AUBURN VS. OREGON

TALE OF THE TAPE

Quarterback Cam Newton

Defensive end Kenny Rowe

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The dope

Casey Matthews (55), the Ducks' hard-hitting middle linebacker, will be shadowing Newton most of the night. His mission: stop the quarterback from busting a big play. And with Oregon's defense focused on the Tigers' ground game, Auburn will need another game-breaking effort from wideout Darvin Adams (89), who set an SEC title game record with 217 receiving yards against South Carolina.

EDGE

AUBURN 37

PREDICTION

OREGON 31

The dope

All signs point to a shootout in the desert—expect lots of big gains, points and razzle-dazzle. The difference? The Tigers' physical running attack will allow them to control the game against the undersized Oregon D. For a fifth straight year, the BCS confetti will rain down on a team from the SEC.

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RIC TAPIA/ICON SMI (BOYETT)

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RIC TAPIA/ICON SMI (JACKSON)

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RIC TAPIA/ICON SMI (ROWE)

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CHARLES BAUS/CAL SPORT MEDIA (MATTHEWS)

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CHARLES BAUS/CAL SPORT MEDIA (TURNER)

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SIMON BRUTY (MCCALEBB)

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SIMON BRUTY (NEWTON)

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JED JACOBSOHN (JAMES)

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JED JACOBSOHN (KELLY)

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JOHN W. MCDONOUGH (HARRIS)

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JOHN W. MCDONOUGH (THOMAS)

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JOHN REED/US PRESSWIRE (CHIZIK)

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JOHN REED/US PRESSWIRE (LUTZENKIRCHEN)

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PAUL ABELL/US PRESSWIRE (ADAMS)

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NELSON CHENAULT/US PRESSWIRE (BLAKE)

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DAVID E. KLUTHO (FAIRLEY)

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DAVE MARTIN/AP (BYRUM)

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JOE ROBBINS/GETTY IMAGES (CARTER)

SIX PHOTOS