Comparing the teams

On paper Oregon would win this in a close game, with OSU averaging 29 points/game and Oregon averaging 37.7 points/game. The OSU defense gives up 12.2 points/game and the Oregon defense gives up 23.6 points/game.

Defense
Although Oregon defensive stats are helped by games like UCLA (10 points), Washington State (6 points), and California (3 points.) The Oregon defense has given up 24 or more points in five games, with two of those as the last two games of the season. By comparison OSU has only given up 24 or more points in two games, with only one in the last two games of the season.

Offense
The Oregon Offense has had some high scoring games, with nine games with 35 or more points. By comparison OSU had three games with 35 or more points.

Common Opponents
There are two opponents in common between OSU and Oregon, and OSU lost to both USC and Purdue while Oregon beat both USC and Purdue. Luckily the transitive property does not apply to college football.

Coaches
Chip Kelly stepped in as head coach with a loaded team, especially on offense, but it is still his first year as a head coach at any college team. In contrast, OSU is led by Jim Tressel in his 9th at OSU and 24th overall. This is Tressel's ninth bowl game and fifth BCS game.