tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11018984825743016762024-03-12T16:30:16.796-07:00Los Angeles RivalsLARivalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02692897927270900332noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101898482574301676.post-87127943514111416412013-03-05T14:38:00.002-08:002013-03-05T14:38:59.457-08:00UCLA Basketball: 3 Brief Thoughts<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>Shabazz Muhammad</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Was this really breaking news?<br />
<br />
Shabazz is going pro. You know it, I know it, we all know it. And had Howland answered the question regarding Shabazz differently, and had he just said something along the lines of "we will see at the end of the season," then the spin is different. Then, Howland is still holding on to hope that Muhammad will come back, and he hasn't learned from the Kevin Love and Jrue Holiday departures. So this was a no win situation for Howland, and he might as well have told the truth. More than anything else, I really believes this helps UCLA if Howland is the coach long term.<br />
<br />
The stigma out there right now is after the Kevin Love debacle, Howland purposely help Holiday back to lower his stock, and it worked. Holiday went from top 5 to out of the lottery. But he left anyways. And while such a narrative is ridiculous, as I really don't think any coach would hold a player back purposely, its out there. So if Howland does remain at UCLA, then this probably helps him.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<b>The Washington Trip</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
It has come to this...<br />
<br />
Remember, the 2005-06 team finished 24-7 (14-4 in PAC 10 play) on fire to win the conference. And we all know what happened after that. And while thats one side of the argument, the flip side is that the 05-06 squad that finished as runners-up finished far more authoritatively. They blasted their way through the last few games, and obliterated Cal in the conference tourney final. So no, even if this team wins the final two games, there is no comparison to the 05-06 team unless it does so in spectacular fashion. And thats assuming they win.<br />
<br />
This has just been such a roller coaster season, with lots of twists and turns. But there has been one constant theme. When it seems like the Bruins get that jolt from a big performance, they follow with a 180 degree drop. And while the Washington schools aren't very good, remember, UCLA has not won at Washington under Ben Howland. So we can talk about any higher expectations and/or seeding if the Bruins can actually finish this time and sweep Washington.<br />
<br />
Should they not close, the pressure the goes back on ...<br />
<br />
<b>Ben Howland</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Nothing has changed. The season is still long ways from being over. Howland has to show that under his leadership, UCLA can be among college basketball's elite. And again, whenever it seems his seat is cooling off, it just seems to heat right back up. All I can say is, lets not worry about this for now. Let's just let this season play out, and we'll keep faith that the best thing that can happen for UCLA Basketball will happen. </div>
LARivalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02692897927270900332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101898482574301676.post-1744930601074172582013-03-03T01:22:00.001-08:002013-03-03T01:22:21.275-08:00UCLA vs Arizona Post Game Thoughts<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
-It's funny, the season isn't over by any stretch of imagination. But today was a very sentimental game in many respects. For me, it was my final home game as a student at UCLA, as it was for several students who camped out from 12 PM Friday to 10 AM Saturday. It was Larry Drew II's final home game, who though he was only here for one year, gave everything he had for this school. And it was almost surely Shabazz Muhammad's final game, and possibly Kyle Anderson as well.<br />
<br />
-If it was indeed Shabazz's final game, and it was, I certainly hope he does very well at the next level. He was courted by several big name programs, and could have gone just about anywhere he wanted. But he came here, and he's put UCLA Basketball, if nothing else, in the national discussion once again. His drive and desire are unparalleled, doing his best Kobe impersonations toughing through multiple injuries and setbacks. The investigations early on, the Gucci backpack, the flu game against USC, the pink eye against USC and ASU, and the sprained ankle today, its an exhaustive list. And many critics still point out several flaws in his game that will hurt him as a pro, I am among them. But we cannot deny one thing, and that is that Shabazz Muhammad will do everything in his power to improve as a player and help his team win. And thats not something you say nearly often enough about highly touted players.<br />
