Oregon Experiences Own Version Of "Spygate"

Look who showed up at Autzen Stadium in Eugene to observe his kinfolk preparing to face UCLA this weekend!  Unconfirmed reports claim that the pigeon was actually a cleverly disguised Alabama drone.

It's Friday and you know what follows at the end of the workday. Available on national TV, BYU and Boise State will tangle as they did for years in the Mountain West.  But Friday's biggest rivalry won't even be televised locally, and involves the annual "Battle for the Bridge" beteween Portland and South Portland high schools.

This rivalry game brings back two ugly memories from my high school years.  While neither has scarred me for life, they seem worthy of repeating.  Besides, I need a little filler before my picks.  Memory #1 was at Martin Field on our campus, looking from the bleachers to my right and seeing the booster club's snack bar engulfed in flames, a total loss.   Memory #2 was of boarding the band bus (I was a stellar baritone horn player in my day) for the trip back to the 'burbs after an ugly, fight-marred victory.  Our bus was attacked by Portland fans, and rocks were actually thrown breaking at least one window.

Ah, those wacky, wild, wonderful high school years!

Here's the rundown for Week #8:

Friday games

"Natural turf" stadium in Boise

BYU (5-2) at Boise State (5-2).  Broncos are slow starters on defense, so if BYU can get an early jump like it did against Houston last week, it could be a long afternoon for Boise State.  As usual, BSU has no problems on offense.  When starting QB Joe Southwick went down with an injury early in last week's game against Nevada, backup Grant Hedrick entered the game and managed to go 18-for-21.  But Hedrick's strongest attribute is his ability to run, as he did against the Wolf Pack, when he carried eight times for 115 yards and two TDs.  Broncs also have Jay Ajayi, a fleet-footed runner whose production topped 200 yards last week.  With a defense featuring players like Kyle Van Noy and Uani Unga, Hedrick will be under pressure all day.  If the Cougars can get to him, it will put BYU's offense on the field a lot, just like it was against Houston.  Despite home field, I'm going with the Cougs.  PICK:  BYU.

South Portland (5-2) at Portland (6-1).  What a set-up...annual Battle of the Bridge AND the final regular season game for both teams.  Ironically, these longtime rivals compete in different divisions within Maine Class A football, so no common opponents this season. Bulldogs were an early season loser to powerful Cheverus, and the Stags crushed Thornton, a South Portland victim which hardly justifies a fast pick.  The Bulldog defense has held three opponents to seven points or fewer, while averaging 45 points/game of scoring.  Led by RB Justin Zukowski, they've also won six straight.  Zukowski will likely crack the 1,000-yd. rushing plateau against the Riots.  In recent weeks, QB Jordan Talbot has also come of age, and poses a threat as either a passer or runner.  I have an uneasy feeling that Portland just has too many weapons, on both sides of the ball, for the Riots to take the bridge trophy home to Highland Avenue.  PICK:  Portland.

Rogers (4-3) at Curtis (6-1).  Vikings held Graham-Kapowsin to 24 points while Rogers gave up 59 to the Eagles.  Yet surprisingly Bethel lost to Curtis 17-14, while Rogers hung 48 on the Braves just last week.  Guess that's why they play the games.  Curtis has three running backs who average seven or more yards/game.  QB Scott Wismer has thrown for 1216 yds. and 11 TDs on the season, ranking him just behind the Rams' Grayson Madland.  They are a team that likes to start fast, while Rogers is a team that loses its focus during the middle of games.  If Madland could get some help from his running backs, Rogers would be my pick.  But at home, with all the weapons they have, I gotta go with the Vikings.  PICK:  Curtis.

Saturday fare

Union (2-4) at Rochester (4-2).  Both teams have losses to St. Lawrence on their records, with Rochester's being on the short end of a much more defensive struggle than that of Union's.  The Yellowjackets edged Springfield while the Dutchmen were beaten soundly by The Pride.  Rochester's front seven don't put a lot of pressure on opposing quarterbacks, which should be good news to the Garnet's QB Connor Eck.  The Jackets are far more successful on 3rd down than is Union, but the latter has a decided edge on 4th down conversions.  In order for the UColl to win, the defense must return to its stellar mid-season play, especially against the pass.  Rochester will still be dangerous in the second half because it has proved it can gain big chunks through the air.  Given that the game is out west, I'm leaning Jackets.  PICK:  Rochester.

