With Washington leading Washington State, 34-0, in the third quarter, it looks like USC will play Stanford in the Pac-12 title game on Friday (yes, a weekday game unlike the conferences that are in the CFP conversation).
Back in August, I predicted in the paper USC would play Stanford in the title game. Every once in awhile I get one right.
Every once in a while is correct. However, I am running a WaPo fact check on your statement. Oops, no confirmation.
The wash st performance tonight when they needed to win doesnt make the Trojans loss to them look so good .
That’s too bad. I much prefer good looking losses.
Transitive property does not work. SC beats The trees by what like 18 and loses to and by 30. Stanford beating ND by 18…it just doesn’t work.
Wazzu deserved to lose for playing in those ugly as suniforms.
Flow, USC was sloppy and up and down all season while still putting up a decent record despite all that. Stanford gets a free pass into the Championship game should this horribly lopsided Apple Cup continue. Anyone could have thrown this ending up in the air to see where it all fell. Don’t give yourself props on this one. Or the next 5-6 things you predict for that matter.
If not for Stanford playing off a short week, and SC coming off a bye; there’s no way I see SC beating the trees Friday
Heton and his coaches have to deliver. No excuse for an unprepared team in any way.
On a side note, it is great to watch the Irish getting destroyed tonight.
ND 49 – the Piglet 14..
Stanford 58 – Shoplifters 34
Wrong again ’72, the shoplifters play BB.
Stanford 11-0 vs The Thieves..
Stanford is doing something Clay Helton only dreams about, and that’s the power run game, and physical football. Regardless of next weeks outcome in the conference championship game , David Shaw is the best football coach in the PAC 12 .
Stanford a different looking team now that they settled in on Costello at QB.
Hah. They didn’t look different against CAL when they only scored 17 and beat woeful CAL by 3 in Palo Alto.
STAN actually beat ND because of turnovers.
True, Jack. Notre Dame probably would have won without the 3 turnovers. They substantially outgained Stanford. But should we find that comforting? Do you think Sam can play an error free championship game?
I don’t think Sam ever plays error free. That’s just not his riverboat style. But I do think he will have a big game and if SC loses, I believe it will be because STAN tightens up on our run game and takes advantage of Grabby and JJ – who seems to have regressed.
But our WRs have grown up I think and Darnold trusts them now, so if he gets hot, I think we’ll win.
Could be a classic. So many differing angles. But I think our team woke up a little after ND and I like these guys. They’ve won some spectacular games this season that were pretty unforgettable. I think we’re destined for the Fiesta. We’re 3-5 vs STAN since Carroll left.
I figure we still owe ’em. I’m even glad we play on Friday. All of CFB should be watching.
I remember you saying a while back—when I said I wanted to face Washington State in the Pac 12 CG cuz I wanted the revenge factor going for us— that you thought we STILL had the revenge factor on our side even in a possible rematch with Stanford because our recent history with them leaves us with a lot of debts to repay. And, beyond that, I recall you hoping we got Shaw again so that we could prove WE’RE the top dogs in the Pac 12 now. Well, it’s all coming true, Jack. We’re getting the game you wanted.
That’s true. WSU beats us every 12 years or so. STAN has been the dominant west coast team under Shaw and Luck beat us in that brutal OT game. If we take the Card down on Friday, for the 2nd time in one year, we settle a lot of scores is the way I see it.
STAN just seems a lot more elite and USC and STAN are the two oldest private football schools out here. We’re even older than STAN by 3 years. We really need to sit these guys down again, or our earlier victory this year gets kinda wiped out.
That’s exactly the way I hope Helton sells this game to the team, Jack —-our chance to take the Pac 12 away from Stanford. If this team can end Stanford’s reign as top dog, they will have accomplished something really memorable.
Except now Stanford is the one looking for revenge and they are feeling good about themselves. We beat them fairly soundly, but we didn’t make them believers.
I hope Coach Helton realizes that the last thing Stanford is gonna want on Friday [after what they went through tonight] is an ultra physical, hard hitting game. And that’s the game we should bring ’em.
Nd beat up on Stanford. Sc needs to physically take it to them. Hit the ball carrier with three to four defenders every play. Break their will and spirit
Yes! IF we play that kind of game, the entire Stanford team will begin thinking, “not again!” We need physical practices to do it, though. Need to get ready for that kind of game. It won’t just happen.
Yep. The domers look lost in the trees.
