Pac-12 vs. SEC

Posted on November 12, 2017 by Scott Wolf

I asked this on twitter and got a wide variety of responses: Who would be the Pac-12’s equivalent of Auburn? At the time I asked, Auburn was the conference’s No. 3 but moved ahead of Georgia in the AP poll.

So who would be the two-loss team in the conference that could stack up favorably with Auburn? Don’t answer USC because the Trojans have to be Alabama, each conference’s top team. Do you think whoever you choose (Washington, Washington State, Stanford) would beat Auburn? I do not.

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Pac12 fan

Scott a question to you. Do you think USC could beat Auburn?
- Jethro G Sabbath
  
  Working overtime on the trolling this weekend?
  - Pac12 fan
    
    Yes. So much fun
Yale O. Leftwich

I doubt any Pac 12 would beat Bama ,Auburn or Georgia…we will see Stanford play ND as SC did…I predict Stanford will lose but not get stomped like SC did…even Wake Forest lost by only 48-37…I doubt they would beat top of Big 10 or Oklahoma/TCU…
- Pac12 fan
  
  Agreed. I am not sure USC could beat Miss St as well.
  - Jack B
    
    I am not sure ucla could beat Mississippi JC. You sure as heck couldn’t stop them.
    - Trojan5
      
      Jack, you might be right. But you are hardly an unbiased observer. LOL
      - Jack B
        
        There isn’t a person on this board who’s remotely unbiased so I fit right in!
      - Trojan5
        
        Yep.
  - SucKiffin
    
    It would be ugly … Gomer would get schooled
    - Gabby
      
      When your playing darts it helps to keep your eyes open…..just saying
- Pac12 fan
  
  The OLs and DLs are at a different level at Bama, Georgia, and Auburn than anyone we have played althought Notre Dame OL gets high marks by most
Gabby

Wolf, that’s a rhetorical question. We all know the Pac12 is down this year. More agenda driven BS. Go have another donut and stay in your comfort zone
- USCDAN1986
  
  Stay in your lane.. Lol
Fred Sampson

Auburn would physically man handle any team in PAC 12 , are you kidding me? The results of the Miami vs Notre Dame game last night, is a perfect indication, that nobody in the PAC 12 is ready for the big show
- gotroy22
  
  Remember what Auburn did to Oregon several years ago in the BCS championship game. You can’t finesse them.
  - Gabby
    
    Auburn relied on a late FG to win the game. Oregon went toe to toe with them for 60 minutes
    - gotroy22
      
      Except Auburn’s huge defense shut down The Quackers’ rushing attack.
      - Gabby
        
        Taking what you’re getting at, the huge o-line of Auburn should have dominated the undersized Oregon defense…….it just didn’t happen
      - gotroy22
        
        I bought into the Chip Kelly hype after LaMichael James ran wild and they beat us 53-32 in the Coliseum. I expected the Ducks to annihilate Auburn. Instead the Ducks couldn’t run to save their lives and had to rely on Darron Thomas’s arm. The game was a low scoring snoozer until the late 4th quarter.
      - Gabby
        
        I agree with you. If you like defense it was a great game.
      - LBC Rob
        
        Everybody forgets that Kelly went for it on 4th down in the redzone twice instead of kicking a field goal and got stopped. Left 6 points off the board, & ended up losing by 3.
    - Jack B
      
      AUB also benefitted greatly from the miracle knee-isn’t-down play, which was just an act of God and a fluke.
      
      ORE was every bit as good as AUB that day. It was a brutal loss but they were certainly not handled by AUB in any way.
      - Gabby
        
        That was a very exciting game. It came down to a couple of plays that decided the outcome. Even though Oregon lost, I was extremely impressed with their effort and how well they represented the conference.
- Paul Muad’dib
  
  Yeah, Auburn’s defensive front was scary good.
- Arturo
  
  The same Auburn team that got steamrolled by LSU and looked toothless against Clemson. Their front four is elite, but it was only 1 game.
Pac12 fan

I am hoping Scott asks Helton about what he plans to do about Jack Jones and his antics and penalties tonight on Sunday with Helton
- Jack B
  
  Just concern yourself with your crappy little gutty bruins. Your beating in the Coliseum is coming up on Nov. 18. USC looks forward to making your bruin’s record 5-6. Hah, hah, hah.
  - steveg
    
    Jack, even though he is a crappy little bruin that would be a good question to ask and hear answered.
    - Jack B
      
      It’s a question that’s so easily sideslipped. Helton will protect his player, which I actually fully agree with.
      
