College Football Ping.
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Posted on 11/30/2005 3:17:21 PM PST by rockthecasbah
Now this is truly a football game the city of Los Angeles could love. The battle between the Bruins and Trojans is in many ways a bizarre, weird, excessive testosterone festival with big stakes and over-the-top emotions. It's everything the City of Angels is. In a place obsessed with image, trendiness, physical beauty, and maximum entertainment value, this year's battle for the Victory Bell will certainly capture the imagination of Angelino culture. This game is the sort of larger-than-large uber-spectacle that Hollywood thrives on. It's so big a game that it doesn't really feel like a regular-season finale. It's as though the clash between Westwood and Troy exists on an island in a one-of-a-kind world inaccessible to anyone outside L.A.
Reggie Bush's historic performance against Fresno State may have locked up another Heisman Trophy for the Trojans. (Jeff Gross / Getty Images) After all, UCLA will have had three weeks to prepare for this game, USC two. The only other time two football teams have a combined 4-5 weeks to prepare for a game — other than a college bowl battle, of course — is the Super Bowl. And in a non-NFL city whose college teams have entertained immensely over the past few years, thank you very much. Why would L.A. want a pro team? This game looks, cooks and feels like one with Super Bowl-level significance, hype and pressure. Moreover, it will be played in the L.A. Coliseum, which hosted the first Super Bowl back in 1967. Yeah, that's right, 1967 — the same year Orenthal James Simpson made the single greatest play in the Bruins-Trojans rivalry, right on that very same Coliseum field.
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.foxsports.com ...
Ping.
USC 56 - UCLA 24
The Eyes of Texas are upon you!
Just like the Eyes of Oklahoma were on us last year.
Though I have no dog in this hunt. I wouldn't mind seeing USC win, so they can play TX...and then lose to TX.
But, I also love a good upset, so, I'll root for USC but if UCLA wins...that's not so bad.
That will more than cover the spread.
Bet the ranch on it.
Reggie's last game in the Coliseum.
Leinart's last game in the Coliseum.
Count on Reggie running for 200, LenDale another 100, and Matt throwing for 300.
I predict a LOT of offense
I don't care who wins, as long as someone beats UT in the championship game.
Upset:
UCLA: 37
USC: 27
Bump
There is no way that UCLA's defense will hold USC to 27 points... USC will have that by halftime.
O/U 74
USC -21.5
If UCLA wins, then Texas is clear national champ but from what I have read they will still play USC, but there would be no way for SC to declare themselves champs no matter what.
Kinda yechy. More fun for USC to beat UCLA (which they probaby will) and make it a REAL battle of the Titans in the Rose Bowl on the 4th (the 4th?)
yep...
I would take the over on that...
but I would say that UCLA keeps it closer than 3 TDs....maybe....
"Count on Reggie running for 200, LenDale another 100, and Matt throwing for 300."
Best College offense ever? Top five? Top ten?
top ten...
If they still had MIke Williams and all the other guys they lost early, then would be top 2....easily...
but I want to see them against the Texas defense. The Texas defense is easily the best one they will (probably) face all year.
Notre Dame's defense is a sieve. In fact, the entire Notre Dame team is overrated. Sure it's nice to see them relevant again, which means I can go back to hating them.
If UCLA wins, then chances are the computers won't drop USC far enough for LSU or PSU to jump them. Maybe. We might find out, but I don't think we will.
But if that happens, and USC still plays Texas in the Rose Bowl, then the winner of that game IS the 2005 National Champion.
How could the go to the MNC? I think LSU's strength of schedule would bump them over USC.
1983 Cornhuskers, 1995 Cornhuskers then 2004 USC.
nah LSU's SOS is taking big hits by playing Appalachian State and their loss coming from Tennessee...
Hey, I was darn near right last week in picking the NFL Thanksgiving games. Give this one to me.:) Seriously, after what I've heard about USC's defense (especially after the Fresno State game), this team is due for a letdown, if not this week, then my 'Horns will do it.
LSU gets hurt by common opponent comparison, too:
USC 70 - Arkansas 0
LSU 19 - Arkansas 17
USC 38 - Arizona State 28
LSU 35 - Arizona State 31
Do they figure that into the computers?
I believe at least 2 of the 6 of the computer models uses "common opponents" in their statistics. It could be more.
Sorry the games at the Coliseum this year, not the Rose Bowl.
Bingo. Even if USC loses a close one, they're still in the Rose Bowl.
Good question -- but I think the 30+ win streak will hold USC's position as #2, but only if they beat Texas.
I am not convinced beating Texas on Jan 4 will be enough to overcome a loss to UCLA.
