Auburn quarterback Cam Newton and Oregon running back LaMichael James weren't Heisman Trophy finalists by accident. Newton, who bested James and the other finalists for the Heisman, has passed for 2,589 yards with 28 touchdowns and six interceptions, and he has added 1,409 rushing yards and 20 more scores. James has been just as effective on the ground, rushing for 1,682 yards and finding pay dirt 21 times.
Both teams are going to put up some points -- Oregon averaged 49.3 in the regular season, and Auburn wasn't far behind at 42.7 -- so the national title could come down to which defense can make a couple of stops.
AUBURN’S EDGE: The Tigers have the distinct advantage of knowing the best player on the field will have the ball in his hands on every snap when they have possession. No one has managed to stop Newton this season, and he has proven his ability to take what the defense gives and beat quality opponents with either his arm or his legs.
OREGON’S EDGE: For all the talk about the explosive offenses -- and the Ducks certainly qualify in that regard, leading the nation in scoring and ranking second in total offense -- Oregon's defense might be its greatest asset against Auburn. The Ducks are 14th in the nation in scoring defense, allowing 18.4 points per game, but they haven't faced an offense as capable as Auburn's.
THE QUARTERBACKS: By now, you know all there is to know about Auburn's Cam Newton -- that his father worked with an agent to try to orchestrate a pay-for-play scheme, that he was deemed ineligible and immediately reinstated by the NCAA before the SEC title game, and that he had arguably one of the greatest seasons by an offensive player in college football history. Newton leads the nation in passing efficiency, ranks 15th in rushing and has accounted for 49 touchdowns.
All of that makes Oregon's Darron Thomas the forgotten quarterback in this game, a pretty incredible fact considering the season Thomas put together. The sophomore from Houston completed 60.7 percent of his passes for 2,518 yards with 28 touchdown and seven interceptions, and he rushed for 488 yards and five scores.