Um…where to start? Well for starters Helton destroyed Shaw earlier this year. Second, Shaw lost to San Diego St. Third and finally, he beat OREGON ST BY 1 POINT. If you want to be taken seriously at least make an attempt to be objective and deal in facts.
They execute and are more disciplined than SC. They will be beat up after playing Notre Dame and we have had time to rest and heal.
If that is true of Stanford in general, why did they get dominated by SC, lose to SDSU and need a last minute score to barely beat one of the worst power 5 teams in OSU? Instead of looking at one game, especially the most recent one, take into account the entire season. I realize Stanford is destroying ND and looks impressive, but what about the other 11 games they’ve played?
ND destroyed themselves with turnovers.
They took away the dual threat run game from ND and they fell prey to Stanford’s Chinese handcuff strategy of eating the clock with smashmouth until the other team tires and makes mistakes.
Gosh Fred, really?
Enjoy the next ugly loss from the toilet bowl that ugly will attend. And NO, Kelley can’t help turn the losing DNA of ugly by making them winners. His one trick pony show is run by everyone and USC has run 105 plays in a game, so up speed temple won’t help. The Convicts tried that with 0-3 Rosen and he lost again, as usual.
That’t not much of a reach about Shaw. Pretty obvious. He’s also better than Harbaugh.
He has a .800 win% from 2010, the first year of The Kiffer, until now. That puts Shaw substantially above both McKay (.749) and Robinson (.741), but with no NCs.
Shaw is an awesome coach, Fred. Whatever their schedule, his teams always finish stronger than they started. We really have our work cut out for us on Friday. My biggest worry actually is Sam. Will he let the game get too big for him the way he did in South Bend?
The only obvious advantage we have is that Stanford has been playing back to back games since October 26th ….and now they have to play us on a short week. The scary thing is that I don’t think they mind —-they want revenge. It’s up to Helton to get our guys ready for a knock down, drag out fight. I hope he’s up to it.
We beat them when they couldn’t pass. Last night they passed better, more passing yards than run.
Fred disagree with me if u want, but if Swann was smart he would go after the Stanford o line coach and the offensive coordinator. They play physical smash mouth football which sc is suited for
I would roll the dice on those two
With all the Chip Kelly talk don’t sleep on Beau Baldwin to Oregon state. That guy can coach. Oregon st will always be tough to recruit well, but Baldwin can get an offense rolling.
Just looked at Alabama, Auburn and Georgia’s non-conference schedules…wow. Best non-conference win out of those 3 is a 1 pt win by Georgia over ND. Next best is either Bama over FSU or Georgia over GT, neither of which will be playing in a bowl game. The SEC’s a real conference though and far superior to everyone else, right?
Scotty,
There aren’t any Pac12 teams in the CFP conversation because all of them have at least two losses, not because the conference championship game is on a Friday.
Is there anything else you need me to explain to you?
Try again, Gomer. Who else has 2 losses???
How about all 12 of them? USC and Washington each have two losses and everyone else has three or more.
Try reading next time.
Others s have 2 loses, Auburn for instance or even tOSU.
So someone needs to explain to me how this all looks…
We get hammered by ND, who loses fairly badly to Furd. WSU barely beats us on their turf with a slew of injuries to us and gets their aces handed to them in Seattle. Alabama loss to a solid Auburn team. What gives?
Intellectually, it means you can’t make any money betting on CFB.
You are not qualified to speak about intellectual matters.
Write, not speak ’72. Perhaps a HS ESL program might help you.
Does your mother you’re up and making a fool of yourself?
You can’t. There is no answer. Parity maybe?
WSU beat Stanford this month too.
Simple…Road Games are tough
College Ball. Never know what team will show up, lots of parity this season.
Well-Well-Well. According to some people who like to compare scores, ND should be beating Stanford by about 60. You know-ND beat SC by 40 and SC beat Stanford by 40 and Miami beat ND and Pittsburgh beat Miami and on and on and on…..Fight On!
Bring on Stanford! !!!
They are playing good football with KJ.
Another win over Stanford will be great .
I’m just glad SC isn’t nearly as good as its record. Otherwise, I’d be really mad that they’d get left out of the playoffs (assuming they win Friday). Total crap that it’s almost guaranteed two SEC teams get in this year
If Clemson, Oklahoma and Wisconsin win their CCGs then they’ll all be in the playoffs. All 3 will be favored so how is the SEC guaranteed to get 2 teams in?
