Waiting for August 30

[Scott4USC]

I look forward to your opinion/take on the game, especially since you have no bias towards either team. Should be interesting and maybe it will prevent me from betting big on USC and save me dollars. I know its just one game and not putting everything on it.

I am a huge USC fan, but in my reports or analysis i am not letting my bias affect me. I will continue to watch the team practices closely and see what i am gonna do betting on the game. I used to think this game was 50/50, but as of now i am predicting a 3-7pt victory for USC in a close game.

 

[NY Reb]

Scott, it's great that you get to watch the USC practices.

However, keep in mind that you are not seeing the Auburn practices.

It helps to know strengths and weaknesses of both teams, not just one.

Take care.

 

[Scott4USC]

Auburn's main weakness on defense is their secondary. Size wise and talent wise, AU does not match up well with the USC WR's.

AU's main strength on defense is LB (who i think are the best in the nation) and have a solid DL.

On offense the main strength is RB's and OL (who i think all return and improved dramatically as the season went on last year). I think the QB Campbell is a weakness, his only strength is he has experience, but i don't think he can hurt anyone with his passing skills. YES i know he has high completion % but those mostly were safe passes and he does not pass much which ==higher %.

I read that in practices the AU recievers have been dropping the ball a lot, so that could be a weakness because you can't drop too many balls against this USC defense.

I think special teams is a question mark for AU as well.

Coaching is solid at AU but nothing special IMO, and USC should outcoach AU IMO.

I think i know AU pretty well, enough for me to make an educated "prediction" on the game. Not until the end of practices will i make my prediction but i "think" as of right now USC would win by 3-7pts in a very close game.

 

[ChuckyTheGoat]

"Coaching is solid at AU but nothing special IMO, and USC should outcoach AU IMO."

Scott-USC, I just faxed this quote over to Tubberville. I called him up at the coaches' office, and Tubby said he's pissed. Tubby just pinned up that quote on the locker room wall! Thanks for the bulletin board material, man.

It's on, baby, it's on!

 

[Scott4USC]

Don't worry, Carnells (Cadillac) Williams quote "I think our offense will be unstopable this year" is on the lockers of all the defensive players! AU fans better hope their players are not buying into the off-season media hype, if so, they are in for a rude awakening on Aug. 30th!

Pete Carroll is one of if not the best DC in college football. IMO he and stoops are the best, and Carrolls defenses face much more difficult offenses than stoops.

Chow is also one of the best OC in football, and his record speaks for itself. Combine the 2 with an excellent individual coaching staff, I think i have good reason to believe that USC will not be out-coached many times. (yes its possible to out-coach USC, its just not going to happen too often with our staff).

FIGHT ON!!!!

and i will throw in a WAR EAGLE too because i respect and like the AU fans!

 

[ChuckyTheGoat]

War Eagle vs the Trojan Horse. Not a bad season opener. Hope your boys don't have a FOWL experience coming east.

Best of luck, Scott!

Seriously, the recruiting that Pete has done is incredible. Should be a great Week 1 game.

 

[Scott4USC]

Pete Carroll has been unbelievable for USC. To think back, when USC hired him, the athletic department recieved 1000's of e-mails complaining and upset about the hire. I don't think now there are too many fans who dislike the hire of Pete. It was also suprising to see how great a recruiter he is and he loves to recruit. Whats best about him is he and his staff do there own evaluating of talent and do not rely on recruiting services like some coaches often do.

Only question mark on Pete is he able to win the close games. In his first year USC lost 6 games by less than 7 pts i think and most of them were by 3pts. But i think it was more with the players doing than the coaching. Auburn prob. will be the first test because on paper these 2 teams look pretty evenly matched.

 

[NY Reb]

They do look evenly matched on paper. Scott, do you think USC will have any trouble with the Alabama humidity? I don't think it's very humid in LA, although I've never been there in the summer.

Scott, I'm predicting Auburn QB Jason Campbell will surprise you. I think you have him underrated based on past performance. He's starting to bloom, his confidence is growing, and he has considerable potential.

Take care, buddy. You express yourself very well and you obviously know your stuff.

On another subject, I'm looking ahead another week. Oly has installed Miami as an 11-point favorite against Florida. Anyone have any thoughts on that game?

