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

[Flocka]

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

Yea, but the Gators offense is very poor IMO. They struggled to put up 21 points against a terrible FSU team. They should have lost to South Carolina. Vanderbilt outplayed them. They may match up well, but they have just not looked like a contender to me. Their defense is their strong point, but their run defense will be tested against McFadden this weekend. Their DE's, Moss and Harvey, worry me less than USC's. I highly doubt they could contain 7/11 and company for 60 minutes.
On Florida's offense side, Dallas Baker is a major threat, especially near the endzone. They have other good receivers as well, but Baker is the main deep threat. Leak is good and must not forget he can scramble. IMO Tebow is one of the most overrated players in college football and cannot wait to see what they do with him next season seeing as he can not continue to simply run the ball. Tressel will make sure he is not a threat when he comes in. Just my opinion from watching them play a lot this season, im sure some will disagree.

 

[scooter1369]

Both teams will be prepared for this game. I truly expect Petey to play Tresselball and keep the ball out of Troy's hands as much as possible. The only way to minimize the damage Troy can do is to keep him on the sideline.

I would expect this to a much lower scoring affair than the scUM game. 27-20 or so.

 

[Crashcup]

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.

I respectfully disagree. USC compares very nicely to TSUN, it'll be another track meet.

 

[FCollinsBuckeye]

Give Tressel a month to prepare ....

Oh no you di'int.

:p

 

[Dryden]

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

The Gators are awful. They can't run. They can't kick. Their entire offense is based on the WR reverse and the backup QB running draws or sweeps.

 

[Flocka]

I agree that USC is a very good team, and the third best team in the nation (behind tSUN). But, I do not think we should base their performance on their game against a school that tSUN dominated. Also, ND's schedule is very weak excluding their two games against USC and tSUN. IF they beat UCLA, it will prove for a good championship game, but it will be tought to keep smith off the field. Our run defense will be prepared, and we will put pressure on booty and cause him to make mistakes. He has not looked good when under pressure, and JT will make it tough for USC to stay on the field long.

 

[Flocka]

The Gators are awful. They can't run. They can't kick. Their entire offense is based on the WR reverse and the backup QB running draws or sweeps.

Ya, that too. lol

 

[Zurp]

As long as it isn't Michigan, then it can be whoever. I know re-matches are not unheard-of in college football, but Michigan had their chance. Keep the November 18 game meaningful by not letting them in the championship game.

I was rooting for undefeated Rutgers. But 1-loss Rutgers goes to the back of the line.

I think that Florida hasn't won with the same style points that some of the voters are/were looking for.

Arkansas - well, now that they lost a second game, they're out. But with just the one loss, the argument could be made that the first game of the season they were trying out their quarterbacks, or weren't playing as a team, yet, or whatever. I think a 1-loss Arkansas should be behind a 1-loss USC, but ahead of a 2-loss USC. Maybe 1-loss Arkansas should be ahead of 1-loss Florida. I guess an SEC championship game would have solved that one. But, no more 1-loss Arkansas.

Who's left? No Big XII teams with only 1 loss. The Big East bias keeps any 1-loss team out of the championship game. Only USC, Florida, and Michigan are left. USC lost to unranked Oregon State. Or were they ranked? I don't know. They haven't shown the flashiness we're used to with USC in some games, but they beat up the big national-spotlight games: Arkansas, Nebraska, Notre Dame. Florida lost to a very good Auburn team, but haven't been lighting opponents up like maybe they should. But they do play in a better conference than USC does. In my mind, I'd put Florida above USC for the national championship game. And Michigan - they had their chance at #1. They lost it. They go to the back of that list of 3. But if USC and Florida both lose this weekend, I see no other choice but Michigan.

 

[Nordberg]

Keep the November 18 game meaningful by not letting [Michigan] in the championship game.

Who's left? No Big XII teams with only 1 loss. The Big East bias keeps any 1-loss team out of the championship game. Only USC, Florida, and Michigan are left. USC lost to unranked Oregon State. Or were they ranked? I don't know. They haven't shown the flashiness we're used to with USC in some games, but they beat up the big national-spotlight games: Arkansas, Nebraska, Notre Dame. Florida lost to a very good Auburn team, but haven't been lighting opponents up like maybe they should. But they do play in a better conference than USC does. In my mind, I'd put Florida above USC for the national championship game. And Michigan - they had their chance at #1. They lost it. They go to the back of that list of 3. But if USC and Florida both lose this weekend, I see no other choice but Michigan.