      My problem with Helton is that I don’t believe he’s doing anything about it, regardless of what he says to the press. He’s a great guy and a big-time player coddler. Would probably be very fun to play for.
      - Trojan5
        
        Jack, there might be reason to believe he has turned up the heat a little. In the past 2-3 games there have been shots of him on the sideline getting in the grill of players and coaches. And he has been more animated in general. Make no mistake, he is still very controlled. He will never be a full blown screamer but I don’t think he is the Quaker some think he was
      - Jack B
        
        Actually, Helton comes off as pretty tough on the sidelines. I’m not buying it behind the scenes though. That’s just not him and as a result, we have a soft team compared to the elites.
        
        But we do have Swann and he’s setting the stage for what he wants the Trojans to be. Helton should be very grateful to Swann, who has already been a very significant help to USC football as AD.
      - fast fred
        
        More inside stuff.
Brent4c

I don’t know but I’d like Stanford and UW vs Auburn or Georgia at home. If it’s at Auburn then a tougher matchup. Right now Stanford vs Auburn on a neutral field I like the farm.
Chris

SEC formula for being “great”- like Auburn this year.
1. Play super crappy out of conference schedule.
2. Win your home games.
3. Manage to go .500 on the road.
4. End up in top 15.

Claim you play in best conference so you are tested every week. Blah, blah, blah.

The PAC 12 is 2-0 vs the SEC this year. Two of our bottom feeders beat two of their bottom feeders. And, Troy beat LSU. LSU beat Auburn. Tell me how physical LSU is now?

Outside of Alabama the SEC is like every other conference. From week to week you just don’t know. Turns out Georgia can’t throw it, or at least couldn’t yesterday.

Stupid question.
- Pac12 fan
  
  Auburn looked darn good yesterday. Different level at top of SEC bs the top of Pac12
  - Arturo
    
    It was 1 game at home. It doesn’t mean that they’d play like that every week. They did lose to LSU, remember?
- Chris
  
  By the way, this is same formula for Washington as well.
  - Gabby
    
    It work at Boise , also
  - Pac12 fan
    
    Will find out next year as Washingtons first game is against Auburn and Ohio St and Michigan are on a hom and home schedule in the future
- Gabby
  
  Chris, that was a double crotch kick, followed by a strong uppercut…….he’s down for the count!
  - Arturo
    
    More like a paralyzing blow to the Kidneys and an equilibrium- breaking overhand right just behind the ear.
- Arturo
  
  Why do so many people think that having a great game at home means that a team is great? It is a snapshot of a team that doesn’t reflect how good the team is.
  
  Georgia isn’t as bad as the score, neither is ND.
  
  If the team is healthy and at full strength, I like SC’s chances against any team in America. The players would rise to the occasion.
  - Chris
    
    I completely agree. Ask Florida State if injuries matter.
    - Jack B
      
      They don’t matter to ALA.
      
      3-6 FSU has much bigger problems than just injuries, but they’ll still probably beat DEL ST next weekend.
      - Arturo
        
        FSU is a good comparison as both them and SC have talented rosters. One could argue that SC’s season might be in the gutter as well without Darnold. I don’t think that it is that simple though as others would/could pick up the slack.
      - SucKiffin
        
        Without Darnold lol … Gomer might have a win !
  - Trojan5
    
    Bless your heart Arturo. I am a Trojan fan and want them to win every week. But their performance this year doesn’t justify your belief they can compete with the any of the top 5 teams. Maybe next year, but not now.
    - Arturo
      
      The only game that SC didn’t compete in was the ND game in South Bend. No byes, no Fatu, Rector, Gustin, Bigelow had just quit, Marlon had just ended his season and true frosh Pili was making his first start. Yeah, they looked bad but, like I said about Auburn and Miami, it was 1 game, a snapshot, and not indicative of how really good those teams were.
      
      I stand by my statement.
      
