It's going to be USC, whats everyones thoughts?

[osugrad21]

Link

TROJANS ON MARCH


By LENN ROBBINS


MIDDLE MAN: Coach Pete Carroll hugs wide receiver Steve Smith (left) and quarter back John David Booty during Southern Cal's 44-24 victory over Notre Dame on Saturday night.

November 27, 2006 -- LOS ANGELES - Don't tell Pete Carroll there is no playoff system in college football.
While coaches such as Florida's Urban Meyer believe that public outcries will somehow sway the voters or get the computer geeks to tweak their machines, the Southern Cal coach has adapted a version of the school's fight song as his philosophy: Instead of "Fight On," Carroll believes in, "Play On."
"We've had a heck of a schedule and really to come out with only one loss is a pretty good achievement," Carroll said after his team routed Notre Dame, 44-24. "You can't win them all, but our schedule has served us perfectly. To have us finish a season like we have is just awesome. It has been a playoff run for us."
After beating Oregon, Cal and Notre Dame, USC's schedule indeed has served it well. The Trojans (.946) yesterday leapfrogged Michigan (.921) into second in the BCS rankings. If the Trojans (10-1) beat UCLA Saturday, they almost surely will retain the No. 2 spot and face No. 1 Ohio State in the national title game on Jan. 8.
The Wolverines (11-1) are third, followed by Florida (11-1), which plays Arkansas Saturday in the SEC title game. Even in the event of an unconvincing USC win over UCLA and a Florida destruction of Arkansas, it's unlikely the Gators (.889) could jump the Trojans. The Gators (.884) actually dropped despite a 21-14 win at FSU.
The other big loser yesterday was Notre Dame, which dropped from fifth to 10th. The Irish are guaranteed a BCS bowl slot if they finish in the Top 8 of the final standings. Now taking the Irish would open up the BCS to controversy. LSU was the other big winner, moving from 10th to fifth after winning 31-26 at Arkansas.
Because the Rose Bowl loses Ohio State and USC, it has the first two picks. Michigan seems a lock for the Rose, but a rematch against ND is possibly foiled.
If Rutgers wins at West Virginia Saturday, the Big East could have two BCS entries. The Scarlet Knights would automatically go, and Louisville, which moved up to sixth, also could get in.
The Trojans will be playing in their third straight BCS title game, an amazing accomplishment in an age of reduced scholarships and improved programs. And USC has done it despite losing Heisman Trophy winners Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush.

 

[osugrad21]

