CU football: Sefo Liufau ready to play with pain against Oregon

I was a student at Oregon from 1998-2002, during the Harrington era, and I have a tremendous amount of respect for him, as a player and a man. We are trying to be them.

No sports changes more week-to-week than college football. The 62 points scored by Utah is the most the Ducks have ever allowed at home in program history.

The Odds: Oregon is a 7.5 point favorite against Colorado. They were not Colorado, but they sure as hell weren’t Oregon, either.

White said after Colorado’s quick start the defense played better and he is anxious for the home opener.

Through four games, CU is playing solid defense, but against weaker competition. So, the only way Colorado has a chance to beat them is to keep up with them. “To get off on the right foot against Oregon and in the Pac-12 Conference would be a big step in the right direction for us”.

The Utah soccer team is heading to the Pacific Northwest this weekend with an eye on winning its first Pac-12 match of the 2015 season.

Unfortunately, with the Ducks’ recent success, there’s no where to hide. Helfrich, a Coos Bay native, has been with Oregon since 2009 and took the Ducks to the national championship game in just his second season as head coach in 2014.

People thought they may have been being pessimistic when they said Vernon Adams would at least be a Jeremiah Masoli for the Ducks, but now that seems like it might be an insult to Masoli. Whether it be Adams, Lockie, or maybe even Eugene-native Taylor Alie, the team will need a serious improvement in quarterback play to keep up with a new and improved Buffalo offense. It is now clear that Mariota was likely carrying the entire team to another level the past few seasons and their offensive prowess will not be close to what it was without a Heisman-level threat at QB.

On the flip side, Oregon’s defense has been gashed by big plays. The Ducks overall defense is ranked 110th among FBS-level teams, with opponents averaging 474.8 yards a game. Adams’ finger injury and general wear looks to be a perpetual nag. The Ducks were rolling with an 8-1 record and making preliminary plans to go back to Pasadena after a 13-year absence.

Although Byron Marshall went down with a significant injury, Oregon still has plenty of weapons at their arsenal. Utah didn’t just batter the Ducks on the scoreboard either – key cogs DeForest Buckner, Charles Nelson, Doug Brenner and Tyrell Crosby are also all nursing injuries. It is becoming more apparent that Adams is not a suitable replacement, even on an interim basis. “Feels like a bruise, I guess”.

If the Buffs start fast, the Ducks can’t help but wonder if another long night is in their future. “That was probably the biggest one I’ve been a part of”. “I think we are, but we’ll find out Saturday“.

The Ducks are still a talented team. Colorado lost to Oregon by 34 last year, and 41 the year before.