USC-Oregon Question

biggest factor is the game is in Eugene

With the changing of the guard at Oregon linebacker, Ducks have good blitzing linebackers and the D coordinator sends them

Barkley is going to be heavily harassed - which is the second biggest factor in the upcoming game

because of those 2 reasons, I see USC's chances for a win to be not so great this year

unless I figured it out wrong, if ucla beats colorado, they will play for the pac12 championship

SC will have to play "fast" to beat Oregon. The Duck are NOT as athletic as last year, although they have fantastic players in the skill positions. I think the Tampa 2 will be the downfall, as the Ducks are so fast in open space and the Tampa 2 allows underneath receptions. It's the after catch yardage that will kill us. If the bRuins do beat Colorado, the spread for Oregon vs Fucla will or should be in the 30's.

oregon111, you are overlooking the final week of the season. Yes, UCLA should beat Colorado next week but ASU should also beat Arizona which would mean they would remain tied. If the season ended at that point, yes, the tiebreaker would go to UCLA.

However, there's one more week to play so if ASU then beats Cal and we beat UCLA (certainly a possibility) then ASU would play for the championship, not UCLA, because ASU's conference record will be 6-3 and UCLA's will be 5-4.

Final Southern Division Standings

ASU 6-3
USC 6-3
Utah 5-4
UCLA 5-4
Col 1-8
Az 1-8

ASU will beat Arizona and Cal at home. USC will beat UCLA, but likely lose @Oregon. Utah will beat @Wash St and Colorado.

If ASU loses one of its last two games, USC wins the division. Wonder what happens if there is a 3-way tie between ASU, UCLA and Utah, as they went 1-1 against each other?

I would not be surprised, however, if the bRuins lose their final two games to Colorado (who routed Arizona) and USC, and miss a bowl game.

I agree with Oregon111 on his expectation's for next Saturday's game. Oregon's defense is much improved since the start of the season. I would add that a third factor will be whether USC can establish a running game. That's what hurt us last year. Barkley passed for 50+ times (including 2 or 3 sacks). If SC establishes a run, it will take pressure off Barkley, shorten the game, and keep Oregon's offense off the field. Also, I would look for Telfer and Grimble to be very involved. Short passes to the TEs will keep Oregon's LBs at home.

When Oregon has the ball, SC's DTs need to disrupt the LOS, and get a good push on the center & guards. Stanford did this only briefly last night in the first quarter, but its how tOSU, Auburn and LSU beat Oregon's offense the last 3 years. I would worry less about trying to sack Thomas, and make sure the DLine's pressure keeps Thomas in front of them rather than running themselves out of the play. Otherwise, he'll just take off and run. Thomas has a decent arm, but its Oregon's running game that beats teams. Since Jeff Maehl left, they don't seem to have the same deep threat this year. If the speed of Bailey, Dawson and Pullard can match Oregon then it should be a good game; otherwise, I think Oregon wins by 2 TDs.

I like the way the Pac-12 South is playing out. The NCAA has decided that the best team in the South won't be able to play for the conference championship. USC has not made excuses and continues to improve tremendously each week with many Freshmen and Sophomores playing, which defies the NCAA's intent of the sanctions. If we beat ASU (and I can't believe we actually lost to them), USC would be making a complete mockery of the the NCAA.

ucla does control's their own fate; however, they do not seem to understand this or be willing to accept the pressure that comes along with it. They looked terrible last night. ASU should win out, but you really can not give too much weighting as to what ASU should do, since they've imploded. ucla should beat Colorado. That would mean ucla plays USC for their chance to win the Pac-12 South.

Oregon would be favored by 30 against ucla and 20 over ASU. Heading into 2012, the Pac-12 South may have 3 new head coaches - ASU, UofA and ucla. USC should run through the South without any problems, with a possible challenge from Utah. I'm expecting Saturday night to be a preview of the 2012 Pac-12 championship game.

After watching my Bruins yesterday, stink up the field in a game they WERE SUPPOSED to win to show everyone the rebirth of UCLA football, they simply choked, played like a last place team, Prince looked like H.S. JV QB, the play calling was horrific and predictable...the cold and the snow, is no excuse, because half the Utah team comes from Southern California. Truly an embarrassing performance, RN must go no matter what happens the rest of the year.

Slob dusky, quit trying to kiss our @$$. Nobody here cares about the bRuins or you

SLOBS, kissing your ass? WTF are talking about, you dickless wanderer?

It is not even going to be close. DeAnthony Thomas alone will outscore the Women of Troy!!

SlobDusky, wow, what a douche. "RN must go" "We choked" "We blah blah blah" $h!t man, WE ALREADY KNEW THAT ABOUT THE bRuins! WAKE UP!

Mr Bill, I didn't realize DeAnthony Thomas was going to try out for women's athletics. I do, however, admire his comfort with his own sexuality to do so. You should be rather proud to have him as a role model.

Rob,

Appreciate the continued civility, but nobody here cares about the poor excuse for a football team in Westwood. They suck. Always get a win they shouldn't just to turn around and disappoint. They suck. They won't beat SC. They suck.

Always,
Bruin rob is a moron

Ps. Enjoy the SC blog and FIGHT ON!