Oregon on a “tighter leash” than Auburn? So says a former coach…
"Initially, I had Auburn by half a point. Now, I've gone to Oregon by half a point..."
Fans, and gamblers, try their best to factor in the unique variables that exist in a bowl game scenario.
Former Colorado and Northwestern coach Gary Barnett claims that bowl prep factor is in Oregon's favor and he shared with Petros and Money on Fox Sports radio:
"Initially, I had Auburn by half a point. Now, I've gone to Oregon by half a point. That's how sure I am of this one.
The only thing I'm going on is -- indications I'm getting is -- Oregon's holding a pretty tight ship down here and Auburn's letting the kids run a little bit.
My personal experience with that is when I let kids run, they lose sight and lose a little focus.
We played Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl when Oregon really held their guys on a tight leash and they really performed well in that game. And our guys weren't on a tight leash and we didn't perform well.
So, that's all I have to go on."
Barnett is referring to the 2002 Fiesta Bowl: Oregon 38, Colorado 16.
A game in which both teams went into it with an argument for being in the national title game instead.
Instead, the convoluted system placed Nebraska in the showcase game against Miami and the Huskers got hammered.