Oregonian: All systems go for Ducks, Bears

Both defenses will be put to a test this afternoon by the two best offenses in the Pacific-10 Conference

JOHN HUNT

BERKELEY, Calif. -- In Las Vegas lingo, this is a "trap" game.  At the start of the week, 16th-ranked California was favored by 71/2 points over No. 11 Oregon -- a healthy home-field edge over one of college football's better road teams. Since then, the line has shrunk to 41/2, an unusual field goal-sized move. That means Las Vegas likes Cal (4-1, 2-0 Pacific-10 Conference). An unusual number of others, with their money, say they like Oregon (4-0, 2-0). There's a lot to like about both teams, and a lot about both we do not know yet.  "We're one-third of the way through the season," Oregon coach Mike Bellotti said this week. "It's way too early to say anything about this team or any other team. We'll see who can stay on track in the competition for the conference championship."  Both have proved themselves to be nearly unstoppable offensively. Oregon and Cal are 1-2 in the Pac-10 in total offense and scoring offense. Take out Cal's opening-game struggle at Tennessee, and the Bears are averaging 6.0 yards per carry; the Ducks average 6.2. They feature two of the most prolific passing offenses in the nation and -- again, post-Tennessee -- are averaging fewer than three punts a game.

Oregon's Jaison Williams is second in the nation in receiving, but he might have to tangle with a cornerback many consider the best in the nation: Daymeion Hughes. With five interceptions -- nearly as many turnovers as Oregon has forced all season, as a team -- Hughes is the big-play defensive back Oregon has yet to face in racking up 497 yards of offense a game.   Oregon's offense has been so effective that its bend-but-don't-break defense has looked good despite a multitude of injuries. That's how the Ducks beat Oklahoma three weeks ago -- with an elastic defense and a home crowd that forced the Sooners into field goals instead of touchdowns and perhaps the officials into one important blown call. But did Oregon, with a simplified defensive scheme last week at Arizona State, discover something about itself? Did the Ducks free up a long-dormant pass rush -- and thereby take pressure off its young cornerbacks -- or did the Sun Devils, without injured right tackle Andrew Carnahan, usher them in?  "Cal does a lot of things offensively. They run a lot of different plays," Bellotti said when asked whether that defensive philosophy will carry over. "By the nature of that, you're going to be a little more simplistic on defense.

"However, we've done a great job over the last couple of years of going away from our tendencies. That has been part of our success against them in that regard. We want to appear simple to our own players but very complex in our opponents' viewpoint."  Which brings us back to the Cal-Oregon familiarity, with nearly 20 football people with Oregon ties now employed by Cal. This promises to be a shootout and a chess match in one.  Meanwhile, USC awaits the winner, as the Pac-10 race figures to be clarified in Berkeley today and is a good bet to be decided in Los Angeles -- either on Nov. 11 (Oregon) or Nov. 18 (Cal).