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May the better spread win.

Article Excerpt
Byline: Rob Moseley The Register-Guard

QUARTERBACK

For the second straight year, the Ducks enter their bowl game without having publicly announced their starter at quarterback. Justin Roper is the popular choice, and the guy South Florida coaches expect to see. The tall right-hander nearly led Oregon to a win over OSU, completing 13-of-25 passes for 144 yards and accounting for two touchdowns. The Bulls consider him the superior thrower, and thus the likely starter. Cody Kempt, another redshirt freshman, is a lefty who runs better but has the weaker throwing arm. The thought here is that Roper starts, but don't be surprised if the Ducks throw a curveball, having willingly let everyone believe Roper is indeed the guy.

South Florida also uses the spread offense and has a mobile quarterback, but don't think Matt Grothe is another Dennis Dixon. While Dixon's rushing yards mostly came on scrambles, the Bulls will call more designed runs for Grothe in the form or draws and counters. The sophomore doesn't have a particularly strong arm, though USF will occasionally take shots down the field. Stop Grothe, the Ducks believe, and you stop South Florida.

RUNNING BACK

Hard to believe this could be the last appearance for Jonathan Stewart in an Oregon uniform, should he declare for the NFL draft. The junior's injured right toe still isn't 100 percent, but he said it feels much better than it did for the Civil War. All he did in that game was run a career-high 39 times for 163, setting a UO single-season rushing record in the process. Stewart will be the focal point of the USF defense. If he's held under 100 yards, it's hard to believe the Ducks have any chance of winning.

The Bulls don't have a singular talent...

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