Link

USC vs. Ohio State likely; Irish appear Sugar-bound

November 27, 2006
Based on Notre Dame's 44-24 loss to Southern California on Saturday night, it looks like the Irish are going to the Sugar Bowl.
But the sweetest news belonged to the victorious Trojans.
Southern California leapfrogged Michigan into second place in the BCS standings and in The Associated Press Top 25 on Sunday, and the Trojans likely only have to beat UCLA on Saturday in their regular-season finale to lock up a spot opposite Ohio State in the Jan. 8 BCS title game.
USC, the sixth team to be ranked No. 2 in the AP poll this season behind No. 1 Ohio State, leads the Wolverines by 36 points in the poll. Michigan, which completed its regular season with a 42-39 loss to Ohio State on Nov. 18, fell to No. 3. The Wolverines (11-1) are 63 points ahead of No. 4 Florida, which beat Florida State 21-14 to improve to 11-1.
As for the Irish, head coach Charlie Weis was told late Saturday night that Sugar Bowl officials were interested in inviting the Irish to the Jan. 3 game regardless of Saturday night's result.
"We're very happy to go to any BCS game that picks us," Weis said. "If it's New Orleans, sign me up; let's go."
The Irish are 10th in the BCS standings, good enough to be eligible.
Ray Jeandron, soon to be president of the Sugar Bowl, was at Saturday's game and was quoted saying the Irish were "at or near" the top of the Sugar Bowl's radar screen. The Irish would be expected to bring a huge throng of fans to a city still on the comeback trail after the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina.
As for the BCS title game, Ohio State (12-0) was a unanimous No. 1 in the AP poll for the second consecutive week and third time this year. The Buckeyes received 65 first-place votes from the media panel.
While the Buckeyes have been ranked No. 1 since the preseason, No. 2 has changed frequently. Notre Dame, Texas, Auburn and Florida have also held the second spot. Michigan's six-week run there was the longest of any team this season.
Michigan had a nine-point lead on USC in last week's poll, but the Trojans changed the minds of numerous voters Saturday night.
"I was pretty sure I was going to keep Michigan No. 2 until I watched USC play," John Hoover, of the Tulsa (Okla.) World, said.
"Part of the reason (the Trojans) struggled in the middle of the season and lost was because Dwayne Jarrett wasn't healthy," he said.
Jarrett was at full strength against Notre Dame and caught three touchdown passes.
The rest of the Top 25 underwent a major reshuffling after a week with several upsets.
LSU moved up four spot to No. 5, a season high for the Tigers, after a 31-26 victory over Arkansas on Friday.
No. 6 Louisville moved up two spots, and No. 7 Wisconsin jumped three places. The Badgers have their highest ranking since November 2004, when they were No. 4.
No. 8 Arkansas dropped three spots after its first loss since the opening week of the season. Oklahoma is tied with the Razorbacks after moving up five spots.
Boise State (12-0), which beat Nevada 38-7 to finish the regular season unbeaten, cracked the top 10 for the second time in school history at No. 10. The Broncos were also 10th late in the 2004 season.
Auburn is No. 11, followed by Notre Dame, which dropped six spots after losing to USC.
Rutgers is 13th, Virginia Tech is 14th and West Virginia dropped eight spots to 15th after being upset 24-19 at home by South Florida.

 

[osugrad21]

Link

USC in position to play for national title




NEW YORK (AP) ? USC is a win away from returning to the national title game.

The Trojans moved into second place in the Bowl Championship Series standings Sunday, passing idle Michigan on the strength of a 44-24 victory against Notre Dame and closing in on a matchup with undefeated Ohio State in the title game.

USC plays crosstown-rival UCLA on Saturday and a victory likely would lock up the Trojans? third consecutive appearance in the BCS title game. The Trojans have locked up the Pac-10?s automatic BCS bid, but playing in the Rose Bowl would be a letdown for USC this season.

?I think we?re a pretty good team right now,? USC coach Pete Carroll said after beating Notre Dame. ?We?ll play anybody, anywhere.?

First-place Ohio State has already sealed up its trip to Glendale, Ariz., for the Jan. 8 championship game. The final BCS standings and bowl pairings will be announced next Sunday.

Michigan managed to hold onto second place after losing 42-39 at Ohio State, but the Wolverines? lead over USC was razor thin.

USC?s convincing victory against the Fighting Irish helped the Trojans increase their cushion over Michigan in the coaches? poll and Harris poll, and boosted USC?s computer rating ahead of the Wolverines?.

USC?s BCS average was .946. Michigan?s was .922.

The polls make up two-thirds of a BCS average, and the computer ratings account for the other third.

Florida, which plays in the Southeastern Conference title game against Arkansas on Saturday, is in fourth place with an average of .890. The Gators need a win and USC to stumble against UCLA, but even then it would be a close call between them and Michigan for the second spot in the title game.

LSU is fifth, followed by Louisville and Wisconsin.

Unbeaten Boise State moved up to eighth place and will become the second team from outside the original BCS conferences to play in one of the four big-dollar bowl games. The Broncos will likely receive a bid to the Fiesta Bowl.

Arkansas is ninth and can earn the SEC?s automatic bid by beating Florida.