Just watch
I’d rather you explain using logic and rationale how that happens if the 3 I mentioned win.
You’re right. It would be tough to justify if Wisconsin and OU win. However, I can see the talking heads inflating the case for a one-loss Bama over Wisconsin. Not unthinkable. More likely is OSU beats Wisconsin and Bama and Georgia/Auburn winner gets in
Illogically,there is alway a playoff qualified team that get screwed when the playoff seeding are finalized.
The truth is Stanford is a team that has improved during the season, unlike our beloved Trojans. David Shaw is a real coach, whose teams play every phase of the game for 60 minutes, not 40 or 45 minutes. Unless our Trojans play their best game of the season next week, the Cardinal will hand them their assess . . . again!
If Shaw’s teams execute so well why did Stanford lose three games?
It’s how you finish. Stanford just beat ND, which clobbered the Trojans; and, before that they beat UDUB, which just dismantled WSU. I’d say that’s a pretty strong finish.
And they lost to wsu, and played a squeaker against Cal.
a 1 point win is the same as a 46 point win.
Oh I forgot, beat Oregon st by 1
So you’re saying Stanford is the best three loss team in the country?
BS
They have improved, yet they lost to WSU this month.
Shaw will have Stanford ready to play.
Helton will have USC ready to play.
It will be an excellent game to watch..
And beat Cal by 3. One game makes a season I guess.
It’s how you finish. Stanford just beat ND, which clobbered the Trojans; and, before that they beat UDUB, which just dismantled WSU. They are playing the most consistent football in the Pac 12 right now. =
Who will be favored? I saw USC over STAN slightly because of Darnold.
Vegas will favor SC because their lines are always inflated because dumb alums are famous for betting SC in Vegas during weekends. If not for the short week, it would be a pick’em. Given the bye for SC, I think a real line would have SC at -3.
Good call. I say USC by 2.5.
Both teams have proven pretty weird this year, but both are winning now. STAN only just beat CAL by 3 at home and USC only beat ucla by 5 at home. Seems pretty even to me. It’s like a home game for STAN but USC should be rested for the first time.
Final spread. Under 6
USC will be favored by 6 and lose by 18.
Only if some USC assts have been told they are goners and they aren’t the ones SW has said want to leave any way.
Shaw already has audibles ready…
1. When Costello yells “25” they have Jack Jones one-on-one…easy TD
2. When Costello calls out “Trash Talk” they have Jack Jones one-on-one…easy TD
3. When Costello calls out “Toast Sr.” they have Iman Marshall one-on-one…easy TD
4. When Costello calls out, “double Toast” they have both jack Jones and Iman Marshall in coverage…double easy TD
Got it. [So….I guess we need to keep Jack and Iman out of one on one situations, yes]?
Can we beat this team again for the conference championship? And the not-so-exciting truth is that this is clearly a much-improved team, compared to the one we had beaten in September. It’ll be a fun game to watch next Saturday, and might also be the toughest game to win for us in the season.
The odds may be against us this time considering they have defeated ND which has humiliated SC earlier.
You can watch it on Friday night. You don’t have to wait for Saturday. :)) just kidding the game is on Friday night.
Thanks, jojo!
If we don’t get the result we want on Friday, it might have been more merciful to let my bud RT tune in on Saturday.
[But I think we’ll do it —I just don’t think it’s gonna be easy. This is Stanford with Shaw and a new, confident quarterback playing us in their own backyard].
Afraid you’re right, pardner. The Pac 12 Championship is very doable if we bring our best game —-but will we? You can say a lot of things about our team —many good, some bad. But the one thing I think we have to admit to ourselves is that Sam has not gotten better as the year progressed. And that’s what we need to get to the next level. Hopefully, we’ll see a better game out of him than we saw in South Bend or at the Coliseum last week.
Yes, MG. The outcome of next week’s game will again be largely dependent on which side of our team will show up. And it is a concern that Stanford now has much more stable QB play, compared to the first game we’ve played them in the season. I think they will be formidable foes that will test us in every way being highly physical in the trenches as well. It’ll take an excellent game from us to beat this resurgent team. pardner.
Well said, RT. Costello gets those first downs that Chyrst couldn’t. He keeps the ball in Stanford’s hands. We need to get to him —but that means we have to depend on you- know -who on the back end.
