If the ducks would not have gotten stopped at the goal line earlier in the game, and had kicked the field goal, different story altogether. What really happened is they got outcoached, but just barely. The difference in yardage was about 70yds. Considering the TOP, that’s not much. Auburn had the better run defense, and running game; the Ducks had a better secondary and a better passing game. The quarterbacks played about even. Both did well on special teams. The score pretty much reflected the pitch of the game.
Boise State could beat either, just like they manhandled TCU last year.
I’m not sure I’d rank the Ducks 1st in their state after watching their performance today. Oregon St. went up against some solid squads.
Ummm. Did you see how Auburn's DL manhandled Oregon's OL?
In an ESPN post ofter Boise's bowl win, a BSU fan posted that Boise's "hogs" (its offensive line) was "as big as anybody's in the country."
That sounded like pure delusion, and so I check a few schools.
Nebraska's OL: Four 6'7", four 6'6", six 6'5". Ten over 300 pounds.
Alabama's OL: Two 6'6", seven 6'5". Seven over 300 pounds.
Ohio State's OL: 6'8", 6'7", two 6'6", four 6'5". Seven over 300 pounds.
Now let's get to last night's game: Auburn's OL: Three 6'8", three 6'7", three 6'6", two 6'5", four 6'4", and twelve OL over 300.
Oregon has one 6'8", two 6'7", and six 6'5", with four players over 300 pounds
Boise State's OL: 6'6", one 6'5", three 6'4". One at exactly 300 pounds.
Auburn's DL would have crushed BSU's OL as if they were a high school team.