By Aaron Fentress, The Oregonian
View full size Thomas Boyd/The Oregonian LaMichael James (left) and Kenjon Barner (right) - Oregon's dual-threat running game - exhibit their speed on and of the football field.
The Oregonian, in conjunction with the Mobile (Ala.) Press-Register, continues a 14-part series comparing key matchups in the Oregon-Auburn BCS National Championship Game on Jan. 10 in Glendale, Ariz. Today: Oregon's running backs vs. Auburn's linebackers.
Oregon starters: LaMichael James, So., 5-9, 185 (Texarkana, Texas); Kenjon Barner, So., 5-11, 180 (Riverside, Calif.).
Stats: James, a Heisman finalist, led the nation with 1,682 yards rushing and with 21 rushing touchdowns despite being suspended for the season opener. The Ducks have produced 15 NFL running backs and none have come close to the two-year production of James, who has rushed for 3,228 and 35 touchdowns.
Auburn starters: Josh Bynes, Sr., 6-2, 235 (Lauderdale Lakes,Fla.); Craig Stevens, Sr., 6-3, 229 (Tallahassee, Fla.); Eltoro Freeman, Jr., 5-11, 225 (Alexander City, Ala.)
Stats: Bynes has 231 career tackles, including 10 in the Iron Bowl victory over Alabama.
What to know about Oregon: James finished fifth in the 2010 Pac-10 championships at 100 meters with a time of 10.52 and anchored the 4x100 relay team to a fourth-place finish.
What to know about Auburn: For the second consecutive season, Bynes has been the defense's workhorse, playing nearly ever snap and helping run the show on the field. He is a solid NFL prospect. Fellow senior Stevens has returned to form after a slow start and early-season suspension. Freeman has played sparingly this year, but had big roles in the last two wins over Alabama and South Carolina.
The Oregonian's Aaron Fentress says: Auburn's primary focus on defense has to be to prevent James and Barner from getting into the secondary. Edge to Oregon.
The Mobile (Ala.) Press-Register's Evan Woodbery says: The edge goes to Oregon, because it's tough to pick against the nation's top running back.
The series so far...
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