Good Luck Ducks, Week 5: Bear Raid

Oregon opens conference play against a team that has suddenly become pass-happy.

After a week that saw Oregon's stock only rise despite not taking the field, the Ducks are faced with a number of firsts heading into tonight's game. First night game. First conference game. First questionable weather game. Unseasonably torrential rain is supposedly headed to the Willamette Valley this weekend, and despite the fact that it "never rains in Autzen Stadium", things are expected to be rather... damp?

New head coach Sonny Dykes has brought his "Air Raid" offense from Lousiana Tech to the Bay Area, and considering how California has fared in recent years, the change can't be the worst thing in the world. Cal's fans are even talking in confidence about how their team will fare against an Oregon team that many feel is the best in the nation right now. It could be exciting - hell, it should be exciting, especially if the weather wreaks havoc on the field conditions.

The Cal Bears have been a prickly opponent over the years, but things have been decidedly different in recent years. Save for a nailbiting defensive struggle in Berkeley in 2010, things have tilted heavily in Oregon's favor for the last four years. Oregon outscored Cal a combined 85-18 in their last two meetings in Eugene and won last year's game on the road 59-17. While Cal may be finally headed in the right direction after floundering under former Oregon offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford, I don't think tomorrow is the time where the Bears get their comeuppance.

Some highlights from last year's drubbing. I am not usually a fan of game footage set to music, but the song selection here was especially interesting.

Game time is 7:30 PDT with national coverage on the Pac-12 Network. Go Ducks!

Pick 'Em Contest Update

After tonight's second half pummeling of Virginia Tech at the hands of the Stanford Cardinal in the Orange Bowl, we're down to the final six games in the college bowl season. Six games? Yes, really... six games. Even though there are only a couple of games left on the schedule of any significance before the big finale next Monday, the schedule makers at ESPN have decided to pad that extra time by tossing in a few extras like the Compass Bowl and the Pottery Barn Pottery Bowl.

Until sometime around midnight, the contest standings will not be updated through tonight's contest officially, but right now it's a close battle for first between Stats on the Back and Community Gum (Andy). Cardboard Junkie had a chance to make a bold push for 1st as he had the most possible points heading into tonight's action, but, like Stats on the Back, he lost his mind and took Va. Tech. (Are you guys Mike Vick fans or something? Dayf is probably off drinking the party liquor with Early Cuyler.) As for myself, I'm sitting pretty with one of the worst scores in all of the land, so what do I know? If anyone who didn't get a chance to enter cares to see the final standings, let me know by posting a comment here and I'll throw up the final results next week after the big Ducks victory.

Rhubarb Runner seems to all but have the last place prize locked up (two of our entrants are sadly ineligible for failing to make picks for every game.) I would serious question whether Rhubarb violated the "no tanking it" rule by picking Arizona and Washington but not Stanford except that when I look at my own picks, I'm only marginally doing better and I know I tried. Oops.