2009 NCAA - Southern California
With the recent struggles of the Pac-10 in the eyes of the pollsters and computers, USC has suddenly been put in an unwanted position - one loss can (and last year did!) eliminate it from national-title contention. With LSU losing twice the season before, and Florida, Texas/Oklahoma each losing once last year and staying ahead of USC at the end, it goes to show that the Trojans don't have the luxury of a bad game. One semi-advanced theory says that because USC is SO successful, some west coast top recruits head for BYU, Utah, Boise State or (insert non-Pac 10 school here) in order to avoid facing a probable annual beating at the hands of Pour-it-on-Pete Carroll. Because of that, the level of play in the Pac-10 behind USC has deteriorated, and thus each of the three aforementioned non-BCS schools harbor hopes of double-digit wins and BCS money come December each season, thanks to the influx of talent that goes there rather than to the other nine Pac-10 schools. Whether that's true or not is for a different debate. What's not is that USC hasn't sniffed the national title game since four years ago because of slip-ups in league play.
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Southern California
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Some things don't figure to change anytime soon, and despite having a new quarterback and eight new defense starters, USC winning the Pac-10 is one of them. The Trojans have three capable blue-chip QBs that can take Mark Sanchez's place, and nine other offensive starters return, as well as the entire first, second and third-string O-line! USC figures to go SIX-deep at RB, and 3 big-play threats are ready at wideout. The only concern could be breaking in a new punter and kicker. On defense, USC will simply reload. The best example could be at linebacker, where three NFL first-day draftees depart, yet some say the group could be FASTER than 2008's version. The secondary has to be mentioned among the best, if not THE best, in the nation, as well. |
ASK the bookie? - The Trojans will once again be asked to lay significant tariffs each time out. They have only been an underdog one time since the 2003 season opener. Nothing figures to change this season. An early-season trip to Ohio State could be dicey for the new QB and green defense. And the trip to Notre Dame figures to help the schedule strength more than last year's late-season laugher. USC was just 7-6 (8-5 depending where you shopped) against the points in each of the last three seasons, so lay it at your own peril.
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