Kickoff: It's Trojans-Buckeyes
...Provided, of course, the Trojans beat Notre Dame today and then crosstown rival UCLA next Saturday
ENQUIRER NEWS SERVICES
1. WE'VE SEEN THIS ALREADY
A Michigan-OSU Big Ten rematch wouldn't be as good as the first one, and the Wolverines would have an advantage. Remember Florida-Florida State 10 years ago? On Nov. 30, 1996, Florida State defeated top-ranked Florida in the third consecutive regular-season game when an Associated Press No. 2 team defeated a then No. 1-ranked opponent. A month later, Florida won a rematch with FSU in the Sugar Bowl that gave the Gators the 1996 national championship.
Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville, whose team handed Florida its only loss (27-17) and was beaten soundly at home by Arkansas (27-10), is against a OSU-Michigan sequel.
"I think it would be ridiculous," Tuberville said last week on a conference call with reporters. "Those two teams had their shot, and one of them (Ohio State) proved it was better. Now it's time to let another team have their shot. I think Arkansas or Florida should get that opportunity. It shouldn't even be close."
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2. YOU KNOW WHO THEY ARE
Under sixth-year head coach Pete Carroll, it's been back to the head of the class during the early part of the 21st century for the school that doesn't put its name on the front of the jersey or its players' names on the back. Carroll's Trojans are 19-0 in November and are in the midst of a 32-game home winning streak. The Trojans have won 54 of their last 57 games, with the losses coming by a total of eight points. Southern Cal (No. 3 in the latest BCS standings) still holds the record with 16 consecutive weeks at No. 1 in the BCS from 2004-05 and 24 straight weeks in one of the top three positions in the standings.
3. BCS EXPERT SAYS BET ON USC
According to Brad Edwards, college football researcher at ESPN: "Don't be fooled by this week's standings; the Wolverines (BCS No. 2) do need some help. Despite what you think you see, USC is still in the driver's seat to finish second behind Ohio State, and there will be no Michigan-OSU rematch without a loss by the Trojans. The Men of Troy are slightly ahead of Michigan in both BCS polls (remember, the AP poll doesn't count) but trail the Wolverines in all but one computer. If USC closes the season by beating Notre Dame and UCLA, it will not only climb ahead of Michigan in most, if not all, of the computers, but it could even jump Ohio State in some. ..."
4. NOT SCARED TO SUCCEED
USC, based in Los Angeles, is not overwhelmed by the glare of the spotlight. There is no NFL team in L.A. SoCal doesn't need one; the Trojans serve as the area's "professional" team. The Trojans have been in the national title game in each of the last three years, winning after the 2003 and 2004 seasons and losing to Texas after the 2005 season.
The Trojans aren't afraid to travel and play anybody. Their nonconference wins this season have included Arkansas and Nebraska. Their lone loss was to Oregon State 33-31.
5. USC JUST RELOADS
The talent just keeps coming for Carroll and crew. The Trojans have landed the nation's top recruiting class for three consecutive years, cleaning up in California and landing prize prospects from across the country.
Ohio State's Troy Smith is almost assured of winning the Heisman Trophy this season, but the Trojans have dominated the award recently. They've won three of the last four, with Reggie Bush, Matt Leinart and Carson Palmer.
6. FLORIDA STILL HAS AN OUTSIDE SHOT
It's possible, according to ESPN's Edwards, that Michigan could overcome any of the other one-loss contenders. The toughest for the Wolverines to crack would be Florida. But if Notre Dame beats USC, Michigan is probably a lock to finish with better overall computer ratings than the Gators, even if Florida beats a 10-2 Arkansas team in the SEC championship game. In that case, Florida would have to move past Michigan in the polls to trump UM in the BCS standings. It could happen, but it's far from a sure thing.
Arkansas, No. 6 in the BCS standings, saw its slim chances evaporate Friday, with a 31-26 loss to LSU.
Florida coach Urban Meyer says Southern Cal and Florida are the logical choices to play Ohio State in Arizona on Jan. 8, if they win out.
"You can make the case for Southern Cal because of the schedule they have played and the fact they beat Arkansas," Meyer said on an SEC conference call early this week. "You can make the case for Florida in that our only loss was on the road in a hostile environment (Auburn). When you look at that, those are the schools that should be considered if they win their last two games."
Meyer said he won't be angry if Southern Cal gets the BCS nod over the Gators. We will see Dec. 3.
OUR SOUTHERN CAL- NOTRE DAME PREDICTION
USC 35, Notre Dame 28: With Matt Leinart gone, John David Booty has taken over at quarterback for the Trojans. He should pick apart the ND secondary.
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