#ThisComesDownToSam&JackJones
That’s true, MG. We might need some second half heroics from Darnold to pull this one out because it’s not looking like we could put them away early in this game. I’d like to see us play hard and physical in all four quarters in this game to beat the same team for the second time in the season, which is usually very difficult to do.
#NoStupidTOsOrPenaltiesPlease!!!
I sure hope your last lines don’t come back to haunt us, RT. I’m gonna be so pi**ed if we throw the CG away due to the same old procedure penalties we’ve been wracking up all season. We finally can’t afford them —the current version of the Stanford team is too good for that. And I’ll say it again—Sam can’t turn the ball over and Jones can’t lose track of his guy. This game’s on them.
#I’mSureRojo&CarrWillBeFine
Yep, we’ll need those key guys to do their part well with no boneheaded mistakes that could give the momentum away to the opposing team, which has been the recurring theme for the team all throughout this season. And those mistakes can cost the entire game in do-or-die situations like these. Hopefully, Helton will get the guys mentally ready to come to play next Friday night.
#TheEntireSeasondependsOnThisGameMG!
It always comes down to Sam .. nothing else matters with SC
I’ll be there.
Lucky you! Send me some excitement on my way, OK?
Flip a coin. I say SC has a 50-50 chance. Stanford certainly did not dominate ND. Look at the box score. It’s not the same ND team that SC played. When SC played them, they were sailing to a championship season. Miami took the wind out of their sails.
Yeah, 50/50 sounds pretty good, even though beating them twice in the same season would be quite a feat.
They definitely have the talent to beat Stanford twice. They just have better players. Do they have the coaching? We’ll see.
That is the crucial variable that might separate a win from a loss next Friday. The most important aspect of that game might turn out to be the mental side of the game, which should be the responsibility of the coaches.
The pressure certainly is on Helton especially since UCLA just paid 23.5 million for Chip Kelly. He really does need to win the Pac-12.
Yes, the comparison between Helton and Kelly will be constantly on even before the start of the next season. As a matter of fact, I’m not even concerned about the future of Helton as it’ll all take care of itself by how the team does next year.
I, personally, would just like to see what he can do if given some time. If he doesn’t work out, they’ll fire him. If kellys bruins start to beat SC, maybe that is what it will take to get those fire ‘Max banners’ flying behind planes all over the city so that SC can start to see that you don’t win natties when you are paying minimum wages for coaches.
Not sure if Darnold will come back for another season, but I think that’s probably the most important variable for Helton’s future at this point. Without him next season, the challenge for the team will undoubtedly be much more severe with a first-year starter at QB position, which brings a good amount of uncertainty. But on the same token, Helton’s true coaching abilities will be tested more clearly with a new QB who’s not Darnold.
Gomer is a goner AD … After Darnold
Who should be the coach after that?
He needs to make some changes in his coaching staff like DB’s and maybe O-Line.
Fortunately or not, the Stanford receivers are not that fast, but they are big. Biggy and Jones need to figure out how to tackle these guys this week, hitting them low. As always, the teams desire and attitude are going to be key, O line will need to again get something done or it will be a long night. As we saw with ND, turnovers could be the difference. Defense needs to stay home and they can bottle up Stanfords run game to something manageable. I know USC will score enough points to win if the defense keeps the trees out of the end zone.
I’m sure Stanford will come to play highly inspired next Friday night. And anything less than a clean and well-fought game by SC won’t be enough to beat this team again in the same season. And yes, the battle in the trenches will be huge in this game because Stanford plays the most physical football in the conference at the moment. It’ll be very interesting to see how the game would unfold, especially on the initial stage, as I think it will be crucial for either team to play in rhythm for the remainder of the game.
USC’s talent is going to have to overcome Helton’s coaching again if they want to beat Stanford, just as the Trojans have done all season for all their wins.
Just run it on every down. We already have the blueprint at wiping the field with those tree losers.
Oh no, Helton wants to showcase Darnold first, then when Helton gets the Trojans in a hole…then they’ll run it.
Sunshine Pumpers preparing excuses already saying that playing the PAC 12 Championship up north is an unfair advantage for Stanford.
LOL!
If USC beats Stanford it sure as hell won’t be because of Helton’s coaching.
Seriously.
Nice trap! Yeah! Win or Lose, he loses!
Clay Helton isn’t qualified enough to be David Shaw’s waterboy.
Who do you think should be the USC coach?
