Fresno State vs Oregon Ducks preview

last year's game between these two schools was in Fresno. The game was close until Oregon pulled off a fake FG that they ran in for a touchdown. After that game (the 2nd game of the season, and the Bulldogs first loss) the wheels done fell right off the entire season

the Bulldogs took last years oh-so-close loss and turned it into 7 game losing streak (including 1 point losses at Washington and something called Utah State)

But ... this years team is relatively baggage free, that's one thing about a rebuilding year, while you don't have any of the guys who won games for you, you don't have the guys who suffered through the losses. Also, i don't know how the Bulldogs scored 24 with what i remember as such week in and week out awful play from the QB slot. QB Tom Brandstater showed he's much improved in the 2nd half (plus 3 OT) of last week's loss at Texas A&M, so the Bulldogs got that going for them.

The Ducks are the team that put the most recent smackdown on Michigan (they also made the highlight reel for their mascot's fetch me a switch treatment of the Houston Cougars opening week) . But Michigan lost to Hillbilly Tech the week before and Houston hasnt played anybody else yet so who knows how meaningful those wins will look at the end of the season.

I originally didn't have much confidence in this week's game but I'd forgotten how close last year's game against Oregon was. The Bulldogs scored 24 and lost on a trick play despite having a crappy offense.

I think these barely-legal Bulldogs come out fired up, get a few turnovers and keep this thing interesting. Can they score 45 again? No. But I don't think they'll need to, i think the Oregon wins this one, but the Bulldogs will be in the mix of it for most of the game ...

Oregon 35-Bulldogs 30

I also think the Bulldogs will use these last 2 games to catapult into a 6 game winning streak putting them at 7-2 going into the game at Hawaii

The game is 4pm Pacific on ESPN Gameplan