Covers.com: Duck and cover? QB loss drops line

By Josh Hansen

Wed, Nov 2, 2005  

For Dennis Dixon, this is it.  Two weeks of studying a book thicker than anything found at the Knight Library, and packed with more X’s and O’s than the blackboard in the calculus lab, will all pay off Saturday.  That`s when the sophomore quarterback leads his Oregon Ducks into battle against Pac-10 rival California.  "I`m real confident," Dixon said about learning offensive coordinator Gary Crowton’s spread offense, one that’s helped Oregon average 35.4 points per game and jump out to a 7-1 record. "And I`ve got teammates that are going to help me through this.”  Those teammates helped regular starter Kellen Clemens rack up 17 touchdowns and over 2,100 yards passing this season before he broke his ankle two weeks ago versus Arizona. Clemens, who ranked second in the nation in passing yards when he went down, is now finished for the season.  The Ducks are currently installed as 2-point favorites against Cal, but William Nevin, Head of Sports for BetUSA.com, says bettors would see a much higher number if Clemens was starting.  “It`s around a TD difference in the spread,” says Nevin. “But you have to think the Ducks are a good all round team on the basis of their results so far and that Clemens was helped massively by the support he had.”  With the help of a strong receiving corps, which includes standout Demetrius Williams, Clemens was able to guide the Ducks to the nation’s 10th-best air attack and a No. 13 national ranking.  That’s a tough act to follow for Dixon, who’s completed 15-of-20 passes for 130 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions in his collegiate career. But even with the changing of the guard behind center, Nevin expects Oregon will see the lion`s share of the action.  “We were happy to edge the lineup slightly, as the Ducks are going to attract more money than the [No. 21] Golden Bears simply because of their ranking,” says Nevin.  At 6-2, the Golden Bears are within a win of overtaking the Ducks for third place in the Pac-10 standings. Head coach Jeff Tedford knows his team must contain the 6-foot-4, 190-pound Dixon in order to pull off a victory.  He also knows it won`t be easy. Over the past two seasons, Dixon has averaged over four yards per carry with one rushing touchdown.  “It`s not like he has been sitting on the sideline all year," Tedford told the Contra Coast Times. "He is well-equipped to run that offense. The key difference will be experience. But he is very elusive and very athletic. He has tremendous moves."  Oddsmakers have Saturday`s total set at 60 1/2.