      BTW thanks for the blessings!! Ditto
      - Trojan5
        
        Don’t disagree with all the points you make. But, and it is an important but—this team hasn’t played a full game to their full capabilities. They have made mental errors, been undisciplined, and unfocused throughout the whole season. Playing at that level against the elite teams is a recipe for disaster. I would love to see them get a shot and rise to the occasion. That would be fun to watch.
      - gotroy22
        
        Hopefully the Trojans get it together and rout the ruins Saturday night.
      - Arturo
        
        The mental errors, being undisciplined and being unfocused has been frustrating, I’ll admit. I have said before, this team might be a year away especially if Sam returns next year.
        That makes two of us in wanting them to play a full game. Makes you wonder if the team peaked too early (Stanford) and hasn’t been able to regain their mojo.
      - Trojan5
        
        I said earlier this year that this team is missing IT. IT is that intangible attitude that infects and impacts everything. From the meeting room, to the film room, to the weight room, to the practice field and to the game. IT drives everyone and everything. Those that don’t have IT stand out, and if they don’t get with the program they don’t make it. A few years ago AL under performed ( to their lofty standard) & Saban said it was because they forgot what it took to succeed. They lost IT. I don’t think this team has any bad guys, and they all work extremely hard. But do any of them have IT? If a team is going to reach the top, they need to find IT. Without IT, they are just like everyone else.
      - Jack B
        
        Darnold is our IT. Thank God we have him. He hasn’t always been great this year and is no longer a Heisman candidate. But thank God we have him to affect so many parts of our team because of the constant hope he gives his team-mates.
      - SucKiffin
        
        Ya think .. as clutch as any college player ever ! Just be glad Sark went mental or Sam would be keeping that crap coach around not this one
      - Jack B
        
        As you say, USC hasn’t put it all together, not even close, and we’re at game 12.
        
        We love to win UGLY, or else we’d be ranked higher. We lose real ugly too.
        
        And the ND spectacle was the worst USC showing I have ever seen in a big game. We were horribly coached and outplayed for that game which at least served as somewhat of a wakeup call to our staff, which has coached better since then.
      - Arturo
        
        ND looked just as bad against Miami, Jack. It was 1 game and there were all kinds of moving parts in that game that created that perfect storm in South Bend.
      - Jack B
        
        I know you think ND only smashed us because of our injuries and we’ll never agree on that issue.
        
        MIA clearly out-coached Kelly and ND. Kelly totally outcoached Helton in South Bend and that had nothing to do with our injuries. We were mentally flat from the get go and intimidated. All on Helton the Hugger.
        
        I don’t care what MIA did to ND. We couldn’t do jacksh*it against ND the entire game.
        
        Helton got the message from Swann after the ND game and he was also directed to handle some things he’s let slide, and they have nothing to do with injuries.
        
        We’re one of the nation’s sloppiest teams. That’s on Helton. But we’re 9-2 and I’ll happily take that with this on-and-off team. We’ve certainly got the talent to make the Fiesta Bowl. Hope we don’t have another flop game that sets us back.
      - fast fred
        
        Please tell us what message Swann gave to Helton—“Inside USC by JB”–we can’t wait to hear.
      - Arturo
        
        I give ND credit- their Oline is outstanding( the Miami game notwithstanding) They might be superior in that aspect. I don’t think that ND won only because of SC’s injuries; their gameplan and execution made SC look inferior. Add the injuries and you get the perfect storm.
        
        Jack, you are one of the bloggers that I do respect and therefore I hope you know that I put a little more thought into my posts. I am a homer, maybe even a rah-rah, but I am not a simpleton.
      - Brent4c
        
        As did OSU vs Iowa. Isn’t it funny how all the Helton/coach haters point to perfectly run programs who then go out and get beat badly in games they shouldn’t? OSU blown out against Okla and Iowa yet their coach clearly knows how to win a NC. ND looks like world beaters vs us and then lays an egg at Miami. Auburn bears Georgia but loses to a mediocre at best LSU team. Penn St loses an 11 point lead w minutes to play and then loses again to a Mich St team who was just blown out.
      - Pudly76
        
        Maybe not having a bye week and no classes like they did prior to the SC game made it tougher..
      - Michael Guarino
        
        I agree with you completely, Arturo. Lots of folks are afraid to point out a given team’s vulnerabilities until they’ve actually gotten beat. Once that team goes down, however, everybody feels comfortable saying, “that team was overrated.” Soon folks will be saying that about Alabama —-cuz they aren’t going all the way, believe me. And USC, on the right day, can hang with anybody in the country. I feel very comfortable saying that before they actually prove it on the field —-which they, by the way, are gonna get a chance to do in a major bowl.
      - Arturo
        
