GOW Oregon/Stanford

[Conan]

If you 've ever seen a program in a bad way, you might feel a little sorry for Walt Harris and the task that's been handed to him at Stanford. One of 2 new coaches in the Pac-10 this season, it's a bit difficult to tell which of them has been dealt the worse hand.

We've seen on national television what Ty Willingham has been dealt recently in the hyped up big showdown between his old school Notre Dame and his new one, Washington -- essentially a no-contest. That was a pretty good example of what the Huskies have going for them this year. Nada.

This week we will finally get to see what Walt Harris has on his plate at Stanford -- a mess that their former HC Buddy Teevens left behind. For starters, he inherits a team that went 2-6 in the conference last season, 2-6 the season before and 1-7 the season before that.

In the current matchup series, they've averaged losing to Oregon by 30 points over the last 3 years, though they did manage to put up a fair fight last year before dropping the game by only a FG perhaps in an attempt to avenge a 35-0 drubbing the year before. In the 3 most recent games, Oregon outgained the Cardinal by 163, 132 and 251 yards respectively. Last year's game was the highlight of Teevens tenure as Stanford's HC when playing Oregon. Now there's a new system for the team to learn so it's just like starting over again. I'm not so sure that Harris will enjoy the same level of familiarity with the Ducks.

The Cardinal seemed to show some potential at the start of the season when they went to Navy (a team in the dregs this year) and won by a FG. But then they were utterly humiliated by UC Davis, a Div. II team currently in the middle of a 5 year program to upgrade them into Div. I-AA. To add injury to insult, QB Trent Edwards sustained an unspecified injury to his throwing hand and was upgraded to probable just yesterday (Tuesday). But they also lost stud WR Evan Moore (6'7" 235 lbs.) likely for the rest of the season. Perhaps the only thing they have going for them this weekend is an extra bye week to think things over.

The loss to UC Davis was not an ordinary loss. Dropping a game 20-17 to a team with less than 1/2 the football scholarships the Cardinal have was taken as a terrible insult to the school. The local papers suggested that every player appologize to all the Stanford alums as well as everyone who lives in Palo Alto. Things have really taken a turn for the worse at that school and it seems to be getting progessively worse year after year. Yes Walt Harris has his hands full. All things considered, this is the big reason why I like Oregon by more than a TD here. The Walt Davis (new coach) factor in his coference debut. I've heard some rumblings that Davis himself is no saint.

Prior to last season, (and prior to the Buddy Teevens epic), Stanford enjoyed an advantage over the Ducks playing at Stanford winning 5 of their last 6 games.... but, that was once upon a time under coach Ty Willingham and a lot has changed since he went elsewhere and Buddy Teevens took over the head coaching job. But. whatever Teevens may have been working on is all gone now. Stanford's offense has been only somewhat productive against nobodys and their defense has given up over 400 yards per game to the same nobody's so far this year. Harris doesn't look like he's got his team very well trained and primed for some good football yet in his short career there. As a matter of fact, I think the Cardinal is susceptible to a lot of unfortunate things happening in games at this point in the season.

OR HC Bellotti now finds himelf in a tenuous position where his team just dropped one big time to USC and now faces a team who has had a lot to think about for a couple weeks themselves... a team that has traditionally enjoyed an advantage over them on the road. Yes the Ducks have their own issues here to deal with. But I like Bellotti's predicament much better than Harris's situation.

To me this one boils down to a Pac-10 debut for Harris... a lot like what Ty Willingham faces up in Washington. Both these schools will be fighting for their lives this year and I have a hunch that Stanford may have the tougher time of it just because Ty has been around this conference before. We'll see who ends up scraping the bottom of the barrel. But this Saturday belongs to the Ducks. Welcome to the Pac-10 Walt!

I'm laying the 7 before everyone else figures that out.

 

[biscuitfirer]

you never know with walt

the one thing i learned about walt harris as a head coach is you never know what team is going to show up. Last year down at one point 3 touchdowns to I-AA Furman, lose to UCONN. Same season beat Boston College and West Virginia. A few years ago lose to South Florida as a brand new division one member and start the season 1-5, then beat Va Tech, and NC St. and finish the season 7-5. Every season he always loses an embarrasing game, and he always surprises you with a big win. Frustrating to both alumni and gamblers. Always beware of wacky walt teams!!!!!

 

[biscuitfirer]

the meaning behind biscuitfirer

i love vegas!!!!! blackjack and craps i lose my mind. the chips are biscuits, and i fire them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Conan]

We're used to that here biscuitfirer. We've already got Dorrell and Koetter to look out for every Saturday. One more loose screw won't hardly mean a thing. I think he needs a little more time to emerge as another nut case.

GL

PS... I always buy the 5 and 9.

 

[AlwaysKeen]

Conan, are you at all concerned about a possible hangover from the USC game here?...

 

[Conan]

Pags, I think it's better that the Ducks lost than if they had won. The trip out of town should do them some good. I remember similar situations where they needed to split and to get their heads away from Eugene and it did help. Losing big sometimes is a wake up, and when it's USC who done ya', it's a reality check. Taking on the Cardinal and winning over there is a more realistic challenge. Only thing that concerns me is the history of the series at Palo Alto, however like I pointed out, that was in another age when Ty Willingham was in charge there. Since then it's been all Ducks.

