The Oregon Ducks are riding high after knocking off the Stanford Cardinal and are looking to get back to a BCS bowl game. Despite their recent success against some of the nation's top talent, there is a serious question to be asked: could this year's team be better than the one that came a field goal short of a national title last season?
The good folks at Oregon Live recently compared the numbers and weighed in on the situation:
Oregon is first in the Pac-12 in total offense (498.30 ypg), rushing (291.80) and scoring (46.70 ppg). It's second in passing efficiency (160.94) and sacks allowed (0.70 spg). It ranks in the top 12 in the nation in all of those categories.
Oregon also ranks in the top five of the conference in scoring defense (21.7 ppg), total defense (383.9 ypg), interceptions (12) and red zone defense, while leading the league in pass efficiency defense and sacks (32).
And as for what USC quarterback Matt Barkley thinks of the Ducks:
"Oregon is very good this year," Barkley told reporters following USC's win over Washington last Saturday. "But they were better when we played them in the past."
With the game against the Trojans having huge implications on the BCS standings, expected the Ducks to pull out all the stops with their high-flying offense on Saturday night.