<br />
-As for Kyle Anderson, I hope he comes back. His future is handling the ball, just like he wants. I think this year was how Howland wanted his development: learn defense, learn rebounding, while continuing some point play. And next year, play on ball. He's just a special, special talent. And if he comes back, the sky is the limit for UCLA next year. He's that good.<br />
<br />
-The conference title is now there for the taking, something we'd have thought crazy in November. It's crazy, but if the Bruins win out this week, something that will be very, very hard given that UCLA has never won at Washington under Howland, and win the conference tourney, again, very difficult considering a 7.5 man rotation has to win 3 games in 3 nights, the Bruins could still be placed in the West regional as a 3-4 seed.<br />
<br />
-With all that said, all those goals are very, very hard. UCLA has had a habit of laying eggs after impressive victories this season.<br />
<br />
-More to come... I haven't slept since Thursday night. </div>
LARivalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02692897927270900332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101898482574301676.post-13214015166963650562013-02-28T01:06:00.004-08:002013-02-28T12:14:32.762-08:00UCLA ASU Postgame Thoughts<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
-Where do I begin? I guess I'll start with... congrats Ben. You live to fight another game.<br />
<br />
-Highlight of the night besides the win: the Pau Gasol sighting. I've always had a man crush on Pau, even with all his struggles the past few years.<br />
<br />
-The stat sheet might only say -3 on the boards, but to the naked eye, the Bruins are still having to fight way too hard for their rebounds. Players are watching the ball too much rather than boxing out.<br />
<br />
-And for those who say its because we don't have a true big man, half the teams in the NBA today don't have true big men. You don't need to be 7'2 to get a rebound.<br />
<br />
-Tony Parker for the first time in his UCLA career was banging bodies. He was getting flat out physical and dirty with Budchinzky (I'm not checking if I spelled that right). Offensively, he's going to have to get more polished, but the skill set is there. If he sticks with it, he's going to be a very good player.<br />
<br />
-What more can you say about the freshman? Muhammad was expected to be a force, but Anderson and Adams have proved more than capable of scoring well on their own. Adams and Anderson really took it to the Sun Devils down the stretch.<br />
<br />
-As for Muhammad, 21 points is nice and all, but if your going to be a top 5 selection in the NBA draft as a guard, you have to knock down your free throws. If Muhammad makes his free throws down the stretch in regulation, the game never gets to OT. He was virtually absent in OT, something very uncommon for him this season.<br />
<br />
-David Wear nearly cost the Bruins the game. He had absolutely no presence inside, and isn't nearly consistent enough with his jumpers to be taken seriously. Either he or Parker need to get much better, and quickly.<br />
<br />
-Hopefully Parker becomes a larger part of the rotation now. He seems to be playing with a lot more confidence, and David Wear seems to slowly be developing one weakness: playing basketball. If I had to pick, I'd give them 10 minutes or so each.<br />
<br />
-Trust me when I say it took a bit for me to say that. I've really hated how people thought Parker should get minutes for doing absolutely positively nothing. But things are a bit different now.<br />
<br />
-Yes, it is just now. Last time, he was dismembered when he had a larger role at ASU.<br />
<br />
-Saturday could prove really big for the Bruins, as a win could pull them up to a 5-6 seed. Yes, big things are still possible out of this UCLA team. In a tie for first place now in the conference, the outright regular season title will be tough, with Saturday's game against Arizona and a date at Washington still looming. Oregon has just one more tough date at Colorado. Still however, a strong finish could position the Bruins in the 5 seed range and could put them in position for a decent run.<br />
<br />
-Arizona could prove to be an even tougher game now with their loss to SC, but ASU was probably the tougher matchup of the two. With their size and ability to stretch the floor with a couple shooters, ASU had all the makeup to come into Pauley and beat the Travis Wear-less Bruins. It all sets up a monster showdown on Saturday, one that could define the season to this date. </div>
LARivalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02692897927270900332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101898482574301676.post-54125955202039197412013-02-25T14:26:00.001-08:002013-02-25T14:27:01.759-08:00Random Musings<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<b>UCLA Basketball</b><br />
