Another solid win

Well, another good win by USC last week, beating the Oregon Ducks 35-10. That game sets up this week's one as a winner takes the Rose Bowl game, where the winner is assured of at least a berth in the Rose Bowl with both Cal and USC going in with one loss in the conference. But back to the Oregon game for now. With all of the upsets happening last week, it was great for us to come out and blow out a team like the Ducks and show that we are close to the top of the one loss teams. Texas, Auburn, West Virginia, and Cal, all top 10 teams, lost last week, allowing us to jump from #7 to #3 in the BCS polls with Ohio State and Michigan playing tomorrow, with the winner pretty much guaranteed a spot in the National Championship Game. Our offense still wasn't as sharp as possible, with us throwing three interceptions, though we were able to pretty much move the ball at will en route to scoring 35 points. Our defense was good, but not great, though we did play off of Oregon's strength as a spread team, giving up short plays all the way down the field until they reached the Red Zone, which nullified their ability to spread the ball. They were only able to score one touchdown in the red zone, and that was on a controversial fourth down play that resulted in a reversal of the reversal of the original call. I still don't get why it took the refs so long to figure out what happened. I'm with Coach Carroll on this one, I didn't mind the touchdown as much as I was bothered by the length of the stoppage of the game. Lawrence Jackson finally had a breakout game, collecting 10 tackles and three sacks, showing the form that made him a preseason All-American pick.

But now here's our season, and essentially Cal's season too. The winner of this week's game will at worst go to the Rose Bowl as the Pac-10 Champion. The loser gets relegated to the Holiday Bowl or worse. The Trojans' five year BCS bowl streak is on the line, while the Bears look to get into the Rose Bowl for this first time since 1959 (I think). Right now, I can't see USC losing this one, though it may be a close game. Nate Longshore's confidence may have taken a hit in the Arizona game, when he threw three picks. But I am weary of their running backs, Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett, and their burner at wideout, Desean Jackson. I think we should shut down the run like we always do, but with Jackson, if we punt the ball to him once, we are in trouble. We can't give him the entire field to work with. I'd take 30 yard punts over a very good chance of Jackson taking one back to the house. He's also a very good receiver, though I think one solid shot from Taylor Mays (geez I miss Scott Ware) may make him think twice about coming over the middle. And I'm not too worried about their defense. One of their cornerbacks has 8 interceptions on the year, Daymien Hughes (can't spell his name...), but their other corner will be really tested by Steve Smith and Patrick Turner, though Dwayne Jarrett does need to have a solid day for us to win this one. My verdict? USC (-5.5) 34, Cal 31

Last week I had USC (-8) winning 28-21. Doh...

Season-to-date:
W-L - 8-1
Against the spread: 5-3-1 (I don't mind my streak ending with a 25 point win...)

My top 25 (before West Virginia's win last night)

1. Ohio State (11-0)
2. Michigan (11-0)
3. Southern California (8-1)
4. Florida (9-1)
5. Notre Dame (9-1)
   
6. Arkansas (9-1)
7. Rutgers (9-0)
8. West Virginia (8-1)
9. Boise State (10-0)
10. Louisville (8-1)
    
11. Wisconsin (10-1)
12. Texas (9-2)
13. Louisiana State (8-2)
14. Wake Forest (9-1)
    
15. Oklahoma (8-2)
16. Georgia Tech (8-2)
17. Auburn (9-2)
18. California (8-2)
19. Boston College (8-2)
20. Hawaii (8-2)
21. Virginia Tech (8-2)
22. Brigham Young (8-2)
    
23. Tennessee (7-3)
24. Maryland (8-2)
25. Nebraska (8-3)