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Sporting News, The, Dec 28, 1998

Following are 16 good reasons to enjoy the holiday season as you await the BCS bowls. Pass the pigskin.

ALOHA BOWL

Oregon vs. Colorado

3:30 p.m. ET, December 25, Honolulu, ABC

Why you should watch: This is a rematch of the 1996 which was won by Colorado, 38-6, so the mystery is gone. But, hey, it's Christmas; nothing else is on television. Check out Oregon QB Akili Smith, who may have the strongest arm in the nation.

COLORADO: Defense has been the calling card of the Buffaloes, who boast lots of speed and quickness, the unit will be under great stress against an Oregon attack that loves to pass. That means it's important for DT Aaron Marshall, DEs Fred Jones and Brady McDonnell and OLB Hannibal Navies to stuff an Oregon ground attack that has sputtered since Reuben Droughns suffered a season-ending knee injury in October. The pressure will be on CB Damen Wheeler and SS John Sanders, the But Ts' best defensive backs, to cover a cache of talented Oregon wideouts. The Colorado offense has struggled. QB Mike Moschetti is a scrappy athlete, but he hasn't been durable. His job has been compounded by a ground game that ranks 11th in the Big 12. At least Moschetti has good targets in Darrin Chiaverini and Javon Green and won't be lacing a rugged defense. Ben Kelly could break a kick return.

OREGON: It begins on offense for the Ducks, whose attack averages 478 yards per game. QB Akili Smith, a senior with a big arm and nifty feet, sets the offense in motion. Smith has a good target in Damon Griffin, but Tony Hartley has been suspended for breaking team rules. TE Jed Weaver is another good option. Since Reuben Droughns was lost tot the year in the UCLA game, the ground game has slumped. Herman Ho-Ching has promise, but he's a true freshman. The defense isn't special. CBs Rashad Bauman and Eric Edwards are good, which should help stymie Colorado's talented receivers. Oregon has been pleased with ILBs Chris Vandiver and Aaron Cheuvront, who have played well in place of injured regulars. The Ducks are smallish up front and easily pushed around, but the running game isn't a strength of the Buffaloes. P Josh Bidwell and K Nathan Villegas were first-team AU-Pac-10 picks.

ADVANTAGE:      QB   RB   WR   OL   DL   LB   DB   ST

Colorado              X              X    X
Oregon           X         X    X              X    X

SEASON RESULTS

Colorado (7-4)

vs. Colorado State        W        42-14
vs. Fresno State          W        29-21
vs. Utah State            W         25-6
vs. Baylor                W        18-16
at Oklahoma               W        27-25
vs. Kansas State          L         9-16
vs. Texas Tech            W        19-17
at Kansas                 L        17-33
at Missouri               L        14-38
vs. Iowa State            W         37-8
at Nebraska               L        14-16

Oregon (8-3)

vs. Michigan State        W        48-14
at UTEP                   W        33-26
vs. San Jose State        W         58-3
vs. Stanford              W        63-28
at Wash. State            W        51-29
at UCLA                   L   (OT) 38-41
vs. USC                   W        17-13
at Arizona                L         3-38
vs. Washington            W        27-22
vs. Arizona State         W        51-19
at Oregon State           L  (20T) 41-44

TSN VERDICT: Oregon 31, Colorado 21 The Ducks' explosive offense will be the difference; the Buffaloes haven't seen a passing attack of this ilk all season.

OAHU CLASSIC

Air Force vs. Washington

8:30 p.m. ET, December 25 , Honolulu, ESPN

Why you should watch: It's your last chance to see Blane Morgan, the best quarterback in Air Force annals. It's also the swan song for Washington QB Brock Huard, who is leaving early for the NFL after an inconsistent season.

AIR FORCE: This isn't the Air Force team the country has come to know. Sure, the Falcons still excel at operating a ball-control, chain-moving, clock-eating option attack, but this year's edition also can take to the sky. It's all because of QB Blane Morgan, who battled injury late in the season en route to leading the school to its first outright WAC title. RB Qualario Brown injects speed rarely seen at the Academy, and Jemal Singleton and Spanky Gilliam also can pound defenses on dives and pitches. If Washington gets sucked up trying to stop the run, Morgan will try play-action passes to WR Matt Farmer, a big-play threat. The defense is equally as deadly. The Falcons are almost always smaller and slower than their foes, so they counter by blitzing and stunting. DE Bryce Fisher and CB Tim Curry are pro prospects. Curry doubles as a special teams star who has a knack for blocking kicks. A secret to Air Force's success has been its ability to create turnovers.

WASHINGTON: This has been the worst season at Washington since 1988, as the Huskies have struggled to run and defend the pass. QB Brock Huard is a bright spot, but his receiving corps is pedestrian. Former walk-on Dane Looker is the top target. A running game started to develop late behind tree freshman TB Willie Hurst. The offense's struggles were exacerbated by an early-season switch from a West Coast-type offense to a conventional attack. As a result, the line took time to adapt. The defense took a hit before the season when a veteran cornerback left the team. The other comer, Mel Miller, missed time with an injury. The result: Foes frequently feasting on Washington through the air. The strength of the defense are tackles Jabari Issa and Mac Tuiaea, big run-stuffers. LBs tester Towns and Todd Johnson also enjoyed good years, as the Huskies thrived on getting to the quarterback. But most of those sacks came in two games. The special teams are iffy, and WR Joe Jarzynka has been forced to kick.