Are you buying the Southern Cal hype?

[Hector.sixpack]

2012 Schedule
Hawaii
Syracuse
@Stanford
California
@Utah
@Washington
Colorado
@Arizona
Oregon
Arizona State
@UCLA
Notre Dame

Last year's Scores
USC 19, Minnesota 17
USC 23, Utah 14
USC 38, Syracuse 17
Arizona State 43, USC 22
USC 48, Arizona 41
USC 30, California 9
USC 31, Notre Dame 17
Stanford 56, USC 48
USC 42, Colorado 17
USC 40, Washington 17
USC 38, Oregon 35
USC 50, UCLA 0

I don't think they make it thru the season without losing at least one, probably two. Their schedule sets up nicely for them though, but they only have a first string. If they make it to the NC game, LSU is going to beat the crap out of them. Although I can't stand Kiffin, he's done a good job thru the probation period. I still don't think he has the discipline it takes to be a NC team, but the man is crootin' well. Of course, its USC, how hard could that be.

 

[Hector.sixpack]

2012 Schedule
Hawaii
Syracuse
@Stanford
California
@Utah
@Washington
Colorado
@Arizona
Oregon
Arizona State
@UCLA
Notre Dame

Last year's Scores
USC 19, Minnesota 17
USC 23, Utah 14
USC 38, Syracuse 17
Arizona State 43, USC 22
USC 48, Arizona 41
USC 30, California 9
USC 31, Notre Dame 17
Stanford 56, USC 48
USC 42, Colorado 17
USC 40, Washington 17
USC 38, Oregon 35
USC 50, UCLA 0

I don't think they make it thru the season without losing at least one, probably two. Their schedule sets up nicely for them though, but they only have a first string. If they make it to the NC game, LSU is going to beat the crap out of them. Although I can't stand Kiffin, he's done a good job thru the probation period. I still don't think he has the discipline it takes to be a NC team, but the man is crootin' well. Of course, its USC, how hard could that be.

 

[missouridawg]

every game they play this year. If I was picking two teams to be in the national championship game today, USCw would be the no-brainer. I'd have to debate between OU/LSU/Bama on the second team.

 

[engie]

I hope your talking about Oregon...

Oklahoma lost 2 starting OL with HALF their total line experience in the past weeks...
http://blog.newsok.com/ou...ine-for-2012-and-beyond/

 

[GloryDawg]

I never buy the hype from the media when it comes to USC, Texas or Ohio. It's always over rated. I think it will all come down to how good Oregon, Stanford, Utah or ND are. USC hasn't been a power in three or four years and after this one things are only going to go down hill for them. Only being able to sign 15 this year and then the next two is going to hurt. Anyways it will not matter this year either how many games they win because once they meet the SEC BCS NC qualifying team they will get smashed in the mouth.

 

[JackShephard]

Who is going to beat them? Oregon may, but they couldn't last year. Plus it's a home game for USC this time around. Other than that, @stanford, @utah, and vs ND are their "hardest" games. I would kill for that schedule. Utah is the biggest challenge there and I'm not sure they're complete enough to compete with USC yet. But, seems like every year USC is good for a wtf loss so you do have a point.

 

[Todd4State]

to the NC game, Bama or LSU will kick their ***.

Rebuilding at USC isn't that difficult of a task. Croom could have won six games a year easy. All they have to do is get the top players in Los Angeles and California always produces some of the best and most developed high school QB's every year- and they normally go to USC.

I'm also sure that they are cheating their *** off and that always helps. As long as no one finds out- like Reggie Bush's house.

 

[LBC.sixpack]

Their top 22 can play with anybody in the country(including Bama/LSU), but after that . . . they don't have much. Once someone gets hurt or suspended, they'll be having a pretty big void to fill. They could easily run the table with their schedule, but they just don't have the depth to compete with the elite powers right now. Regardless, I'd put them at a top 5 team for sure.

 

[dawgs.sixpack]

Who is going to beat them? Oregon may, but they couldn't last year. Plus it's a home game for USC this time around.

that's the worst logic ever. how do you explain bama-lsu last year? maybe oregon is better this year? the D definitely will be and darron thomas was banged up the 2nd half of last season. yeah thomas is gone this year, but oregon might have a completely healthy QB playing this year. plus the new guys might be better than thomas too. RBs and offensive playmakers on the outside aren't gonna be a problem for the ducks. usc and oregon are likely going to have a pair of slugfests this year and it's ridiculous to try to predict oregon won't beat usc this year simply due to last year's result.<div>
</div><div>kiffin was able to appeal the ncaa penalties that delayed their scholarship hits, then he absolutely loaded up the last 2 years basically putting all his eggs in the 2012 basket. the next couple of years they will actually start feeling the scholarship hit. he's hoping that he can incur plenty of goodwill this year to carry him through the rough patch ahead.</div><div>
</div><div>also, worth reading for those on the usc bandwagon</div><div>http://atlanta.sbnation.com/georgia-bulldogs/2012/8/6/3217181/2012-college-football-season-uga-usc
</div>

 

[GloryDawg]

Knowing what they were going to face eight of the 12 weeks of football.</p>

 

[missouridawg]

of their OL issues that recently cropped up... but their schedule sets up very, very nicely. They're 4 toughest games will be Texas (in Dallas), @WVU, vs Notre Dame, and vs OSU. I'm not sure what TCU is bringing to the table, but they also play @TCU.

