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As you are all aware, the Auburn Tigers defeated the Oregon Ducks last night to claim the BCS National Championship. It was a fantastic game, showcasing two of the most exciting teams in college football. And in a contest in which there was a safety, a fake punt, a fake extra point, and a last-second, game-winning field goal, the play of the game was clearly Michael Dyer's fourth quarter run.

Taking a handoff from Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton, Dyer scampered to the right, where he appeared to be tackled by Oregon safety Eddie Pleasant. But a careful review showed that Dyer managed to keep the play alive by rolling over Pleasant. His body never touched the ground.

The official NCAA rules state that a play is ruled dead when "any part of the ball carrier's body, except his hand or foot, touches the ground." As the replay shows, Dyer's body never came in contact with the turf, enabling him to continue down the sideline and set up Wes Byrum's game-winning field goal.

2010 Bowl Season Preview: Part X: The BCS National Championship

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Finally, the game is here. The moment we have all been waiting will happen tonight. Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton will lead his Auburn Tigers against Lamichael James' Oregon Ducks. These two men last met in New York City one month ago, when Newton captured the award. Tonight they will face off again, battling for the BCS National Championship.

Surely, by now you have heard the hype surrounding these two teams. Between improper benefits scandals, Heisman Finalists, unstoppable offenses, and terrific coaches, the media coverage has not stopped. You have certainly had time to ponder whether Oregon's fast tempo will wear out the Auburn defense, how the Ducks will try to block defensive tackle Nick Fairley, how the Tigers will attempt to contain James, how many highlights Newton will produce, and finally, will these two teams combine for 100 points?

I am not here to expound on these discussions. I have new statistics for you. As great of a team as Oregon is, they will lose tonight. The Ducks offense is among the best in history and their defense is very strong, yet there is no answer for Cam Newton.

Not exactly a radical idea, but consider the following. Despite being known for his running ability, Newton leads the nation with a passer rating of 188.2. His yards per attempt is a ridiculous 10.52, meaning that every time the junior passes, he averages a first down. He has thrown for 28 touchdowns, while tossing only six interceptions. And if you lock down his receivers, you have to tackle a man who stands 6'6" and weighs 250 pounds. This becomes nearly impossible when you factor in his speed and elusiveness. As interesting as the other matchups may be, Auburn will win tonight for one simple reason: Cam Newton cannot be stopped.

The Inaugural Podcast

As a new medium for enlightening the masses, the guru has moved into the world of podcasting. Teaming up with fantasy experts BirdofPrey18 and Mac Attack, he has joined the Triple Option, a talk show hosted by three of the world's premiere sports analysts. The inaugural episode was recorded this afternoon. The trio discussed the NFL Wildcard Round, the Winter Classic, and the BCS National Championship. A link to the podcast can be found here.

2010 Bowl Season Preview: Part IX

This evening, we will be fortunate enough to view the Orange Bowl. The game will be played between two teams, Virginia Tech and Stanford, that are among the best in the country. Both possess offenses capable of racking up points and defenses that can shut down opponents. It should be one of the most competitive games of the bowl season.

It is impossible to discuss Virginia Tech without mentioning their 0-2 start. After a season-opening loss to Boise State, the Hokies fell to FCS school James Madison. With their expectations dashed, Frank Beamer led his squad to an eleven game win streak and an ACC title.

After a remarkable turnaround, the Hokies find themselves playing against another elite team. The Cardinal's only loss this year was to Oregon, who will play in the BCS National Championship. Led by quarterback and Heisman runner-up Andrew Luck, Stanford has averaged over 40 points per game.

Comparing the stats is futile because both teams are dominant statistically. Instead, the guru has examined how these two teams have performed against opponents similar to the ones they will face in the Orange Bowl.

As mentioned, the Hokies opened the season against Boise State, an elite team with a pocket passing QB. Virginia Tech lost by just three points, but they allowed Broncos QB Kellen Moore to throw for 215 yards and three touchdowns with zero interceptions. Forget that the Hokies lead the nation with 22 INTs. Against a high caliber QB, they were unable to force turnovers.

Stanford's only game against a high-powered option offense came in their aforementioned matchup with Oregon. The Ducks style of play is very similar to that Virginia Tech. Despite the 52 points conceded, a careful observer will note that the Cardinal did a decent job of containing the Oregon offense. Stanford led at the half, falling at the end due to fatigue. Oregon's fast tempo has been a hot topic this season and it's clear that Stanford's defense simply wore down. Virginia Tech will be unable to drain the Cardinal defense like the Ducks did. Instead, the Stanford D will be on the sideline resting while Luck moves the chains against the Hokies secondary.

The guru selects Stanford with 18 confidence points.