I suspect the reason they have the BCS is so we can have discussions like this. There was a GREAT article the other day in the form of a mythical letter to the NCAA pointing out every other college sport, including Football below Div IA, has a playoff.
Notre D and Ohio state the consolation Bowl. 2 loss teams don't belong in any BS bowls.
But here is my qualifier for the game:
The team that scores 30 (or less) points will lose.
This is not going to be a defensive struggle, but the team with the ball last, will probably be the one to win.
Go Trojans! ( I despise the far left UCLA!)
Here's my case for top five:
USC, which has been ranked No. 1 in a national-record 32 straight AP polls, also is riding an NCAA record 15-game winning streak over AP Top 25 teams.
Since 2002, USC is undefeated in regulation in its last 47 games, losing at Washington State, 30-27, in overtime in 2002 and at California, 34-31, in triple overtime in 2003. Their last loss in regulation was at Kansas State, 27-20, on Sept. 21, 2002. Think about that for a second. Had kicker Ryan Killeen connected on his field goals in both overtime losses, USC might be going into this weekend's game against UCLA looking to break Oklahoma's 47-game winning streak from 1953-57, which is the longest in NCAA history.
One of the reasons USC has been so successful during that stretch has been its high-scoring offense. The Trojans have scored at least 22 points in their last 48 games. During this stretch USC has scored 30 or more points 39 times, 40 or more 29 times, 50 or more 10 times and 60 or more three times, including their 70-17 rout of Arkansas this season.
"( I despise the far left UCLA!)"
That's why I call them the ACLU bRuins!
Babes in Troyland...
yeah....that's pretty dominant if you ask me
does it even matter outside of the Rose Bowl?
It doesn't.
The Orange, the Fiesta and the Sugar Bowls are ALL consolation games. The only one that matters is the Rose.
yeah that's fine, but you got to admit that they have also played in a conference that hasn't really shown much defense in the past 3 or 4 years, outside of USC's of course.
Like I said, top 10...probably 6 or 7, but they aren't the best ever. They aren't even better than last year's incarnation.
"They aren't even better than last year's incarnation"
I think this year's offense is better than last years (though they're mostly the same guys, just a little more perfected). The defense this year in comparison to last year has suffered in terms of yards allowed (ie weak against the pass).
Here is Mandels take:
If Texas loses: Unless they remain in the BCS top four (not likely), the Longhorns would likely be left out altogether, because the Fiesta is not going to stage a Colorado-Texas rematch, and the Orange would almost certainly use its selection on Notre Dame. My guess:
Rose: USC vs. Penn State
Fiesta: Colorado vs. Oregon
Sugar: LSU/Georgia vs. West Virginia
Orange: Virginia Tech vs. Notre Dame
If USC loses: Believe it or not, the Trojans would still get the Pac-10's automatic berth, winning a three-way tie with UCLA and Oregon because, of all things, the Bruins lost to Arizona. Don't ask. ...
Rose: Texas vs. Penn State
Fiesta: USC vs. Ohio State
Sugar: LSU/Georgia vs. West Virginia
Orange: Virginia Tech vs. Notre Dame
If USC and Texas lose and LSU beats Georgia: If Virginia Tech wasn't playing a four-loss team, it might have had a chance to move ahead of LSU for No. 2. ...
Rose: Penn State vs. LSU
Fiesta: USC vs. Colorado
Sugar: West Virginia vs. Notre Dame
Orange: Virginia Tech vs. Texas
If USC and Texas lose and Georgia beats LSU: The Orange Bowl would get the top two picks. ...
Rose: Penn State vs. Virginia Tech
Fiesta: USC vs. Colorado
Sugar: Georgia vs. West Virginia
Orange: Notre Dame vs. Texas
Hopefully that helped, though I'm guessing by now you're only slightly less confused than Frank Solich was when the cops tapped on his window.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/stewart_mandel/11/30/mandel/index.html
yeah I saw that earlier...
I kinda like the scenario where OSU plays USC, but I don't think any of this will happen....
maybe. We will see.
USC just doesn't strike me as strong enough through the air. It's Dwayne Jarrett and who else?
Just THINK if it were Dwayne Jarrett and Mike Williams. That would make the best tandem this year, Holmes and Ginn, look like high schoolers....
"Dwayne Jarrett and who else?"
Freshman Patrick Turner - just wait.
yeah but he isn't what MIke Williams was...
that's what I am saying. Here and now man, here and now....
Turner is hurt because no one can shut down Jarrett....
That is the song they sing so well.
Sounds like HELL!
Short!
Aye!
Whoop!
Trajan88; TAMU Class of '88
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