WILD WILD WEST: Cal Wins Shoot-out Against Oregon

LSU coach Les Miles shouldn't be so quick to claim that teams from the SEC have harder paths to the title game than those in the Pac 10. Anyone who watched Saturday's game in Eugene, Oregon would all agree that two damn good teams met on the field. And if Coach Miles isn't careful, one of those teams just might face his Tiger's squad in January.

In the biggest Pac 10 matchup to date, it was only fitting that a close game was decided by a close call. Cameron Colvin fumbled trying to stretch the ball into the end zone for the tying score, and after a replay Cal kept possession and time ran out for the #11 Ducks.

Then again, Oregon had its chances. QB Dennis Dixon picked a bad time to throw his first two interceptions of the game. They came late in the fourth quarter, and he missed a wide-open Colvin in the end zone.

In a game that was billed as a high scoring contest with two of the nation's leading offenses, instead both teams played sloppy early on. Cal missed a chip-shot field goal in the second half and couldn't get into the end zone until later.
But at key times key players stepped up for the Bears, as receiver DeSean Jackson finally broke out of a season long slump and emerged with 11 grabs for 161 yards and two scores. The latter two categories eclipsed his entire season totals. RB Justin Forsett also ran for two scores, and QB Nate Longshore played efficiently enough to keep the Golden Bears unbeaten.

Cal coach Jeff Tedford was finally able to nail down a win at Auzten stadium since leaving his position as offensive coordinator, and nothing is sweeter than doing so in front of 59,000 enemy fans.

That is, except for maybe meeting up against Les Miles in the national title game, and making Miles eat his own words. After Saturday's win, that scenario is looking like a real possibility.

At least Oregon got their mascot back after it was suspended a game for beating up the Houston Cougar. But a Cougar is not a Golden Bear.

And the Ducks found that out the hard way.

—C. Nierman