First things first - my game prediction was that Oregon would lay a double nickel on WSU and the game would never be in doubt. Sometimes the games just don't play out the way one thinks and that was certainly the case here.

With Oregon leading comfortably 36-17 in the third, the Cougars narrow the spread to 36-23 when a LaMichael James fumble kills a promising drive and WSU puts together a nice drive to get the seven.

Had the Ducks been able to get points instead of losing the football the game would likely have been out of reach, but instead Washington State found new life. As late as 1:23 in the third quarter, WSU had a shot at this game. Still trailing 36-23, the Cougars are moving downfield when Casey Matthews picks Jeff Tuel's pass at the Oregon 1-yard line to kill the drive and effectively end WSU's upset hopes.

If Matthews' interception was the turning point, Nate Costa's 34-yard scoring pass to Jeff Maehl slammed the door shut, lifting the Ducks to the 43-23 final margin.

The game got off to a nice start when Oregon got a touchdown and a two point conversion out of their opening possession, but injuries to Kenjon Barner and Darron Thomas momentarily stalled Oregon's game plan.

Barner took a ferocious hit returning a WSU kickoff in the first quarter, fumbling the ball on the Oregon 6 and the Cougars took full advantage of the short field to move into the lead 14-8.

Darron Thomas left the game for good at the 12 minute mark in the second period with a shoulder injury on a seemingly harmless tackle. Add LaMichael James, Darrion Weems, C.E. Kaiser, Casey Matthews, Cliff Harris and Anthony Gildon to the list of Ducks who had to leave the game at some point to recover from their nicks, and this game spelled trouble. WSU is an improving team and they brought a strong, physical presence they have been missing in their previous few match-ups with the Ducks.

Oregon also has something of a knack for shooting themselves in the foot. Penalties - a recurring theme so far this season - killed drives and took away a Josh Huff kickoff return for a touchdown. And then there were the turnovers that gave the Cougs life when they needed it most. Given the ferocity of the hit he received, Barner's fumble was understandable, but the two James fumbles stopped promising drives in WSU territory in the third and fourth quarters.

Oregon is discovering that as the #2 team in the country, the target on your back is bright neon. Think its tough to repeat as Pac 10 champs? Throw in that #2 ranking and every team is doubly motivated to bring you down and to move themselves up.

History should remind the Ducks there is a reason no Pac-10 team has gone undefeated in conference play since the National Champs of 1991 went 12-0 for the year. As much as this pains me to write this, it was the Huskies who accomplished that feat and it is a telling stat. What other conference can match that for competitiveness?

Luckily Oregon will gets a bye week to prepare for UCLA's visit to Autzen on Oct. 21. Penalties, turnovers, sloppy pass protection, and slow starts are the mistakes that kill a football team's aspirations, particularly high aspirations. As we mentioned last week, this is a THE month for the Ducks to make the move to the next level and they will have to take advantage of the remaining days in October.

The Ducks have the coaching, the talent, and the time to do so. Now it becomes an exercise in focus and character.

Prediction: Oregon finds fixes in time for a 45-17 win over the Jekyll and Hyde team from Westwood.