Tomorrow night is when it all begins. We can finally stop talking about it and get down to actually playing the game. Auburn is still about a 2 1/2 point favorite which basically means it's a pickem game. Auburn comes into the game at 13-0 having won the SEC Championship and beating 5 teams ranked in the top 25 including a 24 point come-from-behind victory at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Oregon has beaten one ranked team. I will spare you the usual comparisons that you have heard for the past 37 days and tell you what I think will be the keys to winning the game for Auburn.
Yes, Auburn is bigger but that doesnt mean that Auburn will be able to control the line of scrimmage. I think that will be the key, however. Auburn needs to attack the interior of the Duck defensive line and run right at them. Oregon will try and contain Newton from breaking long runs at all costs so if Auburn can execute the read-draw successfully with Dyer or McCalebb, Auburn will have a big game on offense. The Ducks will also load the box so that will leave man-to-man coverage on the receivers. That has usually meant success for the passing game so if Cam is on at all and the receivers dont drop any gimme catches, Auburn will explode. The Ducks will do the same thing on offense; trying to run and do alot of misdirection to try and keep the Auburn defense off balance. LaMichael James is very good and quick so Auburn will try and keep him under wraps. This may mean, in the beginning, Oregon will get some good gains while Auburn tries to figure out the Ducks. Thomas can pass too and he spreads the ball around better than most QB's. He doesnt run much but is very effective when he decides to take off with the ball. Auburn must do a good job of containing him on the edges or he will kill us.
I think Auburn will play really well and even tho they will give up some points to Oregon, I do not think the Ducks can stop Auburn. The only thing that can stop Auburn is Auburn and I believe that the time is now for Auburn to finish it off. When Auburn has reached 11-0, they have never finished the season with a loss and I dont expect it to happen now. Prediction: Oregon 41 Auburn 45
I want to end this entry with something I wrote for another blog site called auburnwinitfor.blogspot.com. It is a site where you can write your own entry about who you want Auburn to win it for and why. Here is mine:
Win it for the "Cardiac Kids" of 72, win for "Bo over the top", win it for "The Reverse", win it for "First time ever", win it for "Eleven and Oh!", win it for "The interception game", win it for all the close losses we have had as well. Win it for Jim Fyffe who passed way too early and provided us with so many memorable moments on the radio (esp in 93).
Win it for the Auburn family who has suffered with living with Bama "fans" their whole lives. Win it for the men and women serving here and abroad who will never get another chance to see their beloved Tigers play. Win it for the 1992, 1998, 1999 and 2008 teams that went through the muck and played their guts out only to see the opposition come out on top. They went through coaching changes, player rebellions, fans booing and still suited up and played with the pride and determination that defines an AU man. They laid the foundation for the 93, 2001, 2004, 2006 and 2010 teams to be successful.
Win it for my mom and dad who went to AU in the 70's and suffered through the Barfield era. They are the biggest AU fans I know and were 3 the last time AU won the championship. Win it for my grandmother who is 85, a HUGE AU fan who may not ever get another chance to see this. Win it for your wives, sons, daughters and/or family who dont get to see you due to your sacrifice of many hours spent practicing/studying film and in the classroom.
Above all, win it for Auburn because Auburn signifies all that we hold dear. "And because Auburn men and women believe in these things, I believe in Auburn and love it."
War Eagle and bring home the trophy!!
No comments:
Post a Comment