I’m sure there are die hard Duck fans that are looking at ESPN this morning, perhaps at the Pac 12 Standings are noticing something different. Oregon(22-6, 11-4 Pac 12) is tied with UCLA at the top of the conference, and we haven’t played the Civil War yet against Oregon State(13-5, 3-12 Pac 12).  No, this is not a typo.

Feb 27, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Solomon Hill (44) reacts during the game against the Southern California Trojans at the Galen Center. USC defeated Arizona 89-78. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The USC Trojans took it to Arizona on Wednesday night, the Wildcats came out flat and may have been caught looking ahead to their weekend matchup with UCLA.  Arizona may have also lost their shot at a high seed in the NCAA Tournament and most likely will fall to the #3 seed or lower of the Pac 12 Tournament. When it comes to the conference resume, Arizona is starting to  get some holes punched in it. UCLA has already beat the Wildcats once this year already back on January 24th.

Tied with UCLA atop the Pac 12 standings Oregon faces Oregon State who comes to Eugene Thursday night for the Civil War at Matthew Knight Arena. It’s Senior Night and several Ducks will be playing their final game in front of the home crowd including  Tony Woods, E.J. Singler, Carlos Emory and Arsalan Kazemi. The ceremony celebrating these players will happen after the game.

Earlier this week Dana Altman announced that Freshman Dominic Artis is closer to a return, he will likely make an appearance against the Beavers. If the Ducks get a victory, they will be a game up on UCLA and a game and half up on Arizona heading into next week.

Oregon closes out the Pac 12 Regular season on the road against Colorado(Thursday, March 7th, 6pm ESPN2) and Utah(Saturday March 9th, Pac 12 Network 11:30am)

Oregon Ducks This Week:

Brett Bielema begins his seventh season in Madison and he’ll again be given the reigns of an ACC transfer – this time it’s former Maryland junior Danny O’Brien. Last season with the Terps, O’Brien passed for 1,648 yards with seven touchdown passes and rushed for two more.

The former Terapins quarterback will have two years of eligibility after graduating the University of Maryland in a span of three years.

Montee Ball returns for his senior year with his sights on more than a return to the Rose Bowl for the third straight year. Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-US PRESSWIRE

Senior Montee Ball decided to come back for another year and try to chase a national title. Ball was a Heisman finalist after rushing for 1,923 with 33 touchdowns. Junior James White is there to back-up just in case and put up 713 yards with six TD’s of his own.

Junior wide receiver Jared Abbrederis who was the team’s leading receiver last season catching 55 passes for 933 yards with eight scores. Fellow junior Jacob Pedersen, who is the starting tight end, had 356 yards with eight touchdowns of his own will be a threat.

Wisconsin returns their top tacklers from a defense that allowed just 19 points per game in 2011 and three of the top five. Senior linebacker Mike Taylor who had 150 tackles, seven for losses, two sacks and interceptions returns. Junior linebacker Chris Borland second last year with 143 tackles, had the team lead with 16.5 tackle for loss, 2.5 sacks, five pass breakups and a pair of interceptions.

The Badgers sit in a good position with Penn State and Ohio State on probation this season in the Leaders division of the Big Ten. They’ve got a manageable non-conference schedule with the road trip to Oregon State the highlight, in-conference they go to Nebraska, host Michigan State and Ohio State. This will be a team you hear about all season long nationally and if things break right will be in the championship picture.

2012 Wisconsin Badgers Schedule –

Northern Iowa 9/1
@Oregon State 9/8
Utah State 9/15
UTEP 9/22
@Nebraska 9/29
Illinois 10/6
@Purdue 10/13
Minnesota 10/20
Michigan State 10/27
@Indiana 11/10
Ohio State 11/17
@Penn State 11/24

Check out the entire archive of “Know the Opponents,” a series of all Pac-12 non-conference opponent previews, here.

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The Nebraska offense will count on running back Rex Burkhead and quarterback Taylor Martinez in 2012. Photo Credit: Bruce Thorson-US PRESSWIRE

In 2011 the Big Red went to its fourth straight bowl game under Pelini falling 30-13 against South Carolina in the Capital One Bowl. Pac-12 fans have seen plenty of Nebraska since December of 2009 with the Holiday Bowl against Arizona and three match-ups against the previously mentioned Huskies. September 8 expect the Rose Bowl to be plenty red when they play at UCLA 4:30 pm on Fox.

Junior Taylor Martinez begins his third season at quarterback for the Huskers. Last season, he threw for 2,089 yards with 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions. The back-up situation will be more interesting with sophomore Brion Carnes and true freshman Tommy Armstrong battling for that position. Carnes had limited action last year, completing both of his passes for 26 yards.

Senior Rex Burkhead returns to anchor the rushing attack for Nebraska after a 1,357 yard season, picking up 4.8 yards a carry and scored 15 touchdowns. Martinez was second on the team with 874 yards and nine TDs. After Burkhead, sophomore Ameer Abdullah will be the guy getting the touches in Tim Beck’s offense. He had 150 yards on only 42 carries, reaching the endzone three times.

The Huskers lost Brandon Kinnie from last year’s receiving corps, but he was fourth on the team in yards gained and third in receptions with just one touchdown. Sophomore Kenny Bell figures to be a big part of the offense after he caught 32 passes for 461 yards with three touchdowns. Junior Quincy Enunwa emerged last season as a threat in the passing game with 293 yards and two TDs.

Other names to watch in the passing game are sophomore Jamal Turner, senior tight ends Kyler Reed and Ben Cotton, plus watch out for Burkhead out of the backfield.

On defense the “blackshirts” will try and replace departing linebacker LaVonte David who was drafted by Tampa Bay. Last season, he finished with 133 tackles with 5.5 sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss, and two interceptions in 2011. Senior middle linebacker Will Compton will be one of the leaders on defense after an 82 tackle season and 6.5 TFL.

Senior’s strong safety Daimion Stafford and free safety P.J. Smith will patrol the middle of the defensive backfield along with JUCO newcomer Mohammed Selsay. Stafford had 80 tackles last season, third-best on the team, and 10 pass break-ups. Smith recorded 33 tackles plus an interception.

Another weapon to watch is senior kicker/punter Brett Maher who was first team/won awards in the Big Ten for both.

After their first season through the B1G, Nebraska should be better equipped to handle the grind that the conference is come November. Non-conference opponents other than UCLA is the opener against Southern Miss then Arkansas and Idaho State the next two weeks following the Cornhuskers. With Wisconsin plus Michigan coming to Lincoln, the Huskers will have a shot to win the Legends division and will go bowling.

2012 Nebraska Cornhuskers Schedule –

Southern Miss 9/1
@UCLA 9/8
Arkansas State 9/15
Idaho State 9/22
Wisconsin 9/29
@Ohio State 10/6
@Northwestern 10/20
Michigan 10/27
@Michigan State 11/3
Penn State 11/10
Minnesota 11/17
@Iowa 11/23

Check out the entire archive of “Know the Opponents,” a series of all Pac-12 non-conference opponent previews, here.

Make sure that you like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter: @Autzen_Zoo and @MikeVmos