<b><br /></b>Everybody wants to talk about Ben Howland and his job security, but there really is no point until the end of the season. Ben isn't getting a meeting with Dan Guerrero until after the tourney. As for this team, there are many issues.<br />
<br />
Rebounding doesn't seem to be an issue that is getting corrected any time soon. And while the attention this week is on Arizona featured by game day, ASU could prove to be the tougher of the two games. The height of the Sun Devils was just too much last time around, and this meeting should prove to be no exception. UCLA is still very poor in simple fundementals such as box-outs, crashing the boards, etc. It's just sad because its the one thing holding this group back. When UCLA gets the rebounds and are off in transition, few teams are capable of stopping them. Of course, last time against ASU would have been dismissed as a loss based on fatigue, but the Bruins followed it up with a stinker against USC. So basically, this looks to be a very Steve Lavin type team: high on talent, high on potential, iffy on execution, and spotty as to which team is going to show up.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
To put in perspective where this team could be, if the Bruins won the Cal Poly and USC games by the combined 50 points they should have won by, they'd be 21-5, hovering around the top 15, and in the conversation for a west regional 3-4 seeding.<br />
<br />
I guess we'll talk about Howland now. This week could be a boom/bust week. Two losses, and its just about over. Two wins, and the pendulum swings right... for a week. A split, and its a must two-win trip in Washington. My guess as to what brings Howland back (based on Guerrero's history/expectations) is some combination of the following:<br />
<br />
1. Win the PAC 12 regular season title<br />
2. Win the PAC 12 tournament<br />
3. Make the Sweet 16 and lose very close<br />
4. Make the Elite 8.<br />
<br />
If its some combo of 1, 2, and 3, I think Howland is back. If its 1 or 2, and a second round exit, it'll be close. And 4 is the absolute safe zone. Any bad loss before the Elite 8, and he's gone. And if its none of the above, its over. If I were Guerrero, it would be 4 or bust, with 3 being a very close evaluation based on who I could bring in, recruiting, current players, etc.<br />
<br />
The season could easily be 1-3 and a first/second round conference tourney exit with no dancing, or 4-0 with a PAC 12 tourney title and a top 4 seed in the west. The likely outcome is somewhere in-between. Or is it?<br />
<br />
It's just been a rough sports year for me.<br />
<br />
<strong><br /></strong>
<strong>Jadaveon Clowney</strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
For everybody out there with the rhetoric of "money isn't everything," how much will your check to Clowney be should he get hurt next season? How much did your thoughts and prayers contribute to Marcus Lattimore this season?<br />
<br />
If your a professional, you want to be in the league as soon as humanly possible. For Clowney, there's a good chance that he'd be the top selection in this years draft. And I'm not quite sure how much GM's really want to see him this year. GM's already know what this kid can do. They'd probably rather he not play and get him with another year of life. He's that special. So why should any of us ask him to risk that? And that includes Steve Spurier. <br />
<br />
I've always thought that it's mostly on the coaches to be the adults in the room and advise these kids of what's really best for them. And after they do that, they live with whatever final decision the kid makes. There is nothing that Steve Spurier gains if Clowney decides not to play. So why should he support it? Because he sat in Jadaveon Clowney's living room and told Jadaveon's mom that he'd look after her childs best interests. And if thats really true, he will support Clowney in whatever path he takes. <br />
<br />
Personaly, what do I think Clowney should do? Same thing Lattimore should have done last season. First, try and fight the courts to see what can come of that; its not going to work, but no harm in trying. Then, you play this season, but at any point, if the national title is out of the picture, and <em>especially </em>if the SEC title is out of the equation, he needs to pack his bags and leave. At that point, he would have truly given everything for the school, but there's no point in playing for what would be a meaningless exhibition bowl game. <br />
<br />
And it's time for Steve to wake up and tell him just that if the time does come to do so. <br />
<br />
<strong>The One and Done Rule</strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
It kind of goes back to the Clowney thing. If a kid is good enough, he's good enough. At least with the NFL though, their 3 years in college rule makes sense as a whole for the sport. Clowney is a special case. But when it comes to the NBA, there really truly is nothing that a kid gains in one year of college. <br />
