USC vs UT - not impressed with USC

Ummm, yeah.

I've pretty much thought we could compete with USC since we beat OSU.

Now I'm more than sure we'll compete...Very evenly matched game.

 

You mean after shutting them out the 2nd half 35-0, and then scoring 114 unanswered points right after that, combining for 149 unanswered points in 7 quarters? Absolutely.

You're right, the team hasn't changed much in the 3 weeks and I'm glad we haven't. We shut out OkSt in the 2nd half, killed Baylor 62-0, and then destroyed Kansas with 52 points in the 1st half. So I don't see much of an argument there, do you?

I'm not as confident as these other guys because I know how good USC is, but USC hasn't played as well as UT has this season, especially on the defensive end.

Do I think USC can compete with Texas after giving up 42 points to Fresno State at home? Absolutely, I don't look at just one game (like the Okstate) and go from there. I've seen every almost every single USC and Texas game this season and I am confident when I say Texas has played a better overall season so far.

But of course, none of that really matters come January 4th.

 

Yes because we have Vince Young. The guy never gets phased. Remember we did beat the other OSU in their house in come from behind fashion. Their defense is much stronger than USC's in my opinion.

 

That's the dangerous thing about the Trojans, they are capable of playing just about any offensive style necessary and as soon as one team makes an adjustment, they can counter it more effectively than any other team in the nation. If a team triple teams Bush, than LenDale White can be used to go to a grind-it-out ball control style. Stack the line to stuff White, a play action pass to Dwayne Jarrett. Drop safeties in coverage to double team Jarrett or Smith, than here comes Bush to the edge. Don't sell USC short as a team that can't punch someone in the mouth if they need to.

Granted, 'SC's defense is not ranked as high in scoring defense as UT's, but they do lead the nation in turnover differential. Besides, they are ranked 32nd in scoring defense out of 117 Div. I teams, which is technically above average. They certainly don't suck, especially with as many injuries as they have sustained.

I don't know, Notre Dame is No. 6, Oregon No. 8, and Fresno State No. 16. Heck, the only games they "squeaked by" were Notre Dame, Arizona State (who was #16 @ the time and had given LSU all they wanted) and Fresno State, a much better team than it appears anyone here seems to realize. Also, as two-time defending champs with a 33 game win streak, USC has an enormous target on their back. If a team beats them, it totally makes their season, even if it's their only win. UT just does not have that cache right now.

Really? You think Notre Dame is on par with Tech? Well if that's the case than wouldn't Fresno State be comparable to Louisiana-Lafayette? Oregon be on par with Kansas? When USC plays UCLA are they really playing a team the caliber of Baylor?

Because UT can crush Baylor, Kansas, Louisiana-Lafayette, & Rice?


Look, I really do respect the job that Texas has done, they are unquestionably one of the two best teams in the nation featuring one of the two best talents in the nation. It should be one of the great matchups of this young century, but I tell you, if the Longhorn players walk into Pasadena with the same feelings of superiority that you are exhibiting, it's going to be a replay of last year's game of the century & Traveler will get a heart attack from so many runs up & down the sideline.

 

Now let's not go and get crazy and compare the Big12 and Pac 10 to the SEC. It can be argued that the SEC is the toughest conference in the NCAA right now. I doubt anyone could make that argument for the Big12 or Pac 10 this year.

 

I'd agree, the SEC was the best conference to watch games this season. The Big12 had a down year mainly because of OU and TAMU were terrible. Pac-10 was all USC.

 

You gotta put the Big10 up there too. It was the most competitive its ever been this year with the average teams all stepping it up and taking each other out.

 

That's a great analysis. I strongly agree with the part where USC has a target on their back. Every single college that plays against USC knows it's going to be a huge game and if they win, they'll be on national news.

 

I think alot of people hate Texas for the mere fact that we're in Texas. We're everybody's big game in almost every sport. Ask Wane Graham.

 

um bigtexxx...

you DO realize a game is over after FOUR quarters and not 2 right? And UT did come back to win that game 47-28.

but back to the main topic at hand...you gotta respect USC despite some last second heroics. There's only one way to find out and I hope it's gonna happen.

 

I guess I shouldn't be surprised that Dakota thinks that the Big 12 is just as good or better than the SEC. After Texas, which teams in the Big 12 are good? Texas Tech?? Sadly, that is probably the 2nd best team and every team after that would probably get handled by Vandy or the worst Tennessee team in years. Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, LSU, Auburn, and Alabama would all beat Texas Tech and the rest of the Big 12 that is NOT Texas. Now with that being said, Texas still is better than any of the SEC teams. But it is pure lunacy and homerism to the nth degree to say that the Big 12 is one of the top college football conferences this season. That is usually the case every season, but not this one.

 

The Big 12 is obviously weak but I wouldn't say the SEC is particularly strong either.

LSU barely beat an ASU team who is on par with Tech.
Florida and Alabama's offenses are absolutely wretched.
Tennessee is incredibly talented but equally stupid.
In my opinion, Auburn is overrated as is South Carolina who won a couple of big Steve Spurrier revenge games.

Colorado would win their fair share of games in the SEC and Oklahoma would take a few too.

The SEC is very weak this year and is not as good as the Pac 10, Big 10, or the ACC.

 

Yeah, the SEC teams have a huge problem that all their defenses are good, but their offenses are terrible. That makes their defenses all look even better. The SEC and B12 are pretty miserable this year - the ACC and especially B10 are the ones having strong years. If you look at computer-based conference ratings (which almost always put the SEC #1), this year you have:

B10
ACC
Pac10
B12
SEC

With the Pac10/B12 basically tied. (at least with Sagarin)

http://www.kiva.net/~jsagarin/sports/cfsend.htm

I think that's probably pretty accurate.

 

pfft. Wayne Graham has scoreboard the last two times he has faced UT in Omaha. I wouldn't worry too much about him.

USC is much bigger than UT in football right now. They're the talk of America with Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart. A possibility of 3 national championships in a row could mean that they are the best college football team of all time. UT just happens to be the other undefeated team in the country. USC gets 15 mins on Sportscenter, UT gets a couple of plays in the highlight clips. 'nuff said

 

I don't see any teams would beat USC as long as Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart is in that program. When you have two best players on the most important postions on your footabll team, chance that you would lose the game is...mm, let alone Pete Carroll is such a great coach.

 

can leinart, bush or carroll tackle anyone??

 

That can all change after 1 game.

 

USc would be a 4 point favorite over my horns. I'll be paying a penny on UT.

 

Well, USC makes plays when they have to, and that's the key. Most Pac 10 teams, ND, and FSU are high power offense teams and you will not comletely shut them down.

Texas have not played any offense that is ND/FSU/USC/UCLA caliber this year. and We have seen what excellent defense such as OSU would do to Texas earlier this year (3 Tos). I am not saying Texas defense is overrateed but they may not be as good as advertised. Giving Pete Carroll one month to prepare for Texas does not help either.

Make no mistake, I am a huge Texas fan. I just feel this may not be their year yet, maybe next year when Bush and Leinart are all gone and Vince have another year under his belt.

Anyway, the championship game should be a wonderful game to watch. USC have not faced a quarter back that can run as well as Vince during its 3 year run of NC.