The pickin’s are slim for qualified or up and coming head coaches, USC needs to get in on the Scott Frost sweepstakes.
So you’re in favor of USC going to an all out spread/Chip Kelly type of offense? It seems like that’s what Frost would bring, certainly not the way Shaw does things.
Uh oh, Dabo Sweeney just said they are state champs and said their bigger goal was a conference championship. Guy is a rediculuos coach. They better bring in someone different now!
If we can run the ball with Rojo and Carr and give Sam good protection to throw to Deontay, Tyler, Steven, and our TE’s, we can beat Stanford.
Yes, we CAN beat Stanford…..IF Sam keeps his head and doesn’t take dumb chances on third downs and IF Jack doesn’t get turned around in coverage too often.
Vaughns and Pittman have stepped up since their last meeting with Stanford. If they can get some injured players back, especially Porter, USC can win this game.
They also need to come out ready to play, not like they’ve done all year long, and not be sloppy or this game will get out of hand.
USC has 5 times the talent that Stanford does so why is it even a question with the Sunshine Pumpers of “if”?
That’s how much faith they have in Clay Helton. “If” the stars align, if Darnold…blah blah blah, if Rojo does this or that, if WR’s so and so…”
LMFAO!
The Sunshine Pumpers are basically admitting Helton is trash as a head coach.
BWA HA HA HA HA!
Classic!
Talent helps but execution is what wins games. The team that executes better will always win.
Trash?
A topic you have first-hand experience with.
How’s bammy doin this morning or fla or fla st? You Hillbilly Troll. None of them will be practicing this week.
None of them will be losing next weekend.
Oh how the mighty have fallen.
Knucklehead
Stanford looks good, I hope Helton did not just have cookies and milk for the bye. Helton and crew better have winning edge for the whole game, Stanford will be ready and wanting revenge.
If Helton loses this game he’s gonna lose a lot of so-called football capital as I see it.
Yes, JB. The loss next week will make many SC fans remember that feel-terrible-loss to The Tree a few years ago at the same venue.
Got to give you credit JB—about 2 months or so you and I agreed that Stan would be much better off with Costello at QB—watch out Friday nite–the cards will win!
Could someone please tell me the condition of our Left Guard, Chris Brown, # 77 ? Brown left the UCLA game late in the 3rd quarter and never returned.
Good question. We won’t know until Coach Helton gives his injury update on Monday. [Sure hope Gustin is playing —that’s huge]!
And so did Rasheem Green, we’ll have an idea Monday, probably won’t know till later in the week.
USC will beat Stanford. The only worry is getting worn down by the Trees…ala Notre Dame today. USC has better athletes than Stanford, plus it has the good fortune to have a very cagey, underestimated head coach. Troy must strike early, utilise its speed, and keep the pressure on. It’s all possible.
Humble brag….
I still say that Chris Petersen will win a National Championship in the near future.
WoIfman you are too modest! “every once in awhile I get one right”??!!
WoIfman, you are a prognosticator of Prognosticators!
#InWoIfweTrust
Thanks chuck
Very much doubt we do win
And you never fail to make it known.
Gomer loses to a team that beat woeful OregonSt by 1 pt … that had only 5 days to prepare vs a team that had 2 weeks to prep, and one they already whipped. He should be canned asap
What if they win? Do you give him props?
We have to win a high scoring game.
If it’s a low scoring game, what should we do?
Score more!!
Jut checking
Rumor is Todd Graham will be fired. Even with the win last night. Wonder when Helton will pull the trigger on some assistants.
What is Graham good for?
Hee gone!
This is a good opportunity for Helton to show he can coach in this league. Playing an improved Stanford team will be a good measuring stick of where he’s at. Don’t choke it away Clay.
I like USC’s chances. They should win and also it will be the 1st time the Pac-12 South wins it.
Scooter is thinking in his mind that since he predicted the Stanford and USC rematch, that he has certified his credibility in football. But he doesn’t realize that most pundits were saying the same thing. What a maroon, by Bugs Bunny
wolfman, once again you prove you are 15-20 moves ahead of the Dummies in every facet of the game.
#Bravo
6-6 .. Thieves University!
How hard is it to beat the same team twice in a season? Especially when that other team has improved noticeably and the original winner hasn’t?
I hope we are well preparied to play a whole physical game. Stanford is better than our last game with them. Are we better is the question? Stanford is licking their lips. Will Helton and crew be ready???? or did they just coast for the bye?