1. "Spread" doesn't always mean finesse: I have vivid memories of going to Chicago on what seemed like the coldest day in history for the 1988 NFC Championship game between the San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears. Perception: The Bears were the more physical team and would be at home in the elements, as opposed to the "soft" team from California. Reality: The 49ers punched them in the mouth and won 28-3. Oregon remains me of the 49ers. "I love it when people say we're not tough enough, because it motivates our kids," Ducks offensive coordinator Scott Frost said. "People have said that after we've lost the few games, trying to pick out some weakness, some chink in the armor, and that's fine. We've played several very physical defenses this year. Michigan State is one of the best defenses in the country. Stanford has had a great defense for the past four or five years."
2. Charles Kelly's challenge: Florida State had the nation's 50th-ranked defense going into this week, a far drop from last year's No. 3 ranking. Kelly, the former Georgia Tech assistant, took over as coordinator for Jeremy Pruitt (now at Georgia) but it's not fair to judge him on just this season. The Seminoles lost several players from last year's team, including five who started games as NFL rookies this season (Kelvin Smith, Timmy Jernigan, Lamarcus Joyner, Terrence Brooks, Christian Jones). Kelly: "We knew there would be some challenges but at the same time I think our guys have stepped up. Are we the same team? No. But I'm very proud of what our guys have done and how they've hung in there." That said, the Noles have a huge challenge against Oregon.
3. It's raining. OK, seriously? I grew up in Los Angeles. It was raining, gloomy and (relatively) cold Tuesday, which I believe is what it was like for maybe three days of the 26 years I lived here. But the good news about rain and gray skies in L.A. is everybody screams in unison, "No smog!" Skies are expected to clear by New Year's Day, with a 10 percent chance of rain and temperatures from the low-40s to the mid-50 in Pasadena. These are not the days that the "Beach Boys" wrote about.
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