is it me?

[Quietduck]

Is it me or do both USC and Utah seem .... well average? I'm sure they get everyone's best game but I don't see the dominance of lesser teams like I expect with teams that are expected to win the conference.

[StevensTechU]

Add LSU, FSU, Alabama and others to that list.

Problem with both of those teams is that they're going to do the same things even to good teams. Caleb Williams will be near unstoppable and Utah's defense is gonna show* up no matter whether they're playing Nevada or Oregon

[rockthief]

They are solid and consistent which gives them wins.

[woundedknees]

Could the current UW - Cal game be considered child abuse?

[frogsnouts]

Definitely too bad that Oregon doesn't get Utah early in the year. Would love to get that out of the way without Cam Rising back, but who knows how he looks coming off a major injury. Both teams look beatable. Washington might be the team to beat in the conference this year.

[wlduck]

Definitely too bad that Oregon doesn't get Utah early in the year. Would love to get that out of the way without Cam Rising back, but who knows how he looks coming off a major injury. Both teams look beatable. Washington might be the team to beat in the conference this year.

It pains me to say it, but they scare me crap out of me right now. I’ll go out on a limb and say that Penix will be as good in the league as Williams, or better. Cal might be garbage, but he made some incredible throws tonight.

[OregonFan4Life]

Huskies to me are the best team in the conference simply due to the passing offense. I know USC’s passing offense is similar but USC has a really weak OLine, Huskies are better in the trenches. If the ducks are to beat Washington on the road they need to stop with the penalties, have a mistake free game on offense, and some timely sacks from the pass rush.

[BearlyBalanced]

and without divisions, we could get an OCT 14th rematch in Vegas DEC 1st. for the final enchilada too.

[dthomas=ddixon]

This is how Utah looks every year, and they’re without their starting QB. I’m done doubting them.

I refuse to buy into the UW hype until they’ve played a team with a pulse. They’re a one dimensional team, and while they’re insanely good at that one dimension, you can’t win games against other elite opponents that way.

USC looks like a typical Riley team. Undisciplined and careless because they know their QB is a miracle worker that covers up all their flaws. It will kill them against quality opponents, just like it did last year.

[Phalanx]

I've been thinking Oregon's schedule puts them at a disadvantage this year, playing all the cupcakes early and then going through the meat grinder late, but after yesterday's game, I am starting to think maybe those teams will wish they got to Oregon early. The defense seems to be figuring some things out, and all this depth-building Lanning has been doing is really going to pay off when players from every team start to go down with injuries. The one weakness, of course, is if Nix goes down. I know we're all happy for Ty that he can now complete a pass here and there, but I still don't think he could navigate that late schedule at all. So I'm happy if Nix stays in the pocket and gets rid of the ball quickly.

[OregonFan4Life]

This is how Utah looks every year, and they’re without their starting QB. I’m done doubting them.

I refuse to buy into the UW hype until they’ve played a team with a pulse. They’re a one dimensional team, and while they’re insanely good at that one dimension, you can’t win games against other elite opponents that way.

USC looks like a typical Riley team. Undisciplined and careless because they know their QB is a miracle worker that covers up all their flaws. It will kill them against quality opponents, just like it did last year.

2019 LSU says high. If your passing offense is that incredible you can beat elite teams.

With that said I don’t know if Washington’s OLine is as good as LSU’s was and will be able to protect Penix against Oregon and Utah (who they luckily play at home also). Penix has the best pure arm in the country, but when under pressure he’s shown to be sloppy and turnover prone. If Oregon beats the Huskies it will be because of the pass rush.

USC will have 3 losses this season, their OLine isn’t Colorado bad but not much better and their defense is soft. If Rashada played last night ASU wins.

[GrandpaDuck]

I've been thinking Oregon's schedule puts them at a disadvantage this year, playing all the cupcakes early and then going through the meat grinder late, but after yesterday's game, I am starting to think maybe those teams will wish they got to Oregon early. The defense seems to be figuring some things out, and all this depth-building Lanning has been doing is really going to pay off when players from every team start to go down with injuries. The one weakness, of course, is if Nix goes down. I know we're all happy for Ty that he can now complete a pass here and there, but I still don't think he could navigate that late schedule at all. So I'm happy if Nix stays in the pocket and gets rid of the ball quickly.

I agree. The true freshmen pass rushers will likely improve throughout the course of the season more than experienced players with transfer players having the next most potential for in season growth. Both Jackson and Williams already made a leap forward. The Freshman pass rushers are dripping in potential.

[SuperDuck]

Definitely too bad that Oregon doesn't get Utah early in the year. Would love to get that out of the way without Cam Rising back, but who knows how he looks coming off a major injury. Both teams look beatable. Washington might be the team to beat in the conference this year.

It pains me to say it, but they scare me crap out of me right now. I’ll go out on a limb and say that Penix will be as good in the league as Williams, or better. Cal might be garbage, but he made some incredible throws tonight.

Honestly? I think we beat UW. Yes, they have a spectacular offense, but they also just gave up 32 points to a not very good Cal team.

Same with USC. They beat ASU soundly, but they also gave up 28 points to an ASU team that was just shut out 29-0 by Fresno State last week.

Beating Utah at home is no small task, but I think we can do it.

The teams that really scare me now are WSU, and, to a lesser extent, OSU. WSU has beaten 2 ranked (at the time) teams in Wisconsin and OSU. Cam Ward can throw the ball as well as anyone in the conference, and their defense, although they're not world beaters, makes big plays when needed.

The Ducks just need to focus on one game at a time. "If" we can run this gauntlet with no more than one loss, and with the Pac-12 championship game, I don't see any way we're left out of the playoffs. Just my opinion.

[dthomas=ddixon]

This is how Utah looks every year, and they’re without their starting QB. I’m done doubting them.

I refuse to buy into the UW hype until they’ve played a team with a pulse. They’re a one dimensional team, and while they’re insanely good at that one dimension, you can’t win games against other elite opponents that way.

USC looks like a typical Riley team. Undisciplined and careless because they know their QB is a miracle worker that covers up all their flaws. It will kill them against quality opponents, just like it did last year.

2019 LSU says high. If your passing offense is that incredible you can beat elite teams.

With that said I don’t know if Washington’s OLine is as good as LSU’s was and will be able to protect Penix against Oregon and Utah (who they luckily play at home also). Penix has the best pure arm in the country, but when under pressure he’s shown to be sloppy and turnover prone. If Oregon beats the Huskies it will be because of the pass rush.

USC will have 3 losses this season, their OLine isn’t Colorado bad but not much better and their defense is soft. If Rashada played last night ASU wins.

LSU wasn’t one-dimensional. Their RB was 15th in the nation in rushing yards that year with 1,414 yards and 16 TDs. UW is nowhere near as talented as that LSU team overall either; that LSU defense was full of NFL players.

[UOducksTK1]

Huskies to me are the best team in the conference simply due to the passing offense. I know USC’s passing offense is similar but USC has a really weak OLine, Huskies are better in the trenches. If the ducks are to beat Washington on the road they need to stop with the penalties, have a mistake free game on offense, and some timely sacks from the pass rush.

Agreed. And about the narrative on Utah being average... Their D is really good, and they're offense is doing enough without their starting QB. So I think they are legit.