<br />
Nerlens Noel would have been a top selection in this years draft. And there is nothing that the one and done rule does to help him. There is nothing Nerlens Noel is learning in his lone year at Kentucky that is going to help him. Making kids stay three years makes a lot more sense than staying one. At least then they might actually get more mature. <br />
<br />
And the other problem is not all these kids are from difficult backgrounds. The rule is mainly in place so that kids dont take their first paycheck and buy three ferraris and a mansion. But guys like Kevin Love, Kyrie Irving, and Shabazz Muhammad were not from such backgrounds; they wouldn't have wasted their money away as such. <br />
<br />
Therefore, here is my plea to the NBA. Allow kids to enter out of high school. But if they go to college, it must be three years. That way, the kids who really want to play college ball play college ball. It helps the kids, and it helps basketball. Whatever the case is, at least open up the high school pipeline again, so we don't have to hear more twitter shout outs for kids who shouldn't have been in that situation in the first place.<br />
<br />
<b>Dwight Howard</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Where do I even begin?<br />
<br />
The Lakers were never going to trade Dwight Howard. Even with all the things that have gone on this season, the Lakers have the inside track to sign Howard this offseason. They have $30 million more that they can offer with bird rights. They have the advantage of being in Los Angeles, where Dwight's marketability in terms of endorsements would be off the charts. His sneaker deal would be worth a whole lot more than it would be anywhere else. He would be the true king of LA in a short while, after Kobe Bryant retires. And more than anything else, its the Lakers; their never going to be bad for a long stretch of time.<br />
<br />
Dwight's options after this season if he were to walk as a free agent look something like this: Atlanta, Dallas, Detroit, Charlotte, and... well you get the picture. So while Dwight can hold the Lakers hostage in some sort of sign and trade deal, the Lakers can every bit as much hold him hostage by daring him to go to Atlanta and lose in the second round for years to come.<br />
<br />
Quietly however, Howard has been spiking in terms of production, as have the Lakers. He stated the obvious, admitting to poor conditioning due to his injury. D'Antoni seems to have finally come around to the idea of the post entry, and to the idea of hedging over switching. The Lakers really haven't proven anything however. If the goal is to simply make the playoffs, then yes, the Lakers at this point in time look like they deserve to be a 7-8 seed. But these are the Lakers, and no matter the seed, if the last game of the season ends in a loss, it makes for a long offseason. So will the Lakers make the playoffs? They sure dug themselves quite a hole, but they are capable. But lets not act as if thats going to salvage the season.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
LARivalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02692897927270900332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101898482574301676.post-35403676462619326362013-01-30T16:52:00.004-08:002013-01-30T16:52:59.436-08:00UCLA vs. USC: Pre-Game Thoughts<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
-Well that's that. Any good feelings after the Zona win are just about gone, and there are probably more bad feelings than good. <br />
<br />
-I have to say, the most concerning thing about Howland's teams over the last 5 years is how much they've played according to the stakes/played down to the opponents level. It's been, well, very Lavinesque. <br />
<br />
-Every time there's a big game, UCLA seems to show up and at least lose close. When the game isn't all that meaningful, then we get games like Saturday. <br />
<br />
-Its really just a culture of winning, and expecting to win, that you build in your program. The Final Four teams had it. Even the 2008 team had it, to an unhealthy degree. And it just disappeared overnight. <br />
<br />
-Shabazz Muhammad is sick, Travis Wear is hurt, this really could be the beginning of the end. A loss to SC would be the absolute final straw. <br />
<br />
-Or it could still be the beginning of a spark. There is no game from now to the Arizona game that this UCLA team, if healthy, shouldn't be able to win. <br />
<br />
-I've seriously never felt so wishy-washy about a team since, well, ever.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
