USC vs. Texas (Pac-10 vs. Big 12)

[AU2001]

Which conference is worse? Who played a tougher schedule? If I had to say right now, I don't know which way I would go. This hurts to say, but I would probably give the edge to the Pac-10, and USC.

Although Texas has been more impressive from start to finish this year.

Both teams played their toughest game on the road against an out-of-conference opponent, and while both teams came out with a W, both probably should've gotten beat. (OSU dropped TD pass, Leinart's push from Bush) But they didn't, and that's all that matters.

I hear a lot of people saying that Texas's defense will be the difference in this game, but look at the offenses they have gone up against. Look at the defenses that USC has thrown up 50 points against. Any big differences?

I just don't see how USC is laying 7 other than the fact that Pete Carroll has dominated BCS bowl games in the past, and he flat-out embarassed the Big-12 champ last year. That being said, I can't convince myself to take Texas +7, because I don't think their defense is as good as advertised (see Alabama). They definitely haven't faced an offense like SC's.

Is there really any difference between these two conferences?

Are these really the two best teams in football? (It would definitely be an interesting year for an 8-team playoff in my opinion.)

Texas +7 looks nice, but the lack of comp in the big-12 has me guessing. UT should have plenty of motivation going into this one with Young's Heisman snub, and ESPN and everyone else courting USC as a lock to "three-peat". But if anyone is taking UT based on a tougher schedule, I just don't see it.

All that being said, I can't wait to watch this match-up. Hopefully, it will live up to the hype.

Thoughts?

 

[Jerseydrifter]

It does not seem like the PAC 10 had much comp either!!!!! I don't think V. Young got snubbed-Reggie Bush deserved the heisman to me. Reggie stepped it up at the end of the year and Yound struggled. Texas has not faced an offense like SC's but I don't think USC has faced a Defense like TEXAS. SHould be a good game-I like the points here.

JERSEY

 

[Scott4USC]

Texas has not faced an offense like SC's but I don't think USC has faced a Defense like TEXAS.

Not to pick on you specifically but that seems to be the general statement when making a quick analysis of this game.

Who is the more proven team? USC or Texas? USC has won 3 straight BCS bowl games (all 3 dominated both offensively and defensively) There are a lot of returning players who played in 2 or even all 3 of these BCS bowl games on this USC team. If you look at history, how many people said USC has not seen a team like the one they are going to see in each BCS bowl game. EVERYONE questions USC each and every BCS bowl game.

USC offense has seen every type of defense. Leinart is a 3 year starter, Bush and White 3 year starters, OL has played together for 2 years, WR's are 2 and 3 year players, FB's are 2 year starters. etc. So why would ANYONE assume USC offense will have trouble with a Texas D who has not seen an offense anything close to USC's balanced sophisticated attack.

Oh yeah, don't forget practices. Carroll runs very physical practices each and every year. All these "returning" players have practiced against past USC defenses every day (which have dominated BCS competition every year) and practice everyday against this years defense. Believe me, USC's defense this year is VERY GOOD! You will see Jan. 4th.

Does Texas bring speed on defense? Texas is not faster than USC's defense. Size? ummmm, maybe Texas is bigger at DT (not quicker). Maybe Texas DB's are better than USC's but they have not been tested like USC's DB's. Without a doubt, USC has better DE's, LB's and Safety's than Texas. Also much better team speed. So I don't think Texas defense will bring anything more than what USC has seen in practice. So what adjustments will the experienced LEINART have to make facing Texas D? YOU TELL ME! USC has played against Texas DC before and he was not successful against an inexperienced USC offense. He likes to blitz. You can't blitz USC offense. Especially since USC has such a phenomenal OL.

All in all, I think people have it all wrong. Texas D will have trouble adjusting to USC O. USC D will have trouble adjusting to Texas O (for at least the 1q)

 

[Scott4USC]

FWIW.............

Carroll said his team is practicing with the same type of intensity and execution of last years team prior to the BCS NC game. He said they are very focused and prepared. Also, if you watch the media (espn and local) all the USC players are talking about Texas with respect and awe. Young is great player, great offense, great team etc. I noticed Texas through the media is talking smack about USC. Very interesting.

Something else to consider. When you won and dominated 3 straight BCS bowl games, 2 straight NC's, and dominated regular season opponents 3 straight years, you start having difficult time getting yourself to play a the highest of levels. You start getting complacent no matter what you do or say to yourself. That is why few teams can go on a run like this. But the BCS NC game against the #2 undefeated team in the country will certainly get your attention and allow you to play lights out.