 

[TescoVee]

thanks for the great writeup Conan.

hopefully the Ducks realize this is the spot to grab a league win before they have to travel to Tempe the following week. Belotti better keep them focused on the game at hand.

 

[Insiders]

Conan

Great write up but the Ducks might have USC hangover and ya know its tuff laying the full TD on the raod in the Pac 10 with anyone other that USC and ASU.
Oregon offense didnt look all that well last week, against supposedly soft USC defense.
But again GOOD LUCK

 

[beating.vegas]

without edwards the cardinals lost to ducks by 3, missing a fg as time expired.


so if edwards doenst play i don't see much difference.

oregon struggled to beat a weak houston team, beat fresno st, but would of lost if on the road, i would suspect a very spirited game from the cardinals.

but i am avg at best predicting the pac ten.

 

[WCBias]

Hey Where's Soda Pop...No noise this week? One bad Oregon loss and it gets awfully quiet in here from Duck Fan.

Oregon did better than any other team so far versus USC...Time to move on and I'm sure the Ducks are excited at their chance to play against a lesser team.

Dr. Pepper? Come back.

 

[Conan]

Well a couple angles here too to consider... the heat is off now that USC is done with. That O of Oregon's got shut down and for that they will be motivated to put out something extra this week. You can count on that. They have an above average offense, we know that. The ball is now in OC Crowton's court. They can relax and focus more on their normal game, perhaps giving Clemens the time he needs. Their spread offense was looking better before USC, especially RB Whitehead. They will not dismiss this team lightly because of their history with them. Their corners will be able to manage Stanford's WRs better without Moore playing. Stanford's own D is suspect, very much so at this point.

In normal years, I'd be more wary of Stanford playing at home vs the Ducks but they haven't looked like they know what they are doing lately with their new coach. As a matter of fact, the Cardinal has shown us nothing positive this season. Will they do better than recent years going 2-6 in conference play? I don't think so. Oregon has the opportunity to play them while the getting is still good. It's a new season and Stanford has a lot of playing time yet to get in to get themselves straightened out.

Playing Stanford after USC must be something like going to the plate after swinging a lead bat. I think the Ducks will bounce back nicely here. I also think that between taking one on the chin vs USC last week and Edwards playing, the line is a bit soft. I was expecting to see -10 or more.

 

[AlwaysKeen]

Conan,

all good thoughts here...may end up joining you on this one...

 

[TescoVee]

sorry to change the subject but what are your thoughts on OSU this weekend? I felt they didnt have much to be ashamed of against ASU. I just havent seen Wazzou yet.

im jumping on Ducks today before it goes up.

 

[LucaBrasi]

Thanks Conan - I liked that UO line when it first came out.

 

[Conan]

Beavers/Cougars

Tesco,

I actually like both Oregon teams this week. Both calls have something vague about them but overall I see a reversal of fate over last weekend. I still like them better than the rest of the card, perhaps only the UCLA game as being another worthy play. All chalk it seems.

The Beavers should rebound nicely here too and playing at Reiser is probably the biggest reason, though they are probably good enough to deal the Cougars a defeat wherever they might play them. The vague part I was referring to is WSU. No one really knows how good or bad they will be this year. They've not played anyone who rates.

All I have to go on is their roster updates and the fact that they were dead nuts square in everyone's sights last season and they didn't look so good for a change. I still see Doba as needing to do a lot of reorganization up there, but exactly how much and how it well it gets done is anyone's guess at this point. Like the Ducks' game, I think the line is a bit soft here because of last weekend's loss. They should cover 2 but that's pretty much the same as saying they will win the game. I think they will win the game because it's a must win situation or they will have a real tough time getting enough victories to get into a bowl.

Reiser is the toughest place to win in the Pac-10 unless you include the LA Coliseum. With the line at only 2, that in itself is worth a lean.

 

[BernieVegas]

Conan

I like the QUACK ATTACK this week

Yours in Winners
Bernie

P.S. Stanford isn't playing CAL DAVIS this weekend...Oh wait, they LOST to Cal Davis LOL

 

[Conan]

Bernie, how the hell are ya?

Long time no see.

GL 2U 2

 

[TescoVee]

Thanks Conan,

I really liked the Hass kid for OSU. thought they fought hard the whole game instead of just rolling over against a better squad. I see the game dropping to 1.5 which i like.

i already played UCLA at -21 but getting a bit nervous now laying the points. Lets call it the Dorrell factor.

 

[Conan]

Awwwwwww Tesco, I don't think you need to worry about UCLA. I think the school remembers well the days when Washington was the sh*t in the Pac-10 and how they took it on the chin from them year after year. No mercy. The tables are turned now and Washington is looking pretty weak, and they don't seem to be very effective stopping the run. UCLA's TB Maurice Drew will try to put on a show and prove why he's called the "other" Reggie Bush in the conference. UCLA runs up the score.

What is it with these LA teams and running up scores and covering big numbers most all the time? Could it be true that their coaches are getting some sort of "preferential consideration" from the alums who bet on their side and the pontspread? Hmmmmmmm.... makes you think for a minute.

 

[Proman]

Good Luck Conan.

Stanford is a mess. The Ducks should roll as long as they avoid a let down from last week.