Midseason Thoughts

   Here we are at the midway point of the season, and we've come a long way since that horrible opening day loss.
   Oregon has since won five in a row, and is currently ranked 8th or 9th in the nation, depending on what poll you use.  They are also ranked 10th in the first BCS poll, which came out earlier this week.  Oregon has been in the top 10 of the BCS every year since 2009.  Just another indication that Oregon truly is an elite level program. Another indication is their depth.
   Oregon has been hit with two devastating injuries in the past couple of weeks that would have crippled the program in years past.
   Starting running back LaMichael James, who's the nation's leading rusher, missed all of last week's win over Arizona State with a dislocated elbow.  QB Darron Thomas missed virtually the entire second half of that game with, "knee issues."
   James is tough though, and will be back.  And Thomas says he'll be fine:  "my knee got landed on the wrong way."  Adding, "I'm going to be fine."
   If they're not fine, Oregon now has quality backups - good enough to start at most schools - ready to step up.
   We've all seen what Barner and DAT are capable of at running back.
   Bennett, a redshirt freshman at QB, was effective in running the read option Saturday when Thomas went down.  He rushed for 65 yards on 5 carries, and had runs of 36 and 18 yards on the Ducks' 5 play 88 - yard drive that was culminated by Barner's 5 - yard touchdown run.
   Compare this to the '07 or '98 teams.  Both were on their way to having magical seasons, until injuries got in the way.
   In the case of the 1998 team, they finished with a respectable 8-4 record.  But it could've been so much better.  The season ended with a disappointing loss in some bowl game in Hawaii, that no longer exists, on Christmas Day, to Colorado, 51-43.
   Speaking of the Buffs, that's who the Ducks play next, as they travel to Folsom Field.
   Located in Boulder, it is one of the most scenic settings you will find in college football.  The south endzone was featured in the opening and closing credits of the late 1970's show Mork and Mindy, which was set in Boulder.  It used to get pretty rowdy back when Colorado was in their prime, but I don't expect it to get rowdy, or be anywhere near its capacity of 53,000.
   The Buffs are having a down year at 1-5, and even with all the injuries, Oregon comes in as 31 1/2 point favorites.  Oregon also comes in with the nations #3 scoring offense, and the #5 total offense.  Colorado is 113th in the nation in defense, and their offense isn't much to speak about either.
   I look for Oregon to be able to run the ball, and get pressure on their QB.  The Buffs are also one of the worst in the country in terms of sacks allowed.
  This is the 16th meeting all-time between both schools.  Colorado leads the series 8-7.  Oregon won the last meeting in the 2002 Fiesta bowl, 38-16.  Oregon also won on their last trip to Boulder in 1987, 10-7.  What that means for this Saturday is nothing, just thought I would throw that out there.

That's all I have for now, but you're gonna wanna lookout for my next entry as I'll have thoughts on the college football landscape in general.  Who I think the top teams are, I got a problem with the Big East (which is big in name only), and one other thing I'm burning on that has been bothering me for a while. You may like it!