Hell Duckfans, by the time the game gets here we may both have a bunch of players declared ineligible.

I don't think Oregon has any eligibility problems, I'm more worried about the coaching staff.

I'm hoping, as "Lylesgate" expands, Oregon's punishment diminishes.

Scoring Defense is what counts. Yards don't put points on the board, getting in the end zone does. Oregon's been a bend but don't break defense for as long as Nick Allioti has been there. Between the 20's is where Oregon gives up most of it's yards, but in the red zone, teams only converted 67% of the time.
By comparison let's look at LSU, and the other teams you mentioned:

Oregon: #12 18.69 ppg / 67% red zone defense.

LSU's #11 Scoring D: 18.23 ppg / 81% red zone defense.
UNC: #45 Scoring D: 23.23 ppg / 76.47% red zone defense.
WV: #4 Scoring D: 13.5 ppg / 76% red zone defense.
Alabama: #3 Scoring D: 13.54 ppg / 64.5% red zone defense.
Florida: #29 Scoring D: 21.3 ppg / 82.5% red zone defense.
(Stats from cfbstats.com - College Football Statistics)

Of these teams, Alabama (possibly West Virgina, although they play in the weak Big East) is the only team that stands out as being decisively better than Oregon's D (Statistically). The rest of the teams are pretty much a wash with Oregon.

I'm not saying Oregon will dominate on defense. Not at all. It's just astonishing to me that you can't seem to give any props to Oregon for having a good defense.

One thing I noticed about the BCS championship game was...someone sure seemed to knock Cam Newton silly at the end of that game, on Auburn's last drive.

I don't remember the commentators making a big deal out of it, but Newton really looked dazed.

That doesn't make the ducks defense good nor bad for that game, but....did anyone else notice that. Am I remembering correctly?

You're right. Cam was hurting. I don't think it was from one hit though. I think it was a cumulative effect from the entire game. He got hit in the ribs a few times as he was getting rid of the ball. Seemed that that's what he was favoring.

Not sure what all these stats mean come the first week in September.

All I see is two teams matching up with high expectations for the year. What a great first game!!

My guess is... after it's all said and done.... it will come down to whether JJ can be what LSU fans have been hoping for... three years in. Everything else seems to be in place. As much as Les Miles does his mad-hatter act, the fact is he is simply a hard-nosed, fairly conservative guy, who likes to play the games in the trenches. Les' style needs a qb who can read defenses and move the chains. JJ needs to be that guy for this season to be special.
Oregon can play with anybody, any week. I would suggest they are more capable of putting up some numbers on LSU than the Tigers could on them. That said, I don't see this game getting out of hand. Miles does a pretty good job in "time to prepare" games. It should be a great game for contrasting styles.... JJ will need to be better than average.

Voluntary workout report on Duck's receivers.

Opportunities are at hand for young Ducks | Only one starting receiver is back, giving UO freshmen a chance