Good Luck Ducks, Week 12: And Yet There Are Three More Games Left?

After another (?) bye week, the #6 Ducks look to stay in the conversation as they host Arizona. 

This year marks the 10th anniversary of one of the best Ducks game I've ever seen. I wasn't physically at this one, unlike The Pick (aka "Kenny Wheaton's Gonna Score"), but it's hard for me to imagine a more exhilarating sporting event than Oregon's double-OT victory over Arizona in enemy territory. The win, which came after the Zona Zoo had already emptied the stands and were surrounding the sidelines ready to run on the field, helped preserve Oregon's first return to the Rose Bowl in 15 years. Brent Musberger called the whole thing when he casually mentioned that those students might be returning to the stands. (Side note - it was future Eagles Super Bowl hero Nick Foles who led that Arizona team... check out that hair!)

This time around, Oregon has even loftier goals than the Rose Bowl, sitting in the #6 position in the weekly College Football Playoff poll. The group of elites only takes the top 4 teams, so the Ducks will need to maintain their position and get some help from others, but for now it's not a bad place to be. We're still a long ways away from said playoffs, with games against both Arizona schools and the always intriguing Civil War to come... and that's all before a potential conference championship game.

This year's Wildcats are led by... well, it's not entirely clear. Khalil Tate has been at the center of discussion for awhile when it comes to Arizona football, but he's been rotating at QB with another, let's say, less of a dual threat in freshman Grant Gunnell. Both teams are coming off a bye week (apparently there were two this year for some reason), but this arguably helps Oregon more than Arizona as the roles and goals are clearly defined for the squad in Eugene. The Wildcats have given up 189 points in their last four games, so Oregon figures to be able to score early and often.

• The Last Game: The Ducks got off to their now typical slow start, but woke up and steamrolled USC starting in the second quarter, with 56 points scored after being shut out in the first.
• Know Your Opponent: The Zona Zoo doesn't seem particularly thrilled about their bottom-dwelling defense or slim-but-still-possible bowl hopes. Midseason coaching changes aren't usually a good sign.
• The Unis!: Yellow with nightmare green pants and helmets. When will we wake up from this?
• Mario Cristobal's "Crystal Ball" Prediction: "Football happens. You know, football happens sometimes." Yes.

• Luke Skyywalker's Crystal Balls say: Arizona has had some really dull moments as a state, but that doesn't keep the partying Luke down. Don't stop, get it get it

Game time is 7:30 PST on ESPN. Dave Pasch, Greg McElroy and Tom Luginbill are on the call. Go Ducks!