Teams take different paths to title game
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — If there was one word to characterize the typical Oregon game this season, it would be blowout.
For Auburn — try comeback.
Both of the teams playing in BCS title game are undefeated, but they’ve taken wildly different paths to Arizona. While the No. 2 Ducks have been in just one game that was closer than double-digits, the top-ranked Tigers have had to rally eight times.
Somebody’s going to have an atypical game Monday night.
AUBURN
The Tigers’ defining moment came Nov. 26.
Auburn was down 24-0, nothing was going right, and 100,000-plus fans were mostly counting them out either with gleeful celebration or stunned silence.
The Tigers rebounded from that deficit, the biggest they’ve ever overcome in a victory, to beat bitter rival Alabama 28-27 at Bryant-Denny Stadium in the regular-season finale. It stands as the latest and largest comeback led by Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton.
Auburn has turned one cliche into practically an art form this season.
“It’s not about how you start, it’s about how you finish. I know everybody’s heard that before,” linebacker Josh Bynes said.
It’s a defining character trait that surfaced in Game 3, when Auburn rallied from a 17-3 halftime deficit against Clemson. A missed 32-yard field goal in overtime preserved a 27-24 victory.
A week later, Auburn was down 20-7 against South Carolina and won by eight points after forcing four fourth-quarter turnovers. Thrillers followed against Kentucky (37-34), Arkansas (65-43, with 28 straight points in the fourth), LSU (24-17) and, of course, Alabama.
The Tigers nailed down a spot in the national title game with their most dominant performance yet, winning 56-17 over South Carolina for the Southeastern Conference championship. No comeback necessary.
OREGON
Oregon running back LaMichael James, a Heisman finalist, keys what some have called Oregon’s “Blur Offense.” It’s a no-huddle, spread-option with an emphasis on speed. Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh described it as “fast-fast.”
Here’s the way it works. Oregon wears down opposing defenses, then scores pretty much freely after halftime.
The Ducks have outscored their opponents 592-221. In the fourth quarter, they’ve outscored foes 115-24. As for speed, 35 of their 71 scoring drives have taken five plays or fewer, and 24 have taken less than 56 seconds.
James delights in how often he gets to see the opposition get gassed.
“It makes teams where they can’t sub. That really is a big key for us. When they can’t sub, most guys get tired. They have the wrong personnel group in,” he said. “We really excel on that.”
