Looking further, we know that they can be a tough team - much tougher than Arizona, for example. They have a gambling defense and offense. They have good run defense. They tend to leave their corners in 1 on 1 coverage situations, but have a strong rush which can make up for that and help to cause the offense to make mistakes. They put up 412 yards per game, which is pretty respectable, compared to Cal's 430.
The difference is the Bears are more efficient. We score 1 point for every 10.9 yards we gain, and they score one point for every 15 yards they gain.
On a game by game perspective, they have had some highs and lows. The Utah game was a pretty good game for them - they came in and played tough, and Utah folded. They held Utah to 18 yards rushing on 30 carries. That is worse than bad.
Then, they went to Cincinnati and came out on the wrong end of a 34 - 3 loss. The game was only 10-3 when Cincinnati went on a tear, scoring 24 points. But 14 of those points were from punting errors - a blocked punt and a dropped punt. 14 points on 2 yard drives. They also had a 55 yard field goal and a 50 yard pass. So, other than those 4 plays, the game was very competitive. In fact, Oregon State had 310 yards, to Cincinnati's 229. Those 24 points were all scored in 6 minutes at the end of the 3rd quarter.
They crushed Idaho State, which they should have (it is a bit of a rivalry for them right across the state line) and then they lost to a good Arizona State team. They also lost to UCLA, on the back of three punt return muffs. They were leading but then turned it over 5 times, to lose to the Bruins. Mike Riley is now 0-9 against them.
They came back to beat Arizona pretty convincingly.
They have some pretty good talent playing for them offensively - Yvenson Bernard is a great back, leading the Pac 10 in rushing with over 640 yards so far. Sean Canfield was a really good freshman QB last year, who is really sucking this year with 13 interceptions. But he has the talent to be a great QB. Sammy Stroughter is a great receiver who is not getting a ton of action so far this year because of his issue earlier in the year. But he is probably in the top 5 of receivers in the Pac 10.
This is a team that has beaten us in 8 of the last 10 meetings. They have won at memorial the last two times they have played us. This is a game that, while we should win, can give us a bunch of trouble. We need to minimize our mistakes, take away from them, and hold them to no big plays.
We also need to come out fast. I know that we have not done so this year too often (except perhaps against Tenn). But Oregon has been ahead or close in most games this year, and has really failed to score in the second half. Against UCLA and Arizona State, they were up 14 - 0 and 19 - 0 when the gates let open, and the opponents went to town. They did not score against UCLA in the second half and they scored twice in the second half against Arizona State, but ASU scored 5 times. They failed to score in the second half against Cincinnati, and even against Arizona, which they ended up winning anyway.
I think this is a sign of an undisciplined, poorly coached team that could come in here and kick some butt. We need to be prepared.
I have every confidence that we will win convincingly. But do not despair if we scrape it out with a 10 point win. I think that would be a great victory for the Bears. But it also could turn into a blowout if OSU decides to implode with another 5 turnover day.
Go Bears!!
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