USC has been using backup TE Fred Davis as Vince Young. He said he played a little QB and his high school ran the same offense as Texas. So he said he was somewhat familiar. (I said many times Texas runs a high school offense) I already know USC #1 goal will be to take away the running lanes away from Texas. When USC was scrimmaging O vs D the USC D was over pursuing the run because that is USC's gameplan against Texas and USC O was torching them through the air. USC is going to force Texas to pass. The more times Young throws the ball, the higher the probability he will throw not just 1, but maybe 2 or 3 INT's. Especially if Young is not a patient QB which I don't think he is. He is used to throwing deep and going for big plays. Also he has not had to read too many complex defensive schemes. All in all, Carroll will try and frustrate Young by making him do things he doesn't like to do. This will lead to mistakes.

 

[AR182]

people have been underestimating sc's defense all season.....they look at the scores & see the points scored against sc.....but if you look closer at the stats...the first team defense has played well this year...it was the 2nd & 3rd team defenses that gave up alot of points & yards....i think under is the way to go in this game...

good luck.

 

[Scott4USC]

people all season have been underestimating sc's defense all season.....they look at the scores & see the points scored against sc.....but if you look closer at the stats...the first team defense has played well this year...it was the 2nd & 3rd team defenses that gave up alot of points & yards....i think under is the way to go in this game...

good luck.

Exactly. Also USC special teams were like last in the country. REAL $HITTY! I have high hopes USC special teams shows alot of improvement with the LB's getting healthy. LB's/DB's mostly play special teams and that is where USC was hit hard with injuries. Carroll fixed USC special teams in 2 week prior to UCLA. He has 4 weeks for Texas.

 

[sdf]

FWIW.............

Also, if you watch the media (espn and local) all the USC players are talking about Texas with respect and awe. Young is great player, great offense, great team etc. I noticed Texas through the media is talking smack about USC. Very interesting.

Hi Scott. Can you provide examples of Texas talking smack and USC talking with respect and awe? Thanks.

 

[Dice34]

They have only won one straight BCS National title, that my friend is a Factoid. AP poll, Harris Poll, Jim Bob's pizza shop and Fishing Equipment poll can claim whoever they want as a champion. But in 2003 it was LSU hoisting the glass football. It was LSU in which SI put out that special collectible cover, with a free football and sweatshirt.....Catch my drift?....You feel me dog?...You picking up what I'm putting down?......The BCS determines 1 vs 2(which was voted on by the schools), the winner is the champion.....Pretty cut and dry if you ask me.....And USC my friend, was not included in these festivities...they were playing a #4 Michigan team..

So they will be going after there 2nd BCS National title, the Sun Valley Times poll, does not count.....

 

[Jerseydrifter]

YEA- first team defense played real well against fresno and notre dame and for that matter ASU first half. BUNCH OF CLOWNS!!!!!

JERSEY

 

[ferdville]

And how exactly does that have anything to do with who will win this game? It is comments like that which show you to be an envious hater of USC. If it matters to you (which it obviously does) or if it matters to Scott (which it obviously does), it still has nothing to do with the game. I am a life-long USC fan and a graduate of USC. I couldn't care less about a BCS title game in the past.

 

[Scott4USC]

Hi Scott. Can you provide examples of Texas talking smack and USC talking with respect and awe? Thanks.

USC talking respect is easy if you watch ESPN because that is nationally. USC is all over ESPN sems like every day. They just talked to USC players yesterday and nothing but respect. But on both ESPN and LOCAL MEDIA USC always talking respectfully about Texas. Even when they are baited. Like I said above, players say Young is great QB, Texas is great team, impressive all year, young great passer not just running qb, texas big challenge etc.

Examples of Texas talking smack? It seems like every time Texas player says something positive about USC there is a "but" at the end. Nobody has accused Texas of being intimidated by USC but they act like they are out there to prove they are not intimitaded by USC. Well they have not said much lately but weeks ago there were bunch of things said. From top of my head Young guaranteeing a victory over USC. Leinart was asked about it and if he would guarantee victory and Leianrt said only thing I'll guarantee is we will come ready to play. (this was at Heisman ceremony) Bush was asked the same thing at Heisman ceremony and Bush said some people gotta do what they gotta do to get motivated. USC starting center was asked week ago about Young's guarantee and I think he said he and the players don't need to talk smack, they do it on the field. Carroll the same day was asked about Young's guarantee and he said players can talk as much trash leading up to the game. It all gets decided on the 4th. As you can see, the team is being reminded constantly about Youngs guarantee (by media) and I sure the coaches as well.

