By RW, July 20, 2008
The opener against the Huskies? At Purdue? At USC? At Oregon State?
There’s quite a few ‘tough’ games on Oregon’s 2008 schedule, but which one is the most important? Which one could make or break the season?
I would have to say the first one, at home against the Huskies. If the Ducks were to lose that game, not only is it an unexpected ‘L’ in the loss column, it could dash the confidence of whoever starts at QB. It could also begin to turn the Huskies’ ship around and get Washington’s head coach, Tyrone Willingham one step closer to saving his job.
If you had to choose just ONE game that you felt was most important for the Ducks in 2008, which game would it be and why?
Brian Says:
July 20th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
The Civil War is. Easy one.
SeattleDuck Says:
July 20th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Ducks could win the national championship with one loss to the Huskies and the season would be sullied for me — all I’d hear is “you might have won the championship, but you couldn’t beat us…” I can’t say I’d feel that way having lost to any other team (save Notre Dame, maybe).
wheaton4prez Says:
July 20th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
I agree that it’s the first game. If we were to lose that, the entire season would be up-hill. If we win that, we’ll be ok even if we lose a tough one or two down the stretch.
Mark Byrd Says:
July 20th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
you gotta beat the pound puppies and finish it off by drowning the swamp rats with buck teeth…..
AnotherDuckInSeattle Says:
July 20th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
Whatever game is next on the schedule … so right now, the Dawgs.
Todd Says:
July 20th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
No doubt, it’s the Beavers. Losing the last two years to Oregon State puts the rest of the schedule in perspective. I know it’s “one game at a time” and all that cliché crap, but November 29th is definitely circled on my calendar.
funduck Says:
July 20th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
ASU jumps at me, for the reason that it is after a bye and CAL is next. Get to this point and the team will have been on quite some roll with Stanford, Arizona, and the Beavs’. This side of MAJOR injuries again, I foresee a great year but realistic 9-3 season with next year being it.
DuckJon by the bay Says:
July 20th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Plain and simple…USC game. Ducks ought to be 4-1 or 5-0 going into that game. Beat SC, and Ducks are on the inside track — with everyone looking up at the Ducks as the team to beat. Lose that game, and best case is the Holiday Bowl or another late season collapse…
dubthree Says:
July 20th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
i like the road game at purdue as the most important game.. that will be a confidence builder if we win, or a dasher if we lose. we win that game and we are in good shape.
Treston Says:
July 20th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
You have to assume that the goal this year is to win ALL home games, and take care of business as much as possible on the road. That said, I think the biggest game for the future of the program is USC. We have to get back to beating the Southern California teams with consistency to remain competitive in recruiting, and continue to build the program. I’ll be happy with a top three PAC 10 finish this year. As long as we beat the Dawgs, and return the favor in Corvallis this year.
DC Duck Says:
July 20th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
all of them are the most important game - 12-0 is a stretch, but living on the other side of the country that is what it will take to get the country to respect us.
The most important set of games are 9/27 through 11/1 - those road games are going to make or break the season
PortlandDuck Says:
July 20th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
USC!!!!
C’mon people. I really don’t see the Ducks dropping one to the Huskies. They haven’t proven themselves yet, and will have a tough time dealing with our defense at Autzen.
Before UO hits LA, Purdue will be a tough game, however (even though Duck fans might not like it), USC remains the best team in the Pac-10. Assuming the Ducks are 5-0 or even 4-1 come October 4th, a win @ USC would be huge. It would put us in great position for the Rose Bowl regardless of how you look at it.
r.dub Says:
July 20th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
The Purdue game, while not the same as beating a team like Michigan, will get us some national notice.
SeattleDuck - I totally agree with you. I lived 3 years in Seattle and felt the same kind of pressure to win that one so as to not ‘hear it’ from all my dawg-friends (if there is such a thing).
Huskies or Beavers. You can only beat one of them, who is it?
I’d say Beat the Huskies. I know that may sound odd, but for some reason, I always hold this feeling that the Beavers are below us. Even though they may have had our number of late. But my fear of them rising to a consistent regional/nation powerhouse is less than that of seeing the Huskies do it. They’re a sleeping giant. One good year, and who know’s what they can do. Don’t take this the wrong way, I strongly dislike the Huskies (and the Beavers), I just feel like the Beavers are our little brother and will always be, but the Huskies are the down-on-their-luck older brother who we’ve dominated of late…
- Ryan, DSN
Nobody Special Says:
July 20th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
I like the idea that the most important game on your schedule is the next one you play when you are a player, but I’m just a guy watching from the grandstands. I don’t have to be focused like that now do I?
That said, I then think it is USC. I think the Ducks will be favored in every game up to this one. If they head down to USC with a 5-0 record, this will be a HUGE game. If they beat USC down in LA, you have a gigantic confidence booster. There just isn’t a higher bar to clear after that.
SpiderMacleod Says:
July 21st, 2008 at 12:01 am
In my humble opinion, in ‘08? It’s not the Huskies or Beavs as to lose to either, the Ducks would have to self-destruct. No, you have to cut the head off the snake and we all know that the snake is SC. Take down the Trojans for a second straight year, not only is it a confidence boost, it wins conference titles, votes, recruiting battles and dare I say national titles? Suddenly programs and press are tilted about more than uniform combinations and facility improvements. Suddenly you have respect and buckle up kids, because with this coaching staff and what is building in Eugene? It could last for several years. Beat Purdue and you’ll get national props for about 5 minutes. Beat SC a few years in succession and you’ll own the place at least while Pete Carroll’s in LA. I believe this staff coaches circles around Carroll’s crew and Oregon is starting to see the tipping point in the Pac-10. GO DUCKS!!!
echo31 Says:
July 22nd, 2008 at 4:19 pm
I think the best way to answer the question is to assume the worst …. if we were to only win 1 game this season, which game do you wish it was?
There is too much hypothesizing going on of scenarios that may or may not happen. If you are saying it is the USC game because we should be 5-0 at that point and it could be the difference between winning the conference or not, you are overlooking the possibility that we could also be 0-5 at that point.
So, if we can only win 1 game this season, which team could you not stand to lose to?
Ed Says:
July 22nd, 2008 at 4:19 pm
USC!
The Ducks will be favored in every game until then assuming they win the one before…meaning, no hic-ups and we are 5-0 going into USC. You win that game and you are most likely top 5 in the nation…tons of confidence going into later half of schedule, and with all active players having last years fall on there minds, they wont let it happen a second time. Beat USC and it could be a magical season.
UCLA at home -Win
ASU on road - Tough win but bye week to heal and prepare and the win at USC shows they can beat anyone on the road
Cal - if we have beat USC and ASU on the road, I dont see us dropping this one
Stanford - Give me a break
UA - One word REVENGE
OSU - Same word!