Double post time....

So yeah, no recap of last week's game between USC and Nebraska, partly because I was dead tired after the game last week, but mostly because we didn't have internet last week... But yeah, here's the long awaited recap:

#4 USC 28, #19 Nebraska 10

In a reversal of tales from last season, it seems the USC defense is finally returning to form from the 2004 season, while the offense struggles to find some consistency. The defense had little trouble stopping Nebraska coach Bill Callahan's unusual keep away offense, especially with their success with the West Coast offense in their first two games. Callahan had Marlon Lucky try to test DT Chris Barrett, filling in for the injured DT Sedrick Ellis, but all that did was lead to several third-and-longs that the swarming defense was able to stop. They almost had a goal line staind at the beginning of the fourth quarter, if not for an uncalled illegal block in the back. The offense capitalized on a mismatch between WR Dwayne Jarrett and the shorter Cornhusker CBs, as Jarrett exploded for 11 catches for 136 yards and 2 touchdowns. QB John David Booty looked sharp in his second career start, going 25-36 for 257 yards and 3 touchdowns with no interceptions. The run game, however, had problems getting on track after FB Ryan Powdrell went down with a horrific ankle injury early in the first quarter. USC's foursome of backs could only muster 68 rushing yards. The special teamers could not get the blocks needed to lead to any big, or even decent returns on kickoffs and punts, as Cary Harris did not advance the ball past the 20 on kickoffs and Desmond Reed was forced to call for several fair catches on punts. The kicking game was still solid, led by K Troy Van Blarcom, who's booming kicks have really forced the opposing team into poor field poistion. K Mario Danelo was perfect on 4 point after attempts, while P Greg Woidneck had another solid game. This game didn't end up being a blowout most USC fans are accustomed to, but it was still a solid win over a good Nebraska team, and I expect a great game next year in Lincoln.

Game balls:
Offense - Dwayne Jarrett: 11 catches, 136 yards, 2 TD, really responded to being called out by offensive coordinator Lane Kiffen
Defense - Rey Maualuga: 11 tackles (1 for loss)
Special Teams - Troy Van Blarcom, his big kicks help win the field position battle. Danelo only kicked four PATs, while no one on the return team has really stepped up.

Hmm, season pick'em, I'll be honest, I picked USC (-18) to win 42-14, so
W-L - 2-0
Agsinst the spread - 1-0-1 (the spread was 18 points... so it ends up as a push)

And now for today's game:

#3 USC 20, Arizona 3

20 points! Only 20 points!?! Well, I'm not that surprised after watching the entire game, but if I had just read the box score on ESPN.com, I'd be very surprised. But the offense was really lackluster after losing WR Dwayne Jarrett to an apparent shoulder injury and having another FB, Stanley Havili, go down to injury, with him expected to miss about 4 weeks. QB John David Booty threw his first interception on the year, but thanks to the tremendous USC defense, they held the Wildcats to a field goal try on the ensuing drive that was blocked by DE Lawrence Jackson. But the offense, save for Emmanuel Moody, had a difficult time getting anything going agsinst a solid Arizona team. But while the USC offense struggled to move the ball, getting a first down seemed a monumental task for the Arizona offense against the Trojans' defense. QB Willie Tuitama could not escape the quick corp of linebackers, as the defense gathered 5 sacks and forced him to throw an interception. Tuitama has not been himself this season, or at least has not played like he did against UCLA last year. Arizona finished with negaitve 16 yards rushing, limiting their offense to the passing game, which the Trojans also limited. The 3 points is the fewest allowed by USC since October 2004, when USC shutout Washington 38-0. I'm expecting at least one shutout this year, nothing is more satisfying than keeping your opponent off the board. My prediction; we will shutout Oregon State and Stanford. While the final score looks less impressive than last week's final, I'd rather win every game by a similar score than how we won games last year. Sure, it's less sexy and exciting, but it takes a real team to shut down the opposing offense week after week.

Game balls:
Offense - Emmanuel Moody - 21 rush, 130 yards, TD; he was our workhorse today, and he made several key third down conversions by breaking tackles and reaching for the marker. I'm excited to see what the future holds for him.
Defense - Can I give out 11+ balls to whoever saw the field on defense today? If not, I'd have to give it to Rey Maualuga again. He got 5 tackles, including two for loss, a key sack when Arizona was marching down the field between the third and fourth quarters, and a beautiful interceptions, somehow keeping the ball off the turf. Nothing against Oscar Lua, who is a fine MLB and would start at any other Pac-10 school, but Maualuga is the man, and is looking to become like the guy who last wore #58, Lofa Tatupu.
Special Teams - Had Mario Danelo made that 26 yarder to put us up 13-0, he would have received this ball. But after missing the chip shot, Arizona went down the field and put up their only points of the game on the ensuing drive. Missed opportunites hurt today, but luckily the Wildcats could not take advantage of them. I'd have to give the ball again to Troy Van Blarcom. With no return game and good, but not great play from P Greg Woidneck, Van Blarcom's ability to place the ball in the endzone is huge. One of the few times he didn't send the ball team, Syndric Steptoe took the ball past the 40.

Season pick'em, again, I failed to post my pregame prediction, but here's what it was: USC (-22.5) 35, Arizona 10

W-L - 3-0
Against the spread: 1-1-1 (looks kinda like I'm picking for the Daily Trojan...)

Other thoughts from today: Michigan State Coug'd it today, allowing Brady Quinn and #12 Notre dame to salvage their season with a come from behind 40-37 victory. After the first quarter, it looked like the Fighing Irish were going to get blown out for the second straight week, but the defense tightned up and Quinn threw for 5 touchdowns to put his name back in Heisman contention....No undefeated team looked really special today. #1 Ohio State
used two fourth quarter interception returned for touchdowns to pad their win against #24 Penn State. #2 Auburn started off sluggish before pulling away from perennial Bottom 10 team Buffalo. #4 West Virginia was held under 40 points for the first time this season, but managed to gut out a 27-10 win against an inspired East Carolina team. #5 Florida almost sleepwalked through a 26-7 victory over Kentucky. #8 Louisville lacked its offensive fire power against Kansas State without QB Brian Brohm and RB Michael Bush, taking it 24-6. #9 Georgia was on upset alert for 59:14 of the game before backup QB Joe Cox led the Bulldogs to two fourth quarter TDs to upend winless Colorado 14-13. #11 Virginia Tech trailed going into the fourth against Cincinnati before pulling away, 29-13. #25 Boise State survived a five TD game from Hawaii QB Colt Brennan to win, 41-34 on the blue turf....UCLA was upset by Washington, 29-19 after staking out to a 16-0 lead midway through the second quarter....Who wants to be the best team in the ACC? Miami and Florida State are no longer the class of the conference, and Boston College lost a head scratcher to North Carolina State. Clemson is an extra point away from potentially being undefeated.

Up next for USC, a date with the Washington State Cougars in Pullman, Washington on TBS. The importance of the location and TV channel? Here's a hint, it was the last time Pete Carroll and the Trojans lost outside of California (2003 game was in Berekely, 2006 Rose Bowl in Pasadena). Give up? On October 10th, 2002, Ryan Killeen missed a PAT with four minutes left in the fourth quarter to give USC a four point lead, and later missed a 52 yard field goal in overtime as #17 Washington State beat the #18 Trojans 30-27 in overtime. And the game was shown on TBS... Go figure...