I agree with this 100%. If USC & Florida both lose next weekend, then Michigan deserves a second chance. However, I don't believe this will happen. If USC loses and Florida wins, then I think that we should see who is better...Big 10 Champ vs. SEC Champ (experts think this is the best conferance). If USC wins next week, then I think they deserve a shot above everyone else.

Michigan had there shot and blew it!!! Let another team get their shot.

 

[Bleed S & G]

I highly doubt they could contain 7/11 and company for 60 minutes.

I highly doubt any defense in the country can

Dryden, idk I havnt seen as much as i would like to have seen of either team. My half-ass boycott of ESPiN kinda keeps me out fo touch as I really only focus in on the bucks this time of year and starting a new career has kind of limited my time to go and surf scores, etc.

From what i;ve seen, leak would give us some problems.. and the 2 QB system is a shit system, but I think there O is more potent than USCs. I think any team that gets through the SEC with one loss is a team that cant be dismissed at the tip of the hat without actually looking at them (which you probably have more than me). They must run some good reverses.:)

The USC D isn't all that great IMO.. yes they are a physical group but can they stop us if we go 5 wide? can anyone? solid o line, troys threat to run, and 1-2 punch of pittman & wells opens up the passing game so much i doubt any d can stop this offense. I would think the Gators could shut down the run more so than USC. But i've been wanting USC for awhile now..

 

[Flocka]

There is a good argument for either team to go due to strength of schedule and opponents played. They each will have played 4 ranked teams. USC has won all 4, Florida is 2-1 and yet to play their last ranked team, Arkansas. USC is the favorite due to style points. But I also seem to remember a certain 2002 team who failed to blowouts, and had numerous close calls enroute to overcoming a team that was unbeatable and a 12 point favorite. :) BTW im not saying UF is good, just trying to keep an open mind.

 

[rocketman]

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:

Worst case scenario, but I think we could survive a shoot-out, easily. Our defense is more than capable of stopping USC, if only for a couple drives. Our offense has done a legit 2-minute drill two (maybe three) times this season against Texas and Michigan, at the end of both halves, and we carved them up like a holiday ham. USC fans see our 4-5 WR spread and say "ehh, that's how we roll in the PAC-10," but they are going against a WR corps deeper than their own. Their DB's are great and they might be in the nickel a lot, but unlike ND, Carroll is too good of a DC to not put a spy on Smith. Someone will get open.

 

[k_stone_69]

Worst case scenario, but I think we could survive a shoot-out, easily. Our defense is more than capable of stopping USC, if only for a couple drives. Our offense has done a legit 2-minute drill two (maybe three) times this season against Texas and Michigan, at the end of both halves, and we carved them up like a holiday ham. USC fans see our 4-5 WR spread and say "ehh, that's how we roll in the PAC-10," but they are going against a WR corps deeper than their own. Their DB's are great and they might be in the nickel a lot, but unlike ND, Carroll is too good of a DC to not put a spy on Smith. Someone will get open.

I'm not so concerned with our Offense as I am with our DB's and that is what may keep them close. The real difference is how well OUR GUYS can EXECUTE JT'S GAMEPLAN. When tOSU plays as a TEAM and executes the gameplan they're the toughest team to beat.

We didn't have a perfect game against tsun and still won.

 

[Flocka]

Since the gators dismissed DT Marcus Thomas their run defense has not been all that good. It would def be an area to exploit, which arkansas and mcfadden will do this weekend.

 

[briegg]

vs. USC - I think JT pulls back the O a bit - Alex Boone gets healthy and we go with more of a running attack (I think USCs strength is pass D - I watched Oregon State run for what seemed like 5 yards a pop). Shorten the game and keep the USC offense off the field (after seeing us play Michigan and them play ND, their O scares me a bit)

vs. FL - I think JT would try a similar gameplan that they used against MI - they are good vs. the run, and I think we could stop their O much more consistantly and try to give our O as many chances as possible ("extend" the game a bit).

vs. MI - who the hell knows, but lets hope we don't have to see this one.

In the end, I think USC will give us a good game - we would beat FL by 20.

:osu: