As of Dec. 17th, I am now thinking OU will beat USC. Everything seems to be going bad for USC in terms of preparing for the Orange Bowl. I cannot believe all the distractions and all the negativity going on. Make up your own conclusions but I gotta think all of this hurts USC to a certain extent and helps OU to a certain extent.
#1 Leinarts Heisman distraction
-not bad for program but distraction for team. Pluis motivation for OU. Personally I don't think its too big deal and Leinart only missed 1 practice. It also didn't affect USC 2 years ago against Iowa in OB when Palmer won over Banks. Many people love betting against team who won heisman.
#2 Lendale White and Manual Wright NOT GETTING BETTER!
-USC's best and only powerful RB White is still wearing a cast on his ankle. He has been playing hurt all year with his right ankle and against UCLA he hurt his left ankle. He says he will play in OB but he has not been practicing. Def. won't be 100%. Manual Wright is USC's 3rd best DT and he said he is 2 weeks away from healing from an injury he had against Arizona. He plays huge role on the USC DL and his ankle is not getting better.
#3 Hershal Dennis injured in practice yesterday and out for the game w/torn knee ligaments. He is USC's 3rd RB but more importantly he is the only other power running back USC has. White is not 100% and no Dennis. 4th string RB is Reed who is very good but he is more like Reggie Bush than White. Not a power back.
#4 Chow interviewing for Stanford job during UCLA week I think pissed off Carroll and was distraction for USC offense. Chow wants a head coaching job and he seems to give bad interviews or asks too much $$$. Remember, he is the highest paid OC in CFB at USC. Plus there are rumors that Chow and Carroll are not getting along. USC assistant AD is going to Syracuse and rumor is Chow will be a strong candidate there as well. So more CHow distractions/team distractions. How hard is he preparing for OU? I seriously question that.
#5 USC outstanding and beloved DL coach (Orgeron) took head coaching job at Ole Miss. He will be back at USC for their final 2 weeks of practice and coach at OB but none the less this is huge distraction. EVERYONE loves this guy and he will do an excellent job at Ole Miss!
#6 It just appears that everything going on and all the talk going on is about everything BUT the Orange Bowl. Very very weird for a team/fans who is playing for the National Championship on jan. 4th. Rumors about coaching staff and coaches not getting along. Rumors that seem to put a negative tone on preparation for the OB.
HERE IS THE BIGGEST WORRY OF THEM ALL. :scared
Here are exact quotes from someone inside the program who sat next to Lane Kiffen (USC WR coach) at USC's awards banquet. Take it for what its worth.
"On a side note, Lane mentioned that the staff is very nervous about this game, in fact he mentioned that he had not seen PC this concerned. He said this was the best team they had ever played against and were worried that OU?s strengths play to our weaknesses, mainly the speed of their d-line versus the inexperience and tendency for mistakes of our guards. He mentioned that they had a hard time stopping UCLA?s d-line and that worried them. The only way we can win is if we strategically out coach them. If you think this is what coaches say before every big game, you?re wrong. I have been fortunate enough in the past to speak with various USC coaches before other big games (usually over a couple of beers) and they were very optimistic of their chances based on the film they had watched. This is obviously a different case."
Not good for USC and these are some solid reasons into taking OU! If you like OU already from a handicapping perspective, then you really gotta love OU now!
USC is inserting their OU game plan over this weekend and will be practicing hard from now until Jan. 4th. Each team I think is only allowed 15 practices and USC has used only a couple. The positive news is the defense reportedly looked sharp as well as the USC passing game. All WR's looked good and healthy.
#1 Leinarts Heisman distraction
-not bad for program but distraction for team. Pluis motivation for OU. Personally I don't think its too big deal and Leinart only missed 1 practice. It also didn't affect USC 2 years ago against Iowa in OB when Palmer won over Banks. Many people love betting against team who won heisman.
#2 Lendale White and Manual Wright NOT GETTING BETTER!
-USC's best and only powerful RB White is still wearing a cast on his ankle. He has been playing hurt all year with his right ankle and against UCLA he hurt his left ankle. He says he will play in OB but he has not been practicing. Def. won't be 100%. Manual Wright is USC's 3rd best DT and he said he is 2 weeks away from healing from an injury he had against Arizona. He plays huge role on the USC DL and his ankle is not getting better.
#3 Hershal Dennis injured in practice yesterday and out for the game w/torn knee ligaments. He is USC's 3rd RB but more importantly he is the only other power running back USC has. White is not 100% and no Dennis. 4th string RB is Reed who is very good but he is more like Reggie Bush than White. Not a power back.
#4 Chow interviewing for Stanford job during UCLA week I think pissed off Carroll and was distraction for USC offense. Chow wants a head coaching job and he seems to give bad interviews or asks too much $$$. Remember, he is the highest paid OC in CFB at USC. Plus there are rumors that Chow and Carroll are not getting along. USC assistant AD is going to Syracuse and rumor is Chow will be a strong candidate there as well. So more CHow distractions/team distractions. How hard is he preparing for OU? I seriously question that.
#5 USC outstanding and beloved DL coach (Orgeron) took head coaching job at Ole Miss. He will be back at USC for their final 2 weeks of practice and coach at OB but none the less this is huge distraction. EVERYONE loves this guy and he will do an excellent job at Ole Miss!
#6 It just appears that everything going on and all the talk going on is about everything BUT the Orange Bowl. Very very weird for a team/fans who is playing for the National Championship on jan. 4th. Rumors about coaching staff and coaches not getting along. Rumors that seem to put a negative tone on preparation for the OB.
HERE IS THE BIGGEST WORRY OF THEM ALL. :scared
Here are exact quotes from someone inside the program who sat next to Lane Kiffen (USC WR coach) at USC's awards banquet. Take it for what its worth.
"On a side note, Lane mentioned that the staff is very nervous about this game, in fact he mentioned that he had not seen PC this concerned. He said this was the best team they had ever played against and were worried that OU?s strengths play to our weaknesses, mainly the speed of their d-line versus the inexperience and tendency for mistakes of our guards. He mentioned that they had a hard time stopping UCLA?s d-line and that worried them. The only way we can win is if we strategically out coach them. If you think this is what coaches say before every big game, you?re wrong. I have been fortunate enough in the past to speak with various USC coaches before other big games (usually over a couple of beers) and they were very optimistic of their chances based on the film they had watched. This is obviously a different case."
Not good for USC and these are some solid reasons into taking OU! If you like OU already from a handicapping perspective, then you really gotta love OU now!
USC is inserting their OU game plan over this weekend and will be practicing hard from now until Jan. 4th. Each team I think is only allowed 15 practices and USC has used only a couple. The positive news is the defense reportedly looked sharp as well as the USC passing game. All WR's looked good and healthy.
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