I think that schedule is very, very favorable for them. However, I am concerned about their O-Line issues, now that you've brought them up.

 

[patdog]

But they always seem to have 1 or2 WTF losses every year. </p>

 

[dawgs.sixpack]

Knowing what they were going to face eight of the 12 weeks of football.</p>

uga only has 63 scholarship players right now and they are ranked 6th, so you can't really holler that usc's lack of depth would prevent them from being ranked in the top 5 or 10 or whatever if they played in the sec. and usc has a much better offense than uga. barkley > murray. then you toss in woods, lee, redd, mcneal, etc. and it's not even close. uga might have the edge on D, but i think that gap is much more narrow than the gap on offense. <div>
</div><div>also, the pac 12 is coming along fast as the 2nd best CFB conference. usc is an all time power, oregon is becoming a power, some good new coaching hires, improved recruiting the last couple years, monster TV deal is kicking in this year. it's not a pushover, so let's not talk about them like they are more comparable to the big east than the sec.</div>

 

[missouridawg]

I'd pencil them in at 10-2.

It's their schedule that makes me think they go 12-0.

 

[dawgs.sixpack]

But they always seem to have 1 or2 WTF losses every year. </p>

except for the years they were playing for national titles and in the rose bowl.

 

[patdog]

Probably 8 years in another 4 months.

 

[GloryDawg]

I would say having to play eight SEC schools would be tougher then playing eightPack 12schools. If USC was in the SEC West they would catch helltrying to beatLSU, Alabama, and Arkansas. Also depending on when and where they played Miss State, A&Mor Auburn they could catch hell trying to win those three as well. If they drew the right two from the East they could catch hell trying to win.</p>

 

[engie]

Texas and WVa will be tough games. Notre Dame, OSU, and TCU are all games that can be easily lost.

I'd bet on Georgia before I'd bet on OK this year.

USC, Oregon, Florida St, Wisconsin... those are another story. Wisconsin in particular looking at their schedule...

 

[LBC.sixpack]

For the SECCG no doubt. If they were in the West, they'd beat Arky and lose to Bama and LSU. Which in all honesty is still a top ten team at the least.

 

[dawgs.sixpack]

I would say having to play eight SEC schools would be tougher then playing eightPack 12schools. If USC was in the SEC West they would catch helltrying to beatLSU, Alabama, and Arkansas. Also depending on when and where they played Miss State, A&Mor Auburn they could catch hell trying to win those three as well. If they drew the right two from the East they could catch hell trying to win.</p>

arkansas is going to be one of the season's biggest disappointments. 7-5 or 8-4 without petrino's magic calling plays and installing gameplans.<div>
</div><div>i think there are 4 schools above everyone else right now: bama, lsu, oregon, and usc. and usc-oregon and bama-lsu are on the same day too. i don't think it's a lock that usc would lose to bama or lsu either. i'm also not sure they'll beat oregon twice and run the table. but they could. i would like to actually see some football before i start declaring one way or the other.

</div>

 

[Hector.sixpack]

nm

 

[Hector.sixpack]

When their depth issues will most likely show.

I'm picking it now Arizona beats USC.....Rich Rod to the rescue.

 

[GloryDawg]

I agree about Arkansascould onlywin 7 games but that has to do more with the coaching situationbutgoing by talent they would finish in the top 2of the Pack 12. I will disagree and say USC would lose to both LSU and Alabama. They would just ware their asses down and you are not going toconvince me playing eight pack 12 schools is just as hard a playing eight SEC schools. I just think the SEC is more physical then the Pack 12.

 

[patdog]

This isn't going to be the same Arkansas team we saw the last 2 years.

 

[dawgs.sixpack]

pac 12 plays 9 conference games, not 8. so yeah, playing 1 more "peer" instead of mixing in a 4th jacksonville st and i think the "wear down" factor comes out more even.</p>

 

[Johnson85]

It looks easy to a state fan of a school in the SEC West because they don't have to play a lot of top ten teams. Having five games that could be lost is more than a lot of championship caliber teams have to deal with.

