Fumbles.
Interceptions.
Both mistakes are very costly and represent the most critical aspects of the game of football.
Both go into turnover ratio, an important statistic that is often overlooked but can win either team the game.
“In any game, if you look at the turnover ratio, you can tell who’s going to win without even looking at any other stats,” senior linebacker David Moretti said. “The bottom line is the more turnovers you get, the more games you are going to win.”
UCLA gave up three turnovers to Oregon’s one over the weekend, and Oregon won 31-30. Bruin quarterback Cory Paus was 17-for-31 with three touchdowns but also threw three interceptions.
Freshman cornerback Aaron Gipson caught two of those.

“The more takeaways we can get, the more chances the offense has to have the ball in their hands and more opportunities for them to score,” Gipson said.
Oregon ranks second in the Pacific-10 Conference in turnover margin this season. The Ducks have gained 16 turnovers and lost only five, giving them a plus-11 turnover margin.
The Ducks rank only behind Cal in that category, and Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti understands that success in the area of turnovers has to do with the Ducks’ defensive strategy and offensive conversion.
“The turnover-takeaway ratio is the most important statistic that’s kept,” Bellotti said. “It correlates to winning more than anything else. We’ve made a habit of trying to stress ball security to our offense and takeaways to our defense, and it’s been very productive for us, and it continues to be. Last year it was most certainly a factor in our 11-1 season, and it’s been a factor in our 6-0 start.”
On average, Oregon is forcing its opponents to turn over the ball almost three times per game. Arizona State ranks sixth in the Pac-10 in turnover margin, two spots behind UCLA.
The Sun Devils have gained more turnovers, 24, than Oregon but also have lost more, with 17. Last year in their matchup at Autzen Stadium, Arizona State and Oregon each had one turnover, yet the Ducks easily won 42-24.
The Oregon players understand that the turnover dominance comes from solid defensive play. The Ducks don’t credit their success to poor offensive ball-handling on the opponent’s side.
“It’s the way we attack our opponent,” sophomore defensive tackle Igor Olshansky said. “Our mindset that we always try and reach for the ball and knock the ball out.”
Olshansky had one interception for Oregon, against Idaho, that went for 37 yards.
Moretti has had a strong defensive presence this year and leads Oregon in tackles with 28. Moretti had two interceptions for the Ducks in 2001 and said he understands how turnovers can shift the game. He said turnovers could be key against the Sun Devils.
“Getting picks and fumbles totally shifts the momentum, and that’s something we really try and do for our offense,” Moretti said. “We just play a solid defensive game. Right now, (Arizona State) has a great offense, and we have to go out and play our keys and try and get the ball back.”
Arizona State is averaging 392 yards per game on offense this season, and quarterback Andrew Walter has thrown five interceptions. The statistics prove that if Oregon can win the turnover margin battle like they have in the past, the Ducks will win.