How about Young lobbying for the Heisman Trophy.

I think Texas players have referred themselves as the greatest.

Another Texas player said USC has the #2 offense behind Texas.

Another Texas player said they will be physical and dominate USC. (something like that)

Another Texas player (I think safety) said he will stop Bush (something like that)

I did not write these quotes on paper but I guarantee this stuff was said by Texas players in papers or media. Most of it was weeks ago. Lately Texas players been quiet. Whether you feel it is smack or not is your opinion. I do know there is a difference between how USC talks about Texas and Texas talks about USC.

I will say Mack Brown really kissed USC's a$$ in one press conf. I did not save it but he was gu gu ga ga over USC. Sorta like what Holtz would do.

 

[sdf]

FWIW.............

I said many times Texas runs a high school offense

wow and Texas scored more points than any team in division 1. they must have either really incredible athletes to be able to score a lot using such a basic high school offense.....or they played against some of the worst defenses this year.

hmm...well checking the ncaa stats. Texas faced the #4, #16, #17, #26, #44 defenses......so maybe not.

maybe they just got lucky all year with that high school offense.

btw, the best defense USC faced was #47 (oregon). hmmm. well, stats can be deceiving i suppose. texas is the #6 dee btw....

so stats-wise this is by far best defense usc will face this year...and stats-wise this is, well, the 6th best defense texas has faced (although usc will finally be healthy on defense for the rose bowl which makes a difference).

i dont doubt usc's defense will give texas problems. as i've said the past 2 months, usc has consistently held high powered offenses below their season average. the texas game should be no different. VY will probably throw an early INT as he has done in the past.

i guess it'll all come down to desire and coaching....seeing VY's desire his entire career at UTexas....and how that rubs off on his teammates....i cant see either team having an advantage there (USC obviously has that desire).

it's blatantly obvious as you have pointed out time and time and time and time and time and time again that usc coaching is leaps and bounds better than any other staff in the nation (esp Texas)...so
i think that makes the NC championship winner easy to pinpoint....USC all the way.

they may or may not cover the 7.5, but they will win this game and extend their winning streak.

 

[Scott4USC]

sdf

Texas has superior athletes vs most teams. There style is to line up across from you and beat you. Texas can do this because Brown is outstanding recruiter. With Young at QB, that equals BLOWOUTS against most teams. He is a superior athlete in CFB. Texas does NOT try to out scheme you. That is the difference between USC and Texas. USC has superior athletes but also tries to outscheme you as well. That is why USC has this long winning streak, 2 straight National Championships, and 3 straight BCS blowouts.

YEA- first team defense played real well against fresno and notre dame and for that matter ASU first half. BUNCH OF CLOWNS!!!!!

JERSEY

You didn't watch the game closely. USC starting D did what they are designed to do. FSU fumbled 3 times in 1h and recovered all 3 fumbles. In the 2h USC finally got the turnovers they are designed to force. In the 2h, FSU scored 2 TD's because USC special teams gave FSU the ball on the 25 and and 15 yard line of USC. That is not bad defense. That is bad special teams. USC D dominated early 2h. See how they came out in the 3q? ON FIRE! Got USC back in the game. Give credit to FSU. This was the biggest game in FSU history and the look ahead to this game since summer. HC of FSU begs to play USC EVERY year. He wanted it badly and put everything he got into beating USC. He came close!

 

[Dice34]

And how exactly does that have anything to do with who will win this game? It is comments like that which show you to be an envious hater of USC. If it matters to you (which it obviously does) or if it matters to Scott (which it obviously does), it still has nothing to do with the game. I am a life-long USC fan and a graduate of USC. I couldn't care less about a BCS title game in the past.

I'm gonna assume that was to me. First off congrats on being a life-long USC fan and second for graduating from there. I'm sure it was with Honors since the way you talk to people on here, it is usally down to them.

I know my post has nothing to do with the game played on Jan. 4th, but I'm tired of hearing 3 peat or 3 pete, when in fact its not.....

As for being a USC hater, no not at all......I like them to handle Texas regardless of how annoying scott is. In fact, in my bowl pool(confidence style), I have USC as my 28 pt game, or my highest rated game.....but.........wait a minute are you Sean Salisbury?

