What Does Auburn Have to Do?

[Spence]

Why does it matter? I agree that Auburn is being disrespected now, but it won't matter when it really counts as long as Auburn wins out.

agreed. All they need to do is win.

Not necessarily. Alabama has already rebounded to #6 AP. They could still go to the BCS game. Auburn losing to Ole Miss or Georgia, could rebound, too, beating a highly ranked Alabama at the end, then winning the SEC championship game. One loss to a 2-loss Alabama team, who had good wins, would not in any way eliminate Auburn from a BCS top 2 at the end.

Yes it would. No way Alabama and Auburn are in the BCS championship against each other.

[Derek]

Auburn is certainly better than Oregon, imho

The only thing Auburn has the Oregon will not be able to stop is the run. Auburn does not need to pass to beat you.

Regardless of "scheme" or "system" (Wov eluded to it over the weekend) good ol fashion football is establishing the run....Run, Run, Run, more run, and then a 20-30 yard pass....works every time.

Can Oregon stop that?

[WoVeU]

From what I have seen, the thing with Oregon is it just appears to be one tall order to get the offense off of the field. You can't beat what you can't outscore! And the old saying about defense gets just a tad less true every year (will always ring true in base order.) And time-of-possession just doesn't mean too much, and with the current rules with the clock this has an advantage for an offensive world beater.

But then you watch Auburn and I know they can go right down the field on Oregon. A QB that can run changes the game, it is the only time you really see 11 on 11...all other times it is mostly 10 -vs- 11, the advantage of knowing where you are going and holding the ball is the part that makes offense>defense! Well, when it is 11 on 11, the offense still has the ball and dictates. It is simple, you have to get penalties and TO's to beat that team...when they have 4 or 5 guys that can chip and chunk at you are playing limit defense and hoping for errors that can turn 7 into 3 or 0...that is it.

[donovan]

Getting Oregon offense off the field has not been the problem. In the UCLA game time of possession for UCLA was 38 minutes and Oregon 21. Problem was keeping them from scoring with 2 minutes of possession. Are the better than Auburn...how would we know..other than deceive ourselves we have some mystic insight. I hope then both go undefeated...that would be a good game....

[billybud]

That indeed would be a great game. One that I would like to see.

[Spence]

Getting Oregon offense off the field has not been the problem. In the UCLA game time of possession for UCLA was 38 minutes and Oregon 21. Problem was keeping them from scoring with 2 minutes of possession. Are the better than Auburn...how would we know..other than deceive ourselves we have some mystic insight. I hope then both go undefeated...that would be a good game....

Oregon works on quick strike. If Auburn plays them it would depend on whether or not Auburn could stop Oregon a few times. Oregon works as a quick side to side type team - I don't know if they can stop Auburn's run. Auburn is more geared toward a power defense, so whether they can stop Oregon is a question. It would be an interesting game. Not really the one I want to see, but interesting.

[Derek]

Why does it matter? I agree that Auburn is being disrespected now, but it won't matter when it really counts as long as Auburn wins out.

agreed. All they need to do is win.

Not necessarily. Alabama has already rebounded to #6 AP. They could still go to the BCS game. Auburn losing to Ole Miss or Georgia, could rebound, too, beating a highly ranked Alabama at the end, then winning the SEC championship game. One loss to a 2-loss Alabama team, who had good wins, would not in any way eliminate Auburn from a BCS top 2 at the end.

Yes it would. No way Alabama and Auburn are in the BCS championship against each other.

Wait a minute...I re-read this

I don't think that's what he's saying. He's saying that Auburn can still get to the big one if they drop one to Ole Miss or Georgia and still beat Alabama and win the SEC.