Notre Dame dropped five spots to 10th place, which means the Fighting Irish are no longer in position to earn an automatic BCS bid. They needed to be in the top eight for that to happen. However, Notre Dame remains eligible to receive an at-large bid by finishing in the top 12. And if the Irish are eligible, they?re a great bet to get picked by either the Rose, Sugar or Orange.

USC lost last year?s championship game 41-38 to Texas at the Rose Bowl and won the 2004 national championship with a 55-19 victory over Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl.

Three years ago, the Trojans missed out on the BCS championship game, but won the AP?s part of the national title by beating Michigan 28-14 in the Rose Bowl.

That three-year run, during which the Trojans lost only two games, was powered by quarterback Matt Leinart and tailbacks Reggie Bush and LenDale White. Those guys, and a host of other Trojans from last season?s team, are in the NFL now.

John David Booty has stepped in at quarterback, receiver Dwayne Jarrett has developed into the offense?s biggest star and USC?s defense has been one of the best in the country.

And if the Trojans can make it eight consecutive wins against UCLA, it?s USC vs. Ohio State for the national title.

 

[osugrad21]

Link

Trojans have the horses
Widen gap on Notre Dame

LOS ANGELES - USC has taken total control of its rivalry with Notre Dame after beating the Irish for a fifth straight time, 44-24, Saturday night at the Coliseum. If there was any year when the Irish figured to stop the streak, it was this one. They had a Heisman Trophy candidate at quarterback in Brady Quinn, two game-breaking receivers, 18 seniors and the creative play-calling of Charlie Weis to fall back on. And USC was supposed to be a team in transition, with a new quarterback in John David Booty, a stable of untested running backs, suspect special teams and a talented but relatively inexperienced defense that only had one senior starter.
But here we are a week before the end of the regular season and the Trojans - who have moved up to No.2 ahead of Michigan in the BCS standings - are on the verge of going to a third consecutive national championship game, that against top-ranked Ohio State on Jan. 8 in Glendale, Ariz. This is what a dynasty looks like. USC has won 55 of its last 58 games, two AP national titles and five straight Pac-10 championships. Its three losses were by a total of just eight points.
As long as Pete Carroll stays put (and there is no reason to think he will leave for a bad NFL job with the Arizona Cardinals), the Trojans will be stocked with enough talent to dominate the Pac-10.
The Trojans did lose at Oregon State, but they buried SEC West champion Arkansas, 50-14, in Fayetteville the first game of the season, routinely dismissed Big 12 North champ Nebraska, 28-10, and ripped apart a Notre Dame team that came in ranked sixth in the country.
"I think this proves we really are that team, we're great and good enough to compete with anybody," senior linebacker Oscar Lua said. "This proves we're more than capable of competing in Arizona.
"Do I think we can be as good as last year? No, I think we can be better."
The frightening thing is that the gap between USC and Notre Dame appears to be widening. The Irish have upgraded recruiting under Weis, signing, among others, elite quarterback Jimmy Clausen from Oaks Christian in Westlake Village, Calif., who is good enough to be a starter as a freshman. He will replace Quinn, but Notre Dame will have to rebuild the guts of both lines, as well as the receiving corps and the secondary.
Meanwhile, Clausen's teammate, running back Marc Tyler, is set to become his rival, having committed to USC, where he should be able to supply the Reggie Bush-like lightning that was missing from the Trojans' running game this year.
What's more, the Trojans already have gained commitments from blue-chip linebacker Chris Galippo of Anaheim and 310-pound offensive lineman James Wilson of St. Augustine, Fla., who blocked for Florida quarterback Tim Tebow at Nease High.
There were close to 100 prospects from all grades at Saturday's game, and the blowout may have been the best recruiting pitch Carroll could have given to keep the Trojans' dynasty rolling.

 

[osugrad21]

Link

The Gators deserve a shot at Buckeyes

By DAVID J. NEAL

[email protected]

AP PHOTO
OVERJOYED: Florida defensive back Reggie Nelson and assistant coach Charlie Strong celebrate Florida's 21-14 win over Florida State on Saturday.