ND pre-game meal (if AFA is lucky)

Air Force (1-6) vs. Notre Dame (5-2).  Oh yeah, Falcons have Fighting Irish at home, right where they want 'em.  And hey, Notre Dame is UNRANKED going into this week...even Central Florida is ranked 25th (by USA Today)!  This game will not improve on the Fighting Irish's standing with the infamous BCS computers.  Both teams are playing with backup quarterbacks, but Notre Dame's season's average for scoring is over 37 points.  Expect that to be their total in this one, while on the other side of the ball the only thing on which they'll have to focus is stopping the Falcons' formidable running game.  ND holds opponents to just over 123 yds. rushing/game, so this one promises to be ugly for The Academy.  PICK:  Notre Dame.

Army (3-5) idle; next at Air Force on 11/2.  C'mon Smack readers, don't delay...let's get us some trash talkin'.  Grow a pair, post it directly on the site!

Navy (3-3) vs. Pittsburgh (4-2).  The Steelers are banged up and could be ripe for the picking.  Wait...oh, PITT, as in the university!  I get it.  Like all service academy opponents, the Panthers will focus primarily on stopping Navy's triple option attack.  Run defense is what they do, holding opponents to only 136 yds./game.  Pitt's offense has been hampered by injuries, but this week WR Devin Street returns to add some punch to the passing game.  The Panthers have a chance to win if they can balance their offensive attack and keep Navy off the field.  I don't know that they can.  Playing at home and not having lost three games in a row in ten years, I'll go with the Mids.  PICK:  Navy.

USC (4-3) vs. Utah (4-3).  This could turn out to be the true Game of the Week.  Identical records, but that's where the similarities end.  Everyone knows that the Trojans are potent offensively, right?  Chew on this:  they rank 11th in the Pac-12 in total offense, ahead of only Colorado.  But they do have a league-best defense, trailing only Oregon in points allowed.  What puts this game in USC's column is the fact that Utah QB Travis Wilson is questionable.  Before exiting in the 2nd quarter of the loss to Arizona last week, Wilson was only 3-of-9 and had been picked off twice, both undoubtedly due to sustaining an injury to his throwing hand.  Given that Wilson also is the team's leading rusher, the impact of his likely absence should be devastating to the Utes.  PICK:  USC.

ESPN's ebullient Lee Corso

Boston College (3-3) at North Carolina (1-5).  No truth to the rumor that Tarheels tried to schedule this as a basketball game. Could "the other Carolina" be flying under the radar?  As Lee Corso would say, "Not so fast, my friend."  With a 1-5 record, most folks have forgotten that North Carolina was 8-4 last year but were banned from bowl games due to NCAA sanctions.  Their 2013 record belies the fact that they had The U down by 10 in the 4th before losing by three.  Whether going long to WR Eric Ebron or inside the red zone to WR Quinshad Davis, UNC's Bryn Renner is a quality QB.  Too bad their running game ranks last in the ACC.   If Renner can ignite the offense and UNC can score more than 24 points, the Heels win.  They're at home, too.  PICK:  North Carolina.

#2 Oregon (7-0) vs. #12 UCLA (5-1).  If the Bruins thought the Stanford defense was stingy, wait 'til they get a load of the Ducks.  Even though Washington State rolled up a lot of yards on Oregon last week, the Ducks have one ultra-impressive stat:  21 forced turnovers.  That spells trouble for UCLA signal-caller Brett Hundley, who was intercepted twice last week against Stanford.  But make no mistake:  this game will be all about offense, of which Oregon has more than everyone else in the country except Baylor.  And Aledo High School.  The Bruins get RB Jordan James, the team's leading rusher, back from a two-game absence due to injury.  That should take the pressure off Hundley and force the Ducks to play honest defense.  Nevertheless, if you haven't seen QB Marcus Mariota in action, you're in for a treat.  Tune in to watch an 80-point game.  PICK:  Oregon.

Georgia State (0-7) at Louisiana-Monroe (3-4).  Poor Georgia State.  They have a two-man offense, with QB Ronnie Bell and WR Albert Wilson accounting for nearly all of the Panthers' yardage. Meanwhile, their defense ranks last in the Sun Belt, which is not saying much, as they allow an average of nearly 36 points/game.  Warhawks' QB Kolton Browning has been lost for the season due to injury, so ULM's ability to score will be hampered.  They too have a lousy defense.  With mediocrity like this, who knows how it'll turn out?  Fall-back position:  game location.  It's in MONrow.  PICK:  Louisiana-Monroe.