        Well said and I hope they get that chance and that Bama goes down.
  - Pac12 fan
    
    Agreed, but thats why i wonder about the Trojans. We struglled to beat two current .500 teams at home in Texas and Utah.
    - Arturo
      
      Why can’t we just give those teams credit for playing well. Texas gave Oklahoma all they wanted and Utah, at the time, was right in the middle of the PAC 12 south race. Lastly, those teams matched up with SC as both have good OL and DL.
      Everyone will always get up for SC as many of their players are SoCal natives.
      - Michael Guarino
        
        True, Arturo. Every team wants to make THEIR statement against USC. We’re the game that gets circled on everybody else’s calendar. Facing that intensity every week gets tough WITHOUT a bye.
      - Arturo
        
        I think people forget that these are 18- 22 year olds. I know I do, sometimes. If pros can’t be consistent and they are getting paid large sums of money to do so, what makes us think that these teams can be consistent for 3 months?!!?
        
        I think that there are just a few teams ( Texas, Ohio St. the Fl schools )that get that circled- on -the- calendar-because- they-didnt-recruit-me-and-I-live-just- down-the-street-and-all-my-family-will-be – watching revenge sort of games. Take Khalil Tate, he loved playing well against SC and all of his ex Serra teammates. Revenge was definitely on his mind and he grew up right in SC’s backyard.
        
        That SC is 9-2 is reason to celebrate,MG.
      - Michael Guarino
        
        Good stuff, Arturo. Lou Holtz described college football fans like this—“first they want a winning season, then they want a perfect season, then they want a perfect season with all shut outs.” I think we bloggers sometimes tend to expect more from USC football than we do from our political figures, filmmakers, business associates—-or ourselves
        The Tate reference is particularly on point. Judging from his broken hearted reaction to the loss at the coliseum, I’d be willing to bet he promised a lot of folks he’d bring home the victory. USC had to contend with similarly motivated Cal, Texas, Western Michigan and Arizona State teams. Not to mention Washington State and Notre Dame —-either of which I believe we could beat if we were well rested and at full strength (and playing on a neutral field).
      - Brent4c
        
        They give SD a pass in the Utah game. It was his horrendous first half turnovers that put us in a hole vs Utah.
    - gotroy22
      
      The Utes and Longhorns are teams SC should crush at home.
      - SucKiffin
        
        Throw Zona and West Mich too
- LamontRaymond
  
  Classic!
Jack B

GA, suddenly fully exposed, didn’t look any better than WA or STAN.

ALA and AUB would both beat USC.

The rest of the P12 is better than the SEC.
- Pac12 fan
  
  Miss st? Think not
  - Jack B
    
    You’re a little gutty fan. What would you know about football, except how to lose.
    
    MISS ST’s way over-rated. The last two minutes of the ALA game, they looked like a high school team. They’re just another team that’s beatable any weekend.
    - Pac12 fan
      
      As are we
      - Gabby
        
        So what’s your point….you’re talking in circles
      - Jack B
        
        You bruins are capable of being beat EVERY weekend. Big difference little gutty.
    - SucKiffin
      
      Jesus Bama didn’t look much better
      Sort of have the USC offense … qb drops to pass, receivers can’t get open, qb about to get sacked breaks tackle runs for 1st down
      - Jack B
        
        ALA has the killer instinct in spades and that’s why they’re still undefeated even though they have HUGE injury issues. Nobody in the P12 has the mental toughness of ALA, though STAN is the closest because of Shaw,
      - Gabby
        
        What game were you watching ?………Xbox doesn’t count
      - SucKiffin
        
        Ok Bamer simpleton O looks much better than ‘ please Sam make a play ‘ O
    - fast fred
      
      Just like WSU on a Friday nite?
  - Gabby
    
    Their coach had on balls, had a chance to go ahead, but decided to punt. I’m sure the mistake is playing over and over in his head
    - Jack B
      
      ALA carved up MISS ST’s predictable all out blitzes and calmly completed two easy over the middle throws to wipe out MISS ST when it counted. You could only shake your head at the hapless and outclassed Bulldogs at the end.
      - Gabby
        
        That’s pretty much what it looked like.
      - steveg
        
        They made those calls at the line based on the reads of the defense.
      - Gabby
        
        Good play calling
      - Jack B
        
        It was amazing to watch.
        
