Get ahead, stay ahead

In their 2006 Independence Bowl victory over Alabama, the Cowboys scored first and surged to a first-half lead of 24-14. In last season’s Insight Bowl triumph over Indiana, OSU led 35-10 at halftime. “You always like to play from ahead,” OSU coach Mike Gundy said. “You can put more pressure on them. It’s certainly easier to call a game.”

During the first halves of games this season, the Cowboys have outscored opponents by 107 points.

Solid tackling

With big receivers, productive running backs and an athletic quarterback in Jeremiah Masoli, the Oregon spread-option ranks among the more dynamic offenses in college football. The Ducks will have a lot of 5- and 8-yard plays. If Cowboy linebackers Patrick Lavine, Orie Lemon and Andre Sexton do not tackle well, those 5-yarders could become 25-yarders. Masoli distributes the ball to numerous playmakers, so OSU’s defenders must execute their assignments. If the Cowboys are out of position, the Ducks will fly.

Run it, then gun it

It is a certainty that Oregon will pin both a cornerback and a safety to big-play Cowboy wide receiver Dez Bryant.

That should leave Oregon somewhat vulnerable against the run, making it imperative for OSU’s Kendall Hunter and Zac Robinson to get healthy gains on the ground.

If the Cowboy ground game cooks, the Oregon safety might leave Bryant in an effort to provide run support.

Even against good Oregon cornerbacks, Bryant cannot be covered by one defender.