A sort-of change of mind from three weeks ago: Ohio State and Michigan are the two best teams in college-affiliated football, no matter what happens when they play their next games after a month layoff.
No change of mind from three weeks ago: I still don't want to see the national championship decided by a rematch between the two best college-affiliated football teams.
Still striking me as interesting almost two months later: I would love to see Florida get a shot at Ohio State.
And it's a shot the Gators deserve.
Not that Southern California, the third team in this ''We're No. 1 [Among Those With One Loss]'' argument, doesn't deserve the chance it will probably get. USC has just as good a case as Florida. The only knock against Michigan is the preference for a new episode to a rerun, no matter how good the rerun.
As stated three weeks ago, I have no investment in this debate, emotional, familial or financial. I appreciate Michigan, Florida and USC.
The Wolverines are a complete team. But they're a complete team that had its chance at the Buckeyes. Though I'm not the only one who was convinced afterward that I had just watched Nos. 1 and 2, I'm also not the only one who realizes a second Ohio State-Michigan game is just too Big Ten-centric in a year when the conference had only one other notable team, 11-1 Wisconsin. Michigan beat the Badgers. Ohio State didn't even play them.
A big rivalry rematch isn't unheard of for a national title, as Florida fans best remember from the 1996 championship season when winning the second go-round with Florida State gave the Gators a No. 1 ranking. The difference is Florida and FSU weren't from the same conference.
MAKING A CASE
Southern Cal combines a defense with a smart scheme and Southeastern Conference-type speed with an offense that has the nation's best wide receiver trio. USC's defense against Ohio State's offense gives the game juice. Also, Ohio State-USC has a retro feel, even though the Buckeyes have the dynamic performers all over their offense and USC has the mighty linebacking corps.
Especially after Saturday night, voters and the computer couldn't help but be impressed by the West Coast USC, the one that that didn't lose to Florida by one point on two blocked field goals and a blocked extra point. The Trojans put Notre Dame in scoring position three times with two interceptions and a blocked punt and still whipped Our Lady of NBC.
Florida is funky, deceiving you on offense, giving up never quite enough to lose on defense, beating you while leaving you wondering how you lost.
More than one Florida opponent will think back on their Gators game and identify with Gordon Lightfoot's great line from Sundown:``Sometimes, I think it's a sin, when I feel like I'm winning when I'm losing again.''
Still, that's part of the reason I would slightly prefer Florida getting the trip to suburban Phoenix, pending they don't get treated like Tarmac by Arkansas in the SEC title game. Unfortunately for the Gators, they will be left out in the BCS cold -- or, rather, left in some other warm place -- unless 6-5 UCLA upends USC in Saturday's Great Film School Shootout.
Should both win this weekend, USC would point to beating four ranked opponents, No. 8 (Arkansas), No. 12 (Notre Dame), No. 19 (Nebraska) and No. 21 (California). The closest of those wins was 14 points, over Cal. The Trojans' only loss was 33-31 to 8-4 Oregon State.
TOUGH SLATE
On the other hand, the Gators would have taken out Nos. 5 (LSU), 8 (Arkansas) and 17 (Tennessee). Their one loss was to No. 11 Auburn and by a cosmetic 10 points -- Auburn scored nine points in the last 32 seconds, including a touchdown on the game's final play. Plus, no conference this year is as tough top to near bottom as the SEC.
The Gators have made a Saturday afternoon habit of Saturday morning serial narrow escapes, the kind of thing that turns off voters and computers if it happens weekly. Too bad. Their defense, their ability to cash in on every break and the intangible of Florida's luck would make Ohio State-Florida so interesting. Styles make matchups, and I could see the Gators confounding and frustrating the Buckeyes.
We will probably have to settle for a Fiesta Bowl that sounds like a Rose Bowl, Ohio State-USC. That's life and the BCS, which is imperfect, but better than championship by democracy.