 

[wareagle]

Scotty, no frigin way you beat us by double digits. We could very well lose this game, but by double digis? are you serious? What a homer comment. I think this game will be one of the best of the year. I'm just sad it is at the beginning, not the end of the year. Caddilac is near 90%, our WRs are dropping some balls, we have had a few injuries and a few folks are changing positions. To me our recruiting class this year was underrated. There are about 7 frosh who will all get a shot in the opener, which scares me. Scotty, did i read something about starting fullback Brandon Hancock sustained a high ankle sprain on Sat? As far as Coach Tubby goes, I am not the big fan most are. He has never won more than 9 games in his career and he WILL gamble away at least two games a year, with this year being no exception. About coach Carroll, i don't think he is the 5* that you are cracking him up to be. I guess we will see without a heisman winner, how good he is. Watch out for this inexperienced secondary, they may be better than you think. Should be a great game. Auburn 24-21

 

[Scott4USC]

I said if USC gets good/great QB play with few mistakes USC will win by double digits. The QB play against AU is still ?????? nobody knows how he will play because its his first game. Scary thought.

YOur right, Brandon Hancock our starting FB has a high ankle sprain. Don't know if he will be out for AU game yet but prob. will be. He was doing REALLY well in practice and he is great at catching the ball and running it out of backfield. We replace him with another FB who is better at blocking but he is not much of a threat catching the ball out of backfield.

USC has been scrimmaging VERY VERY hard against each other, and many players are dinged up. Last years incredible team could not scrimmage each other because we did not hve depth, this year we do. Luckily, Hancock is the only player that might not play against AU. Some poster on the USC message board went to a MIAMI practice and a USC practice and he said the intensity level is no comparison. USC players were more focused and practicing harder. Justin Fargas said that the Raider training camp was easier than USC training camp. Also, many NFL scouts have been coming to observe how Pete Carroll runs his practices. Just 2 days ago, a 4 or 5 star recruit DE Barret was thinking about quiting the team because it was so tough and demanding but luckily he came to his senses and returned back.

As of right now, I predict a 3-7pt victory for USC. Our QB Lienhart has been looking solid in practice and this has been a very pleasant suprise to Trojan fans. The one thing i fear is TURNOVERS. USC has a soph and 3 frosh RB's and a QB starting for first time in TOUGH environment.

I do respect AU and like you, i wish the game was towards the end of the year. Last year both USC and AU were different teams at the end of the year.

 

[ND2002HORNS]

Great discussion guys! May the best team win.

HORNS

 

[saint]

Earliest line I've seen on the game is FSU -19 over UNC. Early lean to FSU laying the wood. UNC has several things against them...besides their horrendous defense, we usually open up the season with a loss, and night games have been debacles even though they have been rare over the last 6 years or so.

I'm eagerly awaiting the total on this one, I think it will be fairly high but I intend to play the over. FSU will be able to put points up on the board as our D is horrible and hasn't improved from last year (when we let up a staggering 35 points a game overall, and 39 points at home )

With Durant coming back off his injury with a fresh season in front of him and an offensive line that is all returning players, I know UNC will also put up some points on the board. We'll see what the total is, if anyone catches an early line post it if you don't mind.

 

[NY Reb]

FSU's defense looks to be better than it's been in a while. They have incredible talent plus experience all across the board. Tarheels aren't going to do too much scoring, so be careful with the total.

Glad I'm already down on Auburn -3 as the spread has already gone up to -4. Wish I knew which direction a few of those other numbers are going to go. Always a question of whether to grab them or wait.

 

[Scott4USC]

Hancock USC starting FB, is def. out for the AU game. He was doing really well in practice running after the catch. He will be missed. Our replacement is a better blocker, but if he gets hurt, USC might be in trouble with depth issues.

AU QB campbell threw for only 66 yards in a long scrimmage (and he played a lot) and WR are continuing to drop balls in practice. I also read that the coaches have been on the AU offense for not being crisp and not taking things serious.

Another note on AU. They have ZERO depth along the OL. All the backups are injured and they are moving Defensive players over to OL. Now the starting 5 is healthy, but they are huge OL (maybe even little overweight judging from pics) and USC has a very fast DL. I think the heat and humidity is going to play in USC favor. AU will be worn down. I hve doubts if AU OL can consistently stop the USC DL, i know the reserves for AU cannot stop the USC DL. Watch!

BTW, 3 of the starting linemen for USC are dinged up, and been held out of practice for the most part, but if the game was played this sat. all 5 starters would be starting. SO nothing serious but 3 are dinged up.

FIGHT ON!!!!!!!!!

