Preseason Projections Reviewed

Vacation to Maui
Originally uploaded by pete4ducks.

Here were my projections pre-season. included are notes as to what really happened . . .

North: Well reverse WSU and OSU and I nailed this one the injury to Jeff Teul was the biggest factor here I think.

1. Oregon
2. Stanford
3. UW
4. Cal
5. WSU
6. OSU

South: Well I whiffed on UCLA I guess but as expected this division was a joke in 2011.

1. USC
2. Utah
3. ASU
4. UA
5. CU
6. UCLA

Champion in a blowout UO over Utah at Autzen Stadium. I am calling it a few hours early but like Oregon big tonight over UCLA.

Pac 12 Offensive POY: Andrew Luck Not that I went out on a limb here but got this one correct . . .
Pac 12 Defensive POY: Shayne Skov Skov was hurt in September on the bad grass of Tucson Mychal Kendricks from Cal ended up winning

Freshman of the Year: George Farmer USC Farmer didn’t play until mid-season and played RB – Marqise Lee and DeAnthony Thomas were both dominant and shared the award

Breakout Star: Markus Wheaton OSU – Wheaton had a good season but only scored 1 TD – If I were to pick again I take Curtis McNeal from USC or Keith Price from UW

Coach of the Year: Kyle Whittingham - The cupboard was pretty bare for Utah at the skill positions overall a disappointing year one in SLC. David Shaw won it but I think that Lane Kiffin should have.
Hot Trend for 2012: At least two new coaches in the South – Got this and well really should have said it would be 3


Trending Up: WSU – This may have come true had they been healthy at QB this year.

Trending Down: UA – UA was not in a bowl this year and fired their coach Mike Stoops mid-season

Bowling: UO, Stanford, UW, Cal, Utah, ASU – UCLA got a waiver and is eligible even though they will finish 6-7

Don’t be shocked if: Utah “wins” the South with 4 conference losses – Had they not crapped the bed against CU this would have happened instead UCLA pulled off the feat despite getting boat raced 50-0 in their final game versus USC

Team I could be very wrong on: OSU – Nope OSU was in the words of Dennis Greene “what we thought they are”

Call me crazy but : One of either Mike Stoops or Rick Neuheisal don’t survive October – Surprisingly Rick made it to late November I was wrong on this one – Stanford could have lost to USC and Cal but Luck pulled those both off and well Oregon destroyed Stanford.but I was correct on Mike

Fairly certain: Only one Pac 12 team will play in a BCS bowl and it will be Oregon in the Rose Bowl – I hope this doesn’t happen, it will be a raw deal if Stanford doesn’t make the Fiesta Bowl

You heard it here first: Stanford beats Oregon but loses two other games in league play – I was wrong on this one – Stanford could have lost to USC and Cal but Luck pulled those both off and well Oregon destroyed Stanford.

Civil War

Fall in Beaverton
Originally uploaded by pete4ducks.

The 2011 Civil War was certainly civil though not much of a way. Man I felt like I was watching a game between Oregon and a 1-AA team not our in state rival. The fans were not fired up, no one Duck nor Beaver who I talked to, figured the game would be competitive. There was way less tension than we have seen in this rivalry for quite some time both on the field and in the stands. Oregon, though it was playing for a P12 North title, seemed to treat this as more of a scrimmage and the Beavs were just undermanned. Had Oregon been crisper in the first half this game could have finished with a Ducks score in the 70’s. What has happened to Oregon State? This was a program that just two years was playing for Rose Bowl – now they’d be lucky to win the WAC. I think Riley has done about as well as possible for them but with both UW and WSU improving (not to mention the rise of Stanford) it is just that much harder for another team in the Pac 12 North to compete for titles. Oregon State is clearly losing the recruiting wars on the offensive and defensive lines and it is leading to a team that can’t run nor can stop the run. On to the P12 Championship game. Does anyone really care? Does anyone think that lame-duck Rick has any chance of winning this game? Ticket prices are at gouge level and the P12 is taking away much of the in game amenities that Oregon fans enjoy such as the fog horn and Duck Vision. I know they want more of a neutral atmosphere but in trying to find that goal they are turning off Duck fans. Let Autzen be Autzen and make it a reward for winning the North. Oregon 52 UCLA 6.