 

[OregonBuckeye]

So you're agreeing that Oregon sucks then?
By the way, I think they suck too, but not for those reasons. I just hate them because of their awful uniforms.

Yes, but they're a misleading type of "suck". And yes, the unis aren't my favorite either. They looked good back in the Joey Harrington days.

I think a USC-OSU NC game would be a lot like the OSU-scUM game. Lots of offense however I don't think we'll make the same mistakes and should win comfortably.

 

[lvbuckeye]

I want to measure Boise against a real football team.

well, i know that it's not transitive, but they kicked the shit out of Oregon State 42-14...

 

[BuckPshrink]

Outstanding game! D-backs need to prepare well.
A classic rivalry!

 

[osugrad21]

Dispatch

College Insider

 

[scooter1369]

We will probably have to settle for a Fiesta Bowl that sounds like a Rose Bowl, Ohio State-USC. That's life and the BCS, which is imperfect, but better than championship by democracy.

Shouldn't you be required to know something about college football before reporting on it? How many writers have screwed this up now?

THE TITLE GAME IS NOT THE FIESTA BOWL!!!!

 

[CookyPuss]

Maybe in this one we try some Tressel clock/game management.
Keep their offense off the field and out of rhythm.

And their defense is very young(though very fast) and will get
"formation-ed" to death by Tress.

Get them thinking instead of just reacting.

I was thinking the same thing while watching the ND game on Saturday. I don't think Tress wants to get into a track meet with these guys. I have a feeling this one will be a close and lower scoring affair. I wouldn't be surprised to see a 24-17 Buckeye victory.

 

[Flocka]

Link

The Gators deserve a shot at Buckeyes

By DAVID J. NEAL

[email protected]

AP PHOTO
OVERJOYED: Florida defensive back Reggie Nelson and assistant coach Charlie Strong celebrate Florida's 21-14 win over Florida State on Saturday.

A sort-of change of mind from three weeks ago: Ohio State and Michigan are the two best teams in college-affiliated football, no matter what happens when they play their next games after a month layoff.
No change of mind from three weeks ago: I still don't want to see the national championship decided by a rematch between the two best college-affiliated football teams.
Still striking me as interesting almost two months later: I would love to see Florida get a shot at Ohio State.
And it's a shot the Gators deserve.
Not that Southern California, the third team in this ''We're No. 1 [Among Those With One Loss]'' argument, doesn't deserve the chance it will probably get. USC has just as good a case as Florida. The only knock against Michigan is the preference for a new episode to a rerun, no matter how good the rerun.
As stated three weeks ago, I have no investment in this debate, emotional, familial or financial. I appreciate Michigan, Florida and USC.
The Wolverines are a complete team. But they're a complete team that had its chance at the Buckeyes. Though I'm not the only one who was convinced afterward that I had just watched Nos. 1 and 2, I'm also not the only one who realizes a second Ohio State-Michigan game is just too Big Ten-centric in a year when the conference had only one other notable team, 11-1 Wisconsin. Michigan beat the Badgers. Ohio State didn't even play them.
A big rivalry rematch isn't unheard of for a national title, as Florida fans best remember from the 1996 championship season when winning the second go-round with Florida State gave the Gators a No. 1 ranking. The difference is Florida and FSU weren't from the same conference.
MAKING A CASE
Southern Cal combines a defense with a smart scheme and Southeastern Conference-type speed with an offense that has the nation's best wide receiver trio. USC's defense against Ohio State's offense gives the game juice. Also, Ohio State-USC has a retro feel, even though the Buckeyes have the dynamic performers all over their offense and USC has the mighty linebacking corps.
Especially after Saturday night, voters and the computer couldn't help but be impressed by the West Coast USC, the one that that didn't lose to Florida by one point on two blocked field goals and a blocked extra point. The Trojans put Notre Dame in scoring position three times with two interceptions and a blocked punt and still whipped Our Lady of NBC.
Florida is funky, deceiving you on offense, giving up never quite enough to lose on defense, beating you while leaving you wondering how you lost.
More than one Florida opponent will think back on their Gators game and identify with Gordon Lightfoot's great line from Sundown:``Sometimes, I think it's a sin, when I feel like I'm winning when I'm losing again.''
Still, that's part of the reason I would slightly prefer Florida getting the trip to suburban Phoenix, pending they don't get treated like Tarmac by Arkansas in the SEC title game. Unfortunately for the Gators, they will be left out in the BCS cold -- or, rather, left in some other warm place -- unless 6-5 UCLA upends USC in Saturday's Great Film School Shootout.
Should both win this weekend, USC would point to beating four ranked opponents, No. 8 (Arkansas), No. 12 (Notre Dame), No. 19 (Nebraska) and No. 21 (California). The closest of those wins was 14 points, over Cal. The Trojans' only loss was 33-31 to 8-4 Oregon State.
TOUGH SLATE
On the other hand, the Gators would have taken out Nos. 5 (LSU), 8 (Arkansas) and 17 (Tennessee). Their one loss was to No. 11 Auburn and by a cosmetic 10 points -- Auburn scored nine points in the last 32 seconds, including a touchdown on the game's final play. Plus, no conference this year is as tough top to near bottom as the SEC.
The Gators have made a Saturday afternoon habit of Saturday morning serial narrow escapes, the kind of thing that turns off voters and computers if it happens weekly. Too bad. Their defense, their ability to cash in on every break and the intangible of Florida's luck would make Ohio State-Florida so interesting. Styles make matchups, and I could see the Gators confounding and frustrating the Buckeyes.
We will probably have to settle for a Fiesta Bowl that sounds like a Rose Bowl, Ohio State-USC. That's life and the BCS, which is imperfect, but better than championship by democracy.

