What USC should worry about
Contrary to popular opinion, the biggest threat to the USC football team's No. 1 ranking might not be Scott Wolf, our writer who voted the Trojans No. 3 in this week's AP poll. The biggest threat might be the perceived weakness of the Pac-10, which provides most of the Trojans' remaining regular-season opponents.
USC's next four opponents have a combined 6-6 record and include one ranked team, No. 17 Oregon. The Trojans don't get much chance in the next month to impress pollsters more than they already have.
Meanwhile, look at the other high-ranked teams' upcoming games and all the chances they'll have to impress.
-- Oklahoma, No. 2, Big 12: Sooners' next four opponents are 9-2 and include No. 7 Texas and No. 19 Kansas.
-- Georgia, No. 3, SEC: Bulldogs' next four are 9-2 and include No. 9 Alabama.
-- Florida, No. 4, SEC: Gators' next four are 7-2 and include No. 6 LSU.
-- Missouri, No. 5, Big 12: Tigers' next four 10-1 and include No. 7 Texas.
Of course, those tough games could trip up the other high-ranked schools and make it easier for USC to get to the national-title game. But they also give the others a chance to move up if the luster of the Trojans' sensational win over Ohio State fades.
About this blog
Kevin Modesti watches sports from a new angle since his promotion from sports columnist to sports editor for the Los Angeles Newspaper Group. In his new blog, Modesti not only comments on the big sports stories of the moment-- he talks about what makes them big. Think of it as a conversation with readers about how these stories should be covered.
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