 

[AU2001]

When I say Heisman snub, I'm not saying Young should've won per say, but the fact that he lost in a landslide to Bush has got to be a motivating force to get some respect against the team and the guy that basically the entire nation said was better than you. We will see how he responds...

 

[flapjack]

It was LSU in which SI put out that special collectible cover, with a free football and sweatshirt.....Catch my drift?....You feel me dog?...You picking up what I'm putting down?......

So they will be going after there 2nd BCS National title, the Sun Valley Times poll, does not count.....

Actually SI put out a special collectable cover/free football/sweatshirt for BOTH USC and LSU that year as there as a split National Title with LSU winning the BCS and USC winning the AP. The commercials in the west cost we were bombarded with made no mention of LSU when advertising the commerative USC National Championship crap. I'm sure the east of the rockies commercials did like wise with LSU.

BCS is supposed to pick a clear winner, it F'd up that year and hence the wholesale changes to it the following year. But you are correct in saying that USC will be going after it's second BCS National Championship. Its a terrible system and could not even do the ONE job it was supposed to do in 2003 - pick a clear winner. Hence like many years in the past, the writers and coaches picked different champions.

 

[blgstocks]

I love you scott. You make me laugh every time i read you. I love have people give you facts about the defenses texas has played and yet you ignore them and continue to talk about texas having a high school offense.

I also enjoy how you tell everyone who gives you facts and figures that they "didn't watch the game close enough". You can think what you want about USC winning 8 straight national titles, but facts and figures are always better to go on than some fanatics opinion about the only team he watches and then gives his opinion about a team that you obviously dont watch any of their conference games. How do i know that? Because you have asked many times on these threads whats happened with this game or that game?

I think this game will be close, IF SC wins it will strictly be because Carrol is a much better coach, which he might be. If texas wins it will be becasue SC has been overhyped ALL year long and played weak opponents ALL YEAR LONG.

And another thing Scott, Wasn't Rutgers Offense SOOO advanced to put up that many points against a pac 10 defense.

 

[Dice34]

Actually SI put out a special collectable cover/free football/sweatshirt for BOTH USC and LSU that year as there as a split National Title with LSU winning the BCS and USC winning the AP. The commercials in the west cost we were bombarded with made no mention of LSU when advertising the commerative USC National Championship crap. I'm sure the east of the rockies commercials did like wise with LSU.

BCS is supposed to pick a clear winner, it F'd up that year and hence the wholesale changes to it the following year. But you are correct in saying that USC will be going after it's second BCS National Championship. Its a terrible system and could not even do the ONE job it was supposed to do in 2003 - pick a clear winner. Hence like many years in the past, the writers and coaches picked different champions.

good points.......I hate the BCS and the money grubbing people that are behind it. I would love to see a playoff, so that a champion can be crowned without a doubt, instead of biased voters and computers. The BCS had the right idea with pairing 1 vs 2 but it still leaves way too much room for error.

 

[Scott4USC]

I love you scott. You make me laugh every time i read you. I love have people give you facts about the defenses texas has played and yet you ignore them and continue to talk about texas having a high school offense.

I also enjoy how you tell everyone who gives you facts and figures that they "didn't watch the game close enough". You can think what you want about USC winning 8 straight national titles, but facts and figures are always better to go on than some fanatics opinion about the only team he watches and then gives his opinion about a team that you obviously dont watch any of their conference games. How do i know that? Because you have asked many times on these threads whats happened with this game or that game?

#1 I been right 3 straight years about USC in BCS bowl games and ca$hed big all 3 years. All posted/documented. I gave detailed write-ups. Go look at past posts and most here at MJ's felt USC would have trouble. Media doubted USC as well. I didn't.

#2 There is a reason I ignore those stats. They are BOGUS! Based on those stats, USC should not have dominated Iowa, Michigan, and OU in BCS bowl games. They all had stats supporting them and not USC. Last years OB is perfect example.

Hard to compare stats because both teams play different schedule and are in a different conf. You have to look at all teams played and where they were played. What type of offenses and defenses both teams played. Injuries. etc. That is what I look at.

When Texas D looks confused defending USC offense, I want you after the game to post all those top ranked defensive stats Texas accumulated with their schedule. Deal?

#3 I don't just say you didn't watch the game closely. I tell you exactly what happened and why.

 

[kneifl]

I see this thread moving into the "Sports teams and their fans" forum sometime soon :lol:

kneifl