WOW. I would give anything to be able to play the Gators. They have looked terrible in their last 3 SEC games.

 

[Bleed S & G]

If I'm Malcolm Jenkins or Antonio Smith, I'm not sleeping very well at the thought of covering Jarrett though. Obscene!

Maybe its my scarlet glasses but i think malcolm is probably licking his lips at an oppurtunity like this.. not taking anything away from Jarrett.. he's awesome but if I had my choice on 1 DB i would want matched up on him.. its someone like malcolm who will be physical and get into his head a little bit while matching his athelticism

 

[Bleed S & G]

WOW. I would give anything to be able to play the Gators. They have looked terrible in their last 3 SEC games.

ehh idk.. the gators scare me more than USC and almost as much if not more than a scUM rematch.. i guess im not 'scared' of really anyone.. if need be we can outscore anyone in the country IMO, weather permitting.

I think the gators would match up better against us and it would be a better ga,e than USC but USC looked much better against ND then they have any other time i've seen them

 

[k_stone_69]

If USC does beat UCLA, like they should, I think we're in for a serious shoot out.

This SC team scares the hell outta me. I know ND's secondary was suspect and big plays were a given but the ability to make those plays is a scary thing to me.

I have faith in our LB's and D line but after watching the tsun game a few more times, it scares me.

I think in our base defense we have the advantage in nickel I don't feel as confident.

The secondary needs to bring the wood early and often on their skill players esp. the WR's but the TE's & RB's out of the back field as well. This will bode well for the short-arm's and tipped passes that lead to INT's.

Putting pressure on the QB is clique and it goes into every coach's game plan. I think PC will spread us out throw short quick passes use the draw/screen mix to try and slow down the pass rush. The one glaring weakness I see is when they throw that fade down the sideline and let Jarrett out jump our DB's trying to get a PI call-this is what really scares me.

I also think Tress realizes this and will game plan accordingly.

If the game turns into a smash mouth, drive the ball 10-14 plays to score, and rely on field position game I feel tOSU has a big advantage, if it turns out to be whoever has the ball last wins type of game it's 50/50.

THAT scares me.

:osu: