Oregon vs LSU Spreads 2011 College Football Week 1:The Oregon Ducks and LSU Tigers occupy a good place to begin college football week 1. The Ducks are ranked No. 3 and Tigers No. 4 in both AP and USA-Today/Coaches Poll. It being so early; even the loser has time to get back in the BCS race and the winner poised to move up, when or if No. 1 Oklahoma and No. 2 Alabama falter.
The Ducks and Tigers are set to kick off Saturday (8 p.m. ET) at Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas in the Cowboy Classic. As of 6 pm ET Friday, BetOnline Sports is listing the Ducks 3 1/2-chalk ATS favorites with a 54 1/2 over/under total.
LSU is a member of the Southeastern Conference and competes in the powerful West Division along with Alabama, Auburn, Arkansas and Mississippi State, all ranked teams. Oregon, a member of the new Pac-12 competes in the North Division with No. 7 Stanford. The Pac-12 is one of the six BCS leagues but it doesn't measure up to the SEC. No other conference measures up to the SEC and won't until a team from another league wins the BCS Championship. Oregon came close last year but fell to Auburn in the championship game securing a fifth consecutive BCS title for the SEC.
The last team Oregon faced as athletic and talented as the Tigers came against Auburn in the BCS championship game back in January 2011. The Ducks run an explosive offense that’s capable of putting big points on the scoreboard. LSU employs a defense that’s fully capable of stopping the Ducks attack led by two Heisman Trophy Candidates – Jr Quarterback Darron Thomas and Tailback LaMichael James.
The Tigers strength is its defense. Leading the charge for LSU will be senior linebacker Ryan Baker and sophomore defensive back Tyrann Mathieu. Offensively LSU is starting its backup Quarterback Jarrett Lee. There should not be much drop off going from the suspended Jordan Jefferson to Lee. Some experts even believe LSU is better off with Lee under center.
College Football Picks: LSU +3 ½.
