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It’s not often you get a chance to open the season with the same game that might end the season, but we face that possibility at Cowboys Stadium, aka Jerry World, on Sept. 3. It’s the first of PigskinU.com’s Top 10 games of 2011 – LSU vs. Oregon.
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Top 10 Games of 2011: LSU vs. Oregon – PigskinU.com
LSU has earned a lot of press this offseason as a potential No. 1 team in the preseason poll. They may have everything they need to make a run at the BCS National Championship. Of course, as I’ve written before, those hopes hinge on the right Jordan Jefferson showing up for the regular season. That would be the one that gave texas A&M fits in the Cotton Bowl
Otherwise, LSU is locked and loaded with talent in every corner of its projected starting lineup, including junior Morris Claiborne, a Sporting News preseason All-American pick who will continue the fine tradition of Patrick Peterson. There’s also weakside linebacker Ryan Baker, who is the Tigers’ leading returning tackler and sack artist. The Tigers lost only one starter on the offensive line and have two top receivers returning, including Rueben Randle.
So, it all comes down to Jefferson, really, and it starts against the team that lost the BCS National Championship game in January and could be there again come next January.
As much as the Tigers have coming back, the Ducks may have more. The Ducks have two SN All-Americans in RB LaMichael James (who is also a certain Heisman candidate) and CB Cliff Harris. Plus, the Ducks have a QB they can trust in Derron Thomas, who put up nearly 3,500 yards rushing and passing last season as the starter. Thomas may be as legitimate a Heisman candidate as James. There are some holes, chiefly in the defensive front seven, where the Ducks have to replace five starters. But the high-scoring offense will give the defense a little margin for error to start the season. Of course, all bets are off if the Ducks fall under some sort of NCAA penalty, which is possible, given the current NCAA investigation into the program’s association with a paid recruiting service.
The Ducks have the offensive rep, while the Tigers have the defensive rep. That gives this game an intriguing irresistible force-immovable object feel to it.
And then there are the BCS implications. The winner will become a BCS national title frontrunner. A loss would cost LSU a bit more, in my opinion, as its schedule is more difficult. But a loss isn’t a death blow to either team. We’ve seen one-loss teams move into the BCS National Championship game before, and we’ll see it again. Plus, this loss would be so early in the season, and to a team that will likely remain ranked in the Top 25 all season, that it will do more to help their computer ranking than hurt.
It’s the ultimate win-win in the BCS era – it’s a great game for fans, a great matchup for the teams and it does little damage to BCS aspirations. We get maybe one of these per season. Savor it.
But you’ll be watching this one on TV or paying through the nose on StubHub. It’s already a sellout.
Wanna make the trip? This is a neutral site game, but LSU and Oregon are great places to watch a game. Use RoadTripSports.com to get all of the information you need to plan your trip for the 2011 season. From local airports and hotels to the best day trips, RoadTripSports.com has it all. Click the team name below and visit your schools hub page today:
Visit PIGSKINU.com for college football news, recruiting and video. It’s the one stop source for team coverage!
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Drew Mele (41)Drew Mele covers a wide range of topics for Just Sayin' such as: Football, Beer, BBQ and Style. He's new to the world of blogging, but we like how he's not afraid to call it like he sees it. Drew will go out on limb to make his point and if he keeps that up, we might just keep him around.
Matthew Postins (222)Matthew Postins is a freelance sportswriter based in Dallas, Texas, who covers college football for PigskinU.com's Just Sayin. As a full-time sportswriter for 14 years in Texas and Florida, Postins won more than 20 awards for his writing, commentary and photography. His work covering the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was honored by the Associated Press Sports Editors national contest, the Pro Football Writers Association and the Florida Sports Writers’ Association in 2007. Before working in Florida, Postins spent 10 years covering high school, college and professional sports in North and East Texas. He has also previously contributed to radio and television networks, including the NFL Network, Fox Sports Radio and WHBO-1040-AM in Tampa. Currently, Postins serves as the Associate Publisher for RoadTripSports.com, a sports and travel portal dedicated to providing college sports fans with all of the information they need to plan college football road trips. Postins also maintains his own blog, Postins’ Postcards: A Life on the Sports Road, which details his sports travels – past and present – around the country. Postins can be reached at matthew.postins@roadtripsports.com.
Oscar (6)Oscar covers the beer industry around here and although you won't find him drinking a Budweiser, Coors or Miller he won't turn into a beer snob if you like that nasty NASCAR juice. Just kidding! But seriously, the man knows his stuff and has a knack for helping people figure out what kind of beer they'll like based off what they tell him. So feel free to post a comment or ask Oscar any questions you may have and he'll try to point you in the right direction.
Tom Gibbons (19)Tom Gibbons is a former sports editor whose sections won numerous Associated Press Sports Editors awards. Tom covers college football for Just Sayin'.
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A couple of things: It’s Darron Thomas, not Derron. And Cliff Harris won’t be playing because he’s currently suspended, and Chip Kelly has said the suspension will definitely include the LSU game.