 

[wareagle]

No disrespect Scott, but i couldn't disagree more. The heat and/or humidlity will not play a large role in deciding the outcome of this game. Our second team OL is banged up, but our first team is one of the best in the SEC if not the country. I don't think practice stats such as JC throwing for 66yrds in a scrimmage will have anything to do with the game. The D knows JC like the back of their hand since they have been practicing against him for the past two years.

Good luck
WAR EAGLE and fight on!

 

[ND2002HORNS]

I agree with you wareagle. Scott, you have great info but you are biased as well. To say the humidity will favor USC is a crock. Guess you have never played or practiced in the humidity to make a dumb remark like that. So for once, take off your USC and be objective for once. You say you are not a homer but anyone with half a brain would see you are the homer that you are. This is no disrespect to you, that is fine that you are high on your team and your opinion could be as wrong as mine but learn to seperate objectivity and being a homer. May the best team win.

HORNS

 

[Scott4USC]

I think you missed my argument. AU 5 starting OL are healthy but they have pretty much zero quality depth behind them If those 5 guys play the whole game, they will tire out. I have seen pictures of the AU lineman and they are huge and not lean. SO i think they will wear down throughout the game. Remember, both teams are playing in this weather. USC DL is very fast and this year we have depth. THe gameplan on DL is to rotate, and rotate often. USC has real good talent behind the starting DL. I think there is good chance the AU OL will get tired from blocking these speedy and remember one of the top units in the country (USC DL).

I know USC plans on rotatiing the starting OL as well, keep everyone fresh. USC has maybe 2 quality OL backups and the rest are inexperienced or not as good. I can take it the quality of AU OL reserves may not even be average (due to injuries). SO if AU rotates their starting 5 on OL, USC DL will destroy the reserves. I am confident on that. Will the USC DL hurt the starting 5 for AU? I dunno, i think both may win battles but as the game goes on, and if AU does not rotate the starting OL, those guys will get tired big time. SO it is just a matter of what AU does and i think there is "chance" USC DL will benefit from the weather. Get my point?

The starting AU OL are big guys and on chubby side too, not real lean or small lineman. Yes, they are very good and experienced, but my point is not how good they are but that they will wear down.

A perfect example was the Orange Bowl game against Iowa. Iowa had the #1 OL in the country, big guys, and the USC DL destroyed them, especially as the game went on because the humidity wore them down. Weeks prior to the game, Iowa fans kept saying how much more physical and bigger they were than USC, and during the game they wore out and USC got stronger. That a classic example.

As for Jason Campbell throwing 66 yards in scrimmage. Here is my point on that. Weakness on AU defense is DB's. USC has more talented DB's and has depth as well at this position. 3 are seniors and 1 junior are the top 4 DB's. Think about it? USC will stack the box and leave our DB's alone with your WR. If Campell can only throw 66 yards against your DB's what is he going to do against USC's who are clearly better???? Factor in also that the WR at AU hve been dropping passes on a consistent basis in practice. Its just something to speculate, and all that i am doing is speculating and predicting what might happen or what can be an advantage/disadvantage for either team.

FIGHT ON!!!!!!!!!

 

[NY Reb]

Here's another game I'd like to get some discussion on: Georgia is currently a 3.5 favorite over Clemson. Actually, Pinnacle has them as a 3 point favorite. We all know about Georgia's new OL, but do you also know that their starting cornerbacks are out against Clemson, who, BTW, is at home. You know how Clemson loves to throw the ball. I'm thinking this has the potential to be a major upset. Any comments?

 

[ND2002HORNS]

NY Reb - dawgball has started a great thread on the Georgia/Clemson game.

Scott - You make solid pts. about the rotation of players but then you give a rebutal about AU and all your opinions are how USC will do this and do that. Never do you mention how AU will exploit a few things, not one thign but a few things. It seems to you that USC will exploit so many things I wonder why they should play the game. Why is AU favoured by 4? Maybe USC should be favoured by 7 the way you go on about USC this and USC that. I hope you see my point because the way you talk and if you were to breakdown each position it would be USC coming out as the overwhelming favourite in each category. I hate homers, be objective. As much I pull for the Horns or ND or Clemson, I would never let my heart plays overrule my head plays. Hope you see my point. Again, may the best team win and we can all talk about it Aug. 30 when the game is over. As for me, I will enjoy watching these 2 programs go at each other.

HORNS

 

[mw]

Reb -- UGA's starting corners are not out. It's like this -- both starting corners will play, starting free safety will playing -- the other 5 DB's on the two-deep are out.