 

[JackShephard]

I asked who would beat them and then said Oregon may. In other words Oregon has the best shot. I then listed reasons why Oregon isn't a slam dunk. Number one being its at USC this year. Also USC is better this year than last year and USC won last year. No that's not the end all be all of it, but if you think USC won't be favored in that game, you'd better think again. USC has the closest thing Oregon will see to an SEC type defense with size and speed. And based on the auburn, LSU, and USC games from the past couple of seasons that's a bad sign for Oregon. However, oregon's d is a notch better this year than last and their offense is always good therefore the "may". It will be close, but USC has the edge. As far as the PAC 12 CG, who knows. USC should still be favored though, provided they both even make it. Since its not guaranteed, even if highly likely, I did not even consider it in my original post.

 

[GloryDawg]

But wouldn't playing nine SEC games be tougher then playing nine Pack 12 that doesn't change my point, the SEC is just a harder hitting conference.

 

[JackShephard]

I agree with your sentiment. 2003 was the first year espn started pimping them. That year they lost to a dreadful CAL team. Back then, the PAC 10 sucked balls outside of USC and Oregon (this was their first few years of relevance). 03 is also the year LSU won the BCS, but the Pete Carroll whined like a little girl and declared themselves champions and the AP bought his act. 04 and 05 are the only years there were no wtf losses. 06 had a bad ore st team (with an inflated record due to PAC 10 being so bad) and ucla beating them. 07 was worse with Stanford and a bad Oregon team getting them. 08 was another bad ore st loss. 09 was Washington, Stanford, and Arizona (along with a loss to a good Oregon team). 10 yielded another 3 bad lossesixed with 2 good and last year they fell to a middling ASU. So 80% of the time since they've been "back" they've had a season with at least one loss to a team they were heavy favorites to beat. 80% chance it happens in 2012.

 

[Tds &amp; Beer]

I think they have some bad *** talent and are gonna be really good starting out, but they are still short 10 scholarships. You can't make it to the national championship when you are short ten scholarships.

 

[missouridawg]

I listed OU's toughest games... I listed their toughest games... not the games that I think will necessarily be tough.

OU has a veteran QB returning, as well as a stellar defense. They lost some OLINE recently, and that's definitely a concern...

-Texas had David Ash and Case McCoy fighting it out. Yawn. OU will be favored by 7 or more in this one.
-WVU will be their toughest game, no doubt. Geno Smith is legit, as is that offense.
-ND is perenially over-rated and they have QB issues as well.
-OSU is breaking in a new QB. Does anyone know what he can do? Didn't think so.
-TCU has a pretty solid team and will be a tough game as well.

So they have 3 games (Texas, ND, and OSU) in which I think they'll be favored by 7 or more, more than likely. And they have two tough games that in which the lines will be within 3 points of a pick'em. Their schedule ain't that tough, in my opinion.

 

[Johnson85]

but figured maybe they were supposed to be better this year.

 

[dawgs.sixpack]

I asked who would beat them and then said Oregon may. In other words Oregon has the best shot. I then listed reasons why Oregon isn't a slam dunk. Number one being its at USC this year. Also USC is better this year than last year and USC won last year. No that's not the end all be all of it, but if you think USC won't be favored in that game, you'd better think again. USC has the closest thing Oregon will see to an SEC type defense with size and speed. And based on the auburn, LSU, and USC games from the past couple of seasons that's a bad sign for Oregon. However, oregon's d is a notch better this year than last and their offense is always good therefore the "may". It will be close, but USC has the edge. As far as the PAC 12 CG, who knows. USC should still be favored though, provided they both even make it. Since its not guaranteed, even if highly likely, I did not even consider it in my original post.

i just consider oregon and usc to be equals going into the season. there is no "well oregon MAY beat them" like oregon is an OK team who is the best usc will play. oregon is every bit as good as usc. i'd view that game as a toss up until we can further evaluate games on the field in september. so what if oregon lost to them last year, usc lost to arizona st.

 

[dawgs.sixpack]

07 was worse with Stanford and a bad Oregon team getting them.

a bad oregon team in 07? just a heads up, but oregon was ranked #2 at 8-1and in line to play for a national title that year before dennis dixon's knee blew up against arizona. sure the final record ended up an OK 9-4, but i'd say losing a heisman candidate (the leader?) in the 10th game of the season kinda 17s your up and makes it understandable how oregon finished with a 3 game losing streak.

 

[JackShephard]

Musta confused em with the 06 version. My point still stands. But I give up, I see from your response to my other post that you struggle with comprehension. Not sure what your PAC 10/12 fetish is about but you can have it.

 

[mcdawg22]

9 maybe but they'd lose to Auburn, A&M or Ark.

 

[shsdawg]

The starting 22 are as good asanybody's. It drops off in a hurry behind them. Getting the RB from Penn State was actually a very big get for them. It boggles the mind considering we are talking about the Trojansbut the depth in the backfield isa big problem right now. There isn't any room for injuires at most postions. IF they stay healthy theywill make a run, provided they don't have that one inexplicable loss they always seem to have the last several years. The schedule sets up ppretty well, most of the toughest games are in LA.