FishWrap Friday Game 13 Preview: UCLA @ Oregon (PAC 12 Championship Edition)

Josh Schlichter FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

It is an honor to be the final PAC 10 Champion, and the first ever host of the PAC 12 Championship Game. Unfortunately, the PAC 12 Championship will always have an asterisk next to it, as the Ducks do not have to play USC again this season, so due to technicality, Oregon is looking at a limping UCLA squad across the field.

UCLA has literally nothing to lose: this is their coach’s final game, no matter what. They’ve been granted bowl eligibility, so it’s either Rose Bowl or Kraft Hunger Bowl, they have been slapped around by teams all year long, it is a perfect opportunity to shock the world.

Check out this week’s video:

 

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The pistol offense is more broadly covered in this video from Week 2:

 

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Predictions:

Oregon fans can remember last year’s Thursday night shellacking, 60-13, Darron Thomas’ best game (to that point), and the most dominant performance over any PAC 10 team in recent memory.

Since that point, Oregon’s offense has become more potent (IMO), and UCLA’s defense has gotten worse. UCLA’s offense has definitely improved, however, from a one dimensional team, to a “sort of one dimensional” team this year. Their position players have been showcased better than ever, but still, not showcased enough.

Neuheisel has something up his sleeve, I can tell you that. He’s said numerous times this week, “let’s catch lightning in a bottle.” It will take about 6 bottles for UCLA to have a realistic chance at staying in this one for long:

UCLA: 14

Oregon: 58

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