(Photo: Staking The Plains)
College Football Playoff- Quarterfinals
(5) Oregon Ducks at (4) Texas Tech Red Raiders
Oregon (12-1):
Yes, they won the game against James Madison as they were expected to, but there were moments that had me questioning their effort. Maybe it was rust, as they hadn’t played in a few weeks, and I understand that is bound to happen here and there. However, there were moments where they looked lost — did they remember this was a playoff game? What I’m getting at is that they are much better than what we saw on Saturday night, first and foremost, and it came off as if they were trying to get back into form. My biggest takeaway was that they didn’t take this game as seriously as they should have for four complete quarters. This is a really good Oregon defense, and during the regular season they allowed only 271 yards per game due to a terrific pass rush. That meant absolutely nothing to the Dukes, as they recorded over 500 yards of total offense against this unit — 509 to be exact. Throughout the year, I’ve seen a bit of Dante Moore, and this was his best game of the season. He completed 19 of his 27 pass attempts for 313 yards and four touchdown passes. When it came to running the football, Oregon finished with 201 yards on the ground as a team. When they’re locked in, this is a tough team to defeat. No, they may not move at the pace they did years ago, but they can still move the ball efficiently. Now, they pick their spots and take what defenses give them. On January 1st, they’ll head to Miami for a showdown with the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
Texas Tech (12-1):
They were one of the four best teams I saw during the regular season, and I still remember the first time I watched them play. It was in Salt Lake City against the Utah Utes in their first conference game, and they showed up and showed out. I specifically remember Behren Morton exiting that game with an injury, Will Hammond coming in, and the offense not missing a beat. Most importantly, I took away what they did defensively — how they made Utah’s offense one-dimensional by stuffing the run. They’ve done that to many opponents this year. Their defense has been their primary strength, and there’s no doubting that. They force turnovers, rank third in scoring defense, and the front seven is phenomenal at stopping the run and generating pressure. While the defense gets most of the attention, the offense deserves praise as well. They have the personnel to turn games into the track meets I often refer to, or they can slow things down and turn it into a dogfight. Behren Morton is the conductor of this offense — if you’re open, he’s getting you the football. Head Coach Joey McGuire also deserves credit. He’s turned this Red Raiders group into a true contender and built a culture where players compete for the name on the front of the jersey, not personal gain. On New Year’s Day, Texas Tech will make its College Football Playoff debut.
Oregon X-Factor: Malik Benson
This is one of the many perimeter weapons Dante Moore can target. Malik is the definition of a game-changer, capable of flipping the field or scoring in a single snap. He can force Texas Tech to make key defensive adjustments. If he wins his matchups on the outside, the Red Raiders may have to roll coverage and play softer, which would open things up underneath for Dante and the Oregon run game. Malik’s speed and route running add stress to the Texas Tech secondary.
Texas Tech X-Factor: Cameron Dickey
There are many playmakers in this Texas Tech offense, but they are at their best when Cameron Dickey is heavily involved. I remember previewing their matchup against BYU, where Texas Tech ran the ball consistently whenever they wanted. That success started with Cameron. Establishing him will help control the game flow and keep the Oregon offense on the sideline. A steady dose of Cameron will also force Oregon’s defense to load the box and respect the run.
Final Thoughts:
This has the potential to be a great game, with both teams hoping to return to this stadium on January 19th to compete for a national championship. I don’t expect a defensive struggle like we saw in College Station between Miami and Texas A&M — the ball should be flying around. Texas Tech hasn’t faced a team with Oregon’s level of talent, and this will be the best quarterback they’ve seen all season in Dante Moore. Meanwhile, Oregon faces another strong Texas Tech rushing attack that has already stifled several quality run games. The biggest matchup to watch is Oregon’s explosive offense against Texas Tech’s stingy defense. Can the Ducks create explosive plays against this brick-wall front? Oregon must stay out of third-and-long situations, protect the football, and tackle well defensively. For Texas Tech, it starts with stopping the run without overcommitting, pressuring Dante Moore with creative looks, and finishing drives with touchdowns — field goals won’t be enough. I expect a back-and-forth affair.