        It suddenly became so crystal clear why Mullen at MISS ST will never be a great coach. He had Bama right where he wanted them and Saban just shut his engines off. Click! Sorry, game’s over.
      - fast fred
        
        The coaching decision, not the team—Bama was much better but that’s college football–would have been nice to see an upset.
    - Pac12 fan
      
      Well at least he doesnt run fourth and 1 from the shotgun
      - Gabby
        
        Deflection is a lame defense. Troll on
    - fast fred
      
      Couldn’t agree more! He really sucked by not going for it cause you just knew that Bama would go down and score.
      - Gabby
        
        ….and that’s exactly what happened…..a miss opportunity
USCDAN1986

We have had our share of wins against the SEC.. Different times.. A well coached, disciplined USC could beat anyone at anytime… Injuries put in bad situation against ND as they did against Alabama.. But hey… Being honest, no Pac13 team is that good.. This year!
Trojan5

Any of the SEC top 3 would dominate PAC-12. None of PAC-12 top 4 would dominate SEC. But argument can be made that the entire PAC-12 is better than the entire SEC. SEC gets credit for AL and it’s dominance and the strength of its top 3or 4 teams. PAC-12 doesn’t get the same benefit because they don’t have an AL & it’s results. Same can be said for the BIG10. OSU has been so good it elevates the rest of the league. Hell, OSU got blown out twice at home this year, but many think they have a legit chance for the playoff. USC & OSU each have two losses. Both of SC’s were on the road. One close & one an embarrassing debacle. Both of the OSU losses were by wide margins at home. Guess what team is getting the benefit of the doubt—OSU. And it is well deserved. The strength of OSU shouldn’t elevate the whole league, but it does. If the SEC and BIG10 had to go through the 9 league schedule the PAC-12 does, the national narrative would be different.
USCDAN1986

No mention of the current polls…USC is #10 in the Amway and #12 in the AP.. .. Predicting #8 tuesday night!
StokaNoka

Pac12 vs Power5 teams = 7-3
SEC vs Power5 = 8-6
Stanford & Washington could play Auburn/UGA well. WSU/UA the same with MissSt/LSU. Bottom feeders we know what happened and I’d expect the same if they all played each other… remember A&M gave up more points to UCLA than they did to Bama, and Cal beat Ole Miss
- Jack B
  
  ARIZ is really capable of laying a big can of whoop on anyone and would beat most all of the SEC. Rich Rod is the P12 Coach of the Year, easy.
  - Arturo
    
    Imagine saying trying to say this at the beginning of the year. Good for the Cats and the conference.
- Arturo
  
  Stoka, way to bring out the facts. SW knows very little about football.
  - Gabby
    
    Wolf football IQ is in the negative range. When it comes to donuts, watch out
    - Pudly76
      
      Wolf has forgotten more about football than he’ll ever know.
Trojan5

Would like to see PAC-12 versus BIG10, SEC, or ACC play top to bottom based on previous years league standings. IE 1vs 1, 2vs 2, and on down the standings.
Jack B

The bruins are way down there with the Troglodytes where they belong – led by The Chimp, always proud of his little gutties. Just don’t take ’em to China.
- USC jojo
  
  Lol!!
dirtmover

I’d argue from what I saw last night Miss state would truck the trojans – that O line was physically beating bama up all game – those dudes looked mean/ nasty/ and were huge… healthy or not Bama would beat trojans by same amount or close to it as last yr… Hell bama’s secondary looks bigger than half our D line. same with Miss state…
schammer47

When Helton’s 2017 Trojans are healthy, USC’s Men of Troy do to Alabama. Auburn and Georgia exactly what USC did to Stanford. 60 minutes of PUNISHMENT on both sides of the line of scrimmage. Our 2017 Trojans were on their way to a NCAA Championship. We’ll have to wait till next year. One more thing, the USC Trojan Football Program does not consist of the cry babies we have on SW’s Blog, who fall far short of the true smash mouth THUNDERING HERD that a several of us belong to.
ItsAllAboutTheBall

Don’t assume Alabama is the SEC’s top team this year. They beat Texas A&M by only 7 points more than UCLA did…….

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