Comments are working again, perhaps better than ever and Aram is expected back from vacation on Tuesday and yes, the Tribune all-area football team will be out later this month, on Jan. 20 is the date given to us. The Oregon mascot will do plenty of push-ups tonight, still can’t understand how the Ducks are 2 1/2 point underdogs to Auburn. With all their speed the Ducks are going to crush them, can easily imagine them winning by two touchdowns or more. In any case, the blog is up and running.

Steve’s Take: This from the guy who gave me TCU and 14 points over Wisconsin. But seriously, this one will be close. As I wrote in my bowl season preview column: Both teams feature two of the best offenses in the country. On one side you have Darron Thomas and LaMichael James for Oregon matched against Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newston. But as great as these offenses are, this one will be decided by the defenses. And Oregon, led by linebacker Casey Matthews and Cliff Harris, has been more consistent than Auburn, led by tackle Nick Fairley. Expect a shootout, but color this one green by game’s end.

And as a reminder of what it takes to win, here’s some advice from the one they called the Bear: