This is eighth in a series looking at potential dream and nightmare scenarios for all Pac-10 teams, starting at the bottom and working up from my 2010 predictions. If you aren't familiar with Ted Miller's Best/Worst Case Scenario Posts, then you definitely need to check them out.
Understand: These are NOT predictions. They are extreme scenarios and pieces of fiction.
Scenarios after the break
BEST CASE
After easy wins against New Mexico, Tennessee, Portland State, and Arizona State, Stanford comes to town for a late night ESPN Game. The Cardinal hang with the Ducks for a Half, but Oregon pulls away in the 3rd Quarter for a 34-17 victory.
Next up for the Ducks is a trip to Pullman to face the Cougars. Martin Stadium is rocking when Wazzu takes an early 10-0 lead, but the Ducks roll of 24 straight to get a commanding lead. The final score is 31-17, and the 6-0 Ducks are ranked #5 in the Nation.
After the Washington State Game, the Ducks head back home to take on UCLA. Quarterback Nate Costa throws two 1st Half Touchdowns, and the Ducks take a 17-3 lead into the Locker Rooms. The Bruins cut the lead down to 17-10 early in the 3rd Quarter, but Oregon would pull away in the end for a 34-13 Win.
Sitting at 7-0 and 3rd in the Country, the Ducks go to Los Angeles to take on the Trojans. USC is 6-1 and ranked 10th. It's a matchup that the GameDay Crew can't refuse. With a national audience watching, both teams put on quite a show. The score is tied at 23 going into the Half, and tied at 37 at the end of Regulation.
The Ducks get the ball first in Overtime, and Nate Costa throws a strike across the middle to give the Ducks a 7 Point lead. Kenny Rowe then intercepts a Matt Barkley pass, and the Ducks escape LA with a 44-37 Win.
After blowing out the Huskies 30-7, the Ducks head down to Berkeley to face the Golden Bears.The game is a tight, defensive battle throughout, but the Ducks end up winning 24-21 thanks to a late Field Goal.
Now at #2 in the nation, the Ducks can claim the #1 spot by defeating Arizona. But the Wildcats are also in a hunt for the Rose Bowl, and UA takes a 17-10 lead into Halftime. The Ducks are able to tie the game at 20 going into the 4th, and they get a late Touchdown to give them a 27-20 lead. QB Nick Foles tries to piece together a quick drive, but his throw across the middle is Intercepted, and the Ducks are the best team in the country.
The win sets up a monumental Civil War. If Oregon wins, they go to the National Championship to face Alabama. And if the Beavers win, they will go to the Rose Bowl to face Ohio State. A racous Reser Stadium crowd helps the Beavers get a 10-0 lead early on, but Oregon comes back to lead it 13-10 at the Half. Ryan Katz threw an early 3rd Quarter Touchdown, but Oregon QB Nate Costa answered on the next drive.
The game is tied at 20 going late into the fourth quarter, when Kicker Justin Kahut lines up a Field Goal Attempt. The kick is blocked, and the Ducks have the ball on the 50 Yard Line with 90 Seconds left. Nate Costa and LaMichael James lead a drive down to the 10 Yardline, setting up the game winner for the Oregon Kicker. The kick splits the uprights, and hearts of Beaver Fans everywhere are ripped out for the third straight year.
Oregon is able to hang with the Crimson Tide for a Half, but Alabama ends up winning 31-17. Oregon finishes the year 12-1 and ranked #2 in the country.
WORST CASE
After blowing out New Mexico, the Ducks head to Knoxville to face the Volunteers. Neyland Stadium is rocking when Tennessew takes a 17-10 lead into the 4th Quarter. Oregon is able to tie the game back up at 17, but UT kicks the game winning Field Goal with just under a minute left to send the Ducks back to Eugene with a record of 1-1.
The Ducks then roll of 5 consecutive wins, with most of them being blowout. They sit at 6-1 going into Los Angeles to play an un defeated Trojan team. But USC gets on the scoreboard early and often, and when the final buzzer sounds, the Trojans have a 44-23 win.
The Ducks come home to defeat the Huskies, get a close win in Berkeley, and get a thrilling victory against the Arizona Wildcats. All to set up another Civil War for the Roses.
The Ducks draw first blood this time, and they take a 20-13 lead into Halftime. But the Rodgers Brothers wouldn't be stopped this time. Both James, Jacquizz, and Katz have 2nd Half Touchdowns, and the Beavers win 34-30 to go to their first Rose Bowl since 1965.
The Ducks still finish their season a high note though, beating Texas Tech 33-20 in the Alamo Bowl.