To add even more tension to the already over hyped game. ESPN Gameday will be making their first ever appearance in Oregon State University for their popular show.
The show starts at 6am online at 7am for TV and fans may already be lining up in front of the MU to get the best possible seat. Signs will be everywhere as over 10,000 Beaver and Duck fans are expected to attend the show. Gates open at 4:30am and the weather report is for snow between 3 and 5 am. This may very well be the rowdiest gameday of all time for the ESPN crew. I hope they have a lot of security.
My daughter and I will be there bright (or dark) and early to get good spots. I will be flying my 1990 OSU flag proudly somewhere so watch for it. Need to make sure I have all my cold weather gear ready. Leaving here around 2am tonight to get there on time.
I have to admit that I am as nervous for this game as i was the last two seasons going into the Civil War. In fact my hands are shaking as I write this article. I want the Beavers to win but being a realist I know that would take a monumental effort by the Beavers to stop the scoring machine that the Ducks have been this season. Part of me is thinking we don't have chance but the other half is saying what if? What would it take to beat the Ducks? Can we beat the Ducks? Yes We Can! Will We Beat The Ducks? Who Knows!
I do know this. The Beavers have nothing to lose and should come out and play this game like it is the last game they will ever play. The Ducks have everything to lose. They have won the PAC-10 but they did that last year. The BCS Title is the goal and they can lose it tomorrow afternoon in Reser Stadium just like the Beavers lost the Rose Bowl two years ago.
The Beavers need to leave every single once of energy they have on the field and hold nothing back tomorrow. This is the Civil War. For Beaver fans there is no other game, not the Rose Bowl or anything else that matters more then this. Blood, Guts, Desire and sure Force of Will. Leave it all on the field.
BY THE NUMBERS - CLICK HERE FOR PREGAME STATS
The statistics are a nightmare for the Beavers. Oregon won 28 of 32 categories. The biggest thing the Beavers are going to have to overcome is the pace of Oregon's play and the speed of their players on both sides of the ball. I think the Beavers can hang with the Ducks early in this game but can they stay in the game late when the Ducks pace of play gets tiring on the defense.
As far as I am concerned this game is going to come down to heart. You can throw out the stats. If the Beavers are to win this game it will have to come from the heart. They are going to have to dig deeper then they have ever had to better and find a way to stay with the Ducks.
THE BOTTOM LINE
If last weeks game at Stanford was a Mount Everest type of challenge, then this is a moon shot. Its either do it or die trying.
To me the key will be to keep Oregon's offense off the field as much as possible. If they are going to score it is better to score quick and get the defense off the field then to go threw a plodding drive and get tired early. The Beavers offense must control the ball and make first downs. They must move the ball and score on as many possessions as possible. Touchdowns or field goals does not matter. Long drives with points at the end. Keep the Ducks offense off the field. Hold them to three and outs or just one first down and make them punt.
If Cal's defense can hold the Ducks to 17 points then the Beavers defense can too. I look for this to be a typical Civil War slug fest. Last man standing wins.
I want an early Christmas gift. I want a Beaver Victory on Saturday, and I really think we can do it. Good Luck Beavers! Give it everything you have.
FINAL SCORE
BEAVERS 26
DUCKS 24
GO BEAVERS!
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