Bob's Picks - Rain or shine, can the Ducks take down mighty Ohio State?
Autzen Stadium is one tough venue for visiting teams
The Game of the Week or Game of the Year or Game of the Century - you pick - will take place Saturday afternoon in Autzen Stadium when the University of Oregon Fighting Ducks take on the Ohio State Buckeyes in a Big Ten battle of the unbeatens.
It's still hard for me to regard this as a Big Ten conference game, but in a college football world that's gone mad, that's what it is.
This game has been circled on the calendar ever since Oregon announced it was severing its 108-year relationship as an original member of the Pacific Coast Conference to join a league with traditional Midwest roots that now stretches from sea to shining sea.
I was in Autzen Stadium last Friday night with our teenage son Mick, who doubles as Editor-in-Chief and Director of Creative Content for this new venture called The Wary One.
We were on our way to Portland to cover last Saturday afternoon's Big Sky contest between UC Davis and Portland State, but, surprise surprise, the Ducks had scheduled a rare Friday night game against Michigan State. It just so happens that Eugene is directly on the road to Portland, so it made sense to catch a Duck game as well.
As we entered Autzen Stadium, the U of O Marching Band greeted us with the famed "Mighty Oregon" as we settled into our seats in time to hear the incredible voice of longtime PA announcer Don Essig, who has been calling Duck games for 57 years and will turn 86 before this season is over.
Essig, ironically, is an Oregon State grad.
Turns out that way back in 1990 Oregon athletics banned umbrellas in Autzen Stadium because they obstructed clear views of the playing field. Nowadays, umbrellas are banned at most college football stadiums across the country.
Given that it does occasionally rain in Eugene on Saturdays during the fall, Essig took the umbrella ban as an opportunity to begin every game by giving a brief weather report to the crowd that always concluded with every voice in the stadium, including Essig's, definitively declaring that "It never rains in Autzen Stadium."
You can hear Essig doing his thing last Friday night here:Â
I heard that wonderful phrase for the first time when my family and I watched the Aggies open the 2016 season against the Ducks on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in early September. The Ducks won that one, 53-28, and it remains the only time the two have played each other.
The Aggies did lead, 7-0, on Ben Scott's 9-yard touchdown run, and I suggested that then-UCD head coach Ron Gould should call "time out," gather his team in front of the scoreboard, snap a picture of that 7-0 score, then sprint to the team bus with a victory in hand.
You can still get a ticket to Saturday's Ohio State-Oregon game, but you may need to ask Phil Knight for a loan.
Standing room tickets start at $198, a seat on the 50-yard-line goes for $1,374 and a lone seat in the North Suite can be had for $6,962, but that price does include cold beer and hot popcorn.
Essig will be happy to know that Saturday's forecast is "sunny with a high of 76," but rain is forecast for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of next week.
Apparently, it is allowed to rain in Autzen Stadium on non-game days.
This week's picks are as follows:
(All of last week’s picks are available here)
PITTSBURGH over CALÂ ... The Golden Bears are feeling not-so-golden after seeing a 25-point second-half lead dissolve into a devastating loss to heavily favored Miami last Saturday in Berkeley. Now they have to travel 2,600 jet-lag miles to take on the dreaded Steelers. Wait, they aren't playing the Steelers. Who knew there was an undefeated university playing football in the Steel City?
NOTRE DAME over STANFORDÂ ... This one used to be one heck of a rivalry. But Stanford is not Northern Illinois. The Golden Domers can win this one in their sleep.
TEXAS over OKLAHOMAÂ ... Men playing with Sooners.
MINNESOTA over UCLAÂ ... A long, long season continues for the Bad News Bruins.
KENTUCKY over VANDERBILTÂ ... Okay, after one glorious Saturday in the national spotlight, the Commodores go back to their assigned role as an SEC bottom-feeder. If they pull off two upsets in a row, they'll get the boot from the league brass.
OREGON STATE over NEVADAÂ ... The schedule may be a touch easier, but the Beavers keep finding a way to win. The goal this season is to remain relevant by becoming bowl-eligible, a dream that seems entirely possible at the halfway point of the schedule.
MONTANA STATE over IDAHO ... Two of the Big Sky's elite programs square off in sold-out Bozeman with many marbles on the table.
BRIGHAM YOUNG over ARIZONAÂ ... The Boys from the Y are loaded.
WASHINGTON STATE over FRESNO STATEÂ ... Up in Wazzuland they see a berth in the 12-team playoff as a distinct possibility.
WASHINGTON over IOWA ... Can the Huskies keep the momentum going after a fabulous win over Mighty Michigan? It won't be easy in Iowa City, but it can be done.
UTAH over ARIZONA STATE ... Yes, I'm having trouble calling this one a Big 12 game. Can't we just go back a couple of years and live in the past?
BOISE STATE over HAWAIIÂ ... Ashton Jeanty could rush for 500 yards in this game if they let him play past the first quarter. And wouldn't it be great to see a 5-foot-9 kid from Spud State win the Heisman?
UPSET OF THE WEEK: Oregon over Ohio State ... This one should be called the Name, Image and Likeness Bowl as billionaire boosters see which side can put together the best team that money can buy. It might not ever rain in Autzen Stadium, but it will be raining touchdowns for the high-flying Ducks. Added intrigue: former Oregon head coach Chip Kelly will be calling all the plays for the Buckeyes. (Upset record: 2-4).
ROUT OF THE WEEK: Georgia over Mississippi State ... Folks in Starkville can't wait for baseball season to start. (Rout record: 6-0).
DON'T BET ON IT, BUT: Penn State over USCÂ ... The once-mighty Trojans have already lost twice in their cozy new league and their grumpy boosters are wondering if they can somehow sneak the franchise back into the Pac-12. (Don't bet record: 3-3).
FIVE EASY PICKS:Â Of all the teams in the world to ruin a perfect "Five Easy Picks" season, it had to be Vanderbilt. I mean, Vanderbilt? Shouldn't I have seen this coming? No, in the real world, Vanderbilt is not built to upset the No. 1 team in the country. Regardless, it's time to get back on track with this week's sure winners in Alabama (over South Carolina), Clemson (over Wake Forest), Army (over UAB), South Dakota State (over Youngstown State) and Missouri (over Massachusetts). (FEP record: 29-1).
AGGIES over CAL POLYÂ ... Last week I said "Take the Ags by 28" over Portland State. I actually meant 2.8, but misplaced the decimal point. I will be more careful this time around. This may be the Battle for the Golden Horseshoe, but trust me, the only horse wearing shoes when this one is over will be Ollie Mustang's son, Gunrock. Take the Ags by 21. (I presume I have the decimal point in the right spot now).
OTHER GAMES: Ole Miss over LSU, Tennessee over Florida, Illinois over Purdue, Wisconsin over Rutgers, Maryland over Northwestern, Toledo over Buffalo, Texas State over Arkansas State, Kansas State over Colorado, South Dakota over Northern Iowa, North Dakota State over Southern Illinois, Montana over Northern Arizona, Sacramento State over Eastern Washington, and UNLV over Utah State.
Last week: 26-10, season: 255-38, percentage: .870.
Reach me at bobdunning@thewaryone.com or feel free to join the discussion in the comments section.
Glad you got to visit Autzen, Bob, which is a mile from my house. In fact, based on the photo you took from the stands, you were sitting within shouting distance of me and where I'll be Saturday for the Ohio State game. Like you, I was a long-time columnist at the local newspaper—in this case, The Register-Guard — and while it does rain at Autzen Stadium occasionally, the 50-year stats show only rarely. Go Ducks! And thanks for your interesting column.
O H !