-No, Josh Smith wouldn't have made a difference. Trust me when I say that. Smith is a classic case of a kid with great capabilities with a peanut size head. Perhaps a change of scenery will help him reflect on his decisions, but it wasn't going to work at UCLA. And its not a knock on Howland in this case. From what I understand, the coaching staff tried their best in the hours allotted to them to get Josh Smith into shape, but you are only allotted so many hours a week over summers. The staff gave him countless workouts to do, and sent supervisors and trainers whenever they were allowed. They gave him several diet restrictions and diet charts. They might as well have thrown them in the trash. It got to the point where the staff had to tell the school dining hall staff and surrounding fast food restaurants to stop giving him food. It also didn't help that Smith got in with the wrong crowd on certain things. And if he was not the only kid up to such activities, then it would be a program problem. But it was just him. He was the only one who didn't do what the staff told him to do over the offseason. He was the only one that didn't follow his diet charts. And he was the only one involved in unwanted activities. There was a reason Smith's minutes were down a large number this year. He simply didn't deserve them. His departure was good for UCLA. Perhaps Smith will use his year off to reflect on his future, and reflect on how important this is to him.<br />
<br />
-Realize, when you've done things a certain way for the first 18-19 years of your life, you're not going to change overnight. That's why perhaps this will be good for Smith. <br />
<br />
-Part of the problem is also the infrastructure. UCLA Basketball doesn't have nearly as many trainers and doesn't have near the support staff as Duke, UNC, Kentucky, and other programs of the same caliber.<br />
<br />
-Of course, the media perceives it as Smith wasn't held accountable, but Howland has never cared how the media perceives his program, for better or worse. And usually for worse. <br />
<br />
-Any team with 3 7-footers has a chance to beat the Bruins. UCLA had better be ready. We don't want Reggie Miller joining Bill Walton on the fan club of "Retired Jersey's who Hate Howland."<br />
<br />
-I was at the basketball campout, Howland and the marketing director came out. Howland was actually very nice and courteous to the students. Interesting moment: students began to ask about expanded student seating, and about free throw distraction items (squiggly things, thunder sticks, balloons, etc). Howland gave a "see what I mean" kinda look to the director. He then went off about how it was great that the students fought the student seating to move it back to the sidelines, and started putting the director on the spot about how the students should get what they want, how they should get first priority for tickets for the PAC 12 tourney, and other random things to better the student experience. I've heard several times that the staff has wanted more for the students, only to be turned down by the administration. Howland urged students to go up to the marketing offices and voice their concerns directly. It seems he believes he can't win this fight alone. <br />
<br />
-Honestly, the idea of a blue out is great and all, but I really don't know who else got the memo besides the students, who wear blue anyways. I'll be shocked if the entire house is in blue. <br />
<br />
-Its just how things go with anything in sports: winning cures all. Two years ago, we lost to USC 50-0 in the white alternate uni's, and all you heard was how horrible the uniforms were and how we should never wear them again. This year, we wore the "LA Knights" in a 66-10 thrashing of Arizona, and they were the coolest things ever. And that's kind of how its going to go tonight. If the Bruins win, and win big, then the all blue look will be a huge success. If they lose or struggle in any way, shape, or form, it was a distraction, it was deviating from winning tradition, and perhaps the colors were so bright that it affected their play. <br />
<br />
-Honestly, I love Reggie Miller. But he won just one tourney game here. He won the schools only NIT championship, which doesn't even have a banner in Pauley. It depends what were looking for. If were honoring the best BRUIN basketball players, Josh Shipp gets in over Miller. But if were arguing the best UCLA players period in all of basketball, then Miller absolutely deserves every moment of this. <br />
<br />
-No pressure Ben, but if you lose, you might as well announce your retirement after the game. </div>
LARivalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02692897927270900332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101898482574301676.post-64094042679862810462013-01-25T12:45:00.000-08:002013-01-25T12:47:36.968-08:00UCLA at Arizona: Post Game Thoughts<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
-Once again Bruin fans, remember, he's Bill Walton. He's a big name, so he can say whatever he wants. It's just how life works. <br />
<br />
-My guess as to why Shabazz Muhammad was taken out: save him for the second half. There are two sides to this. On one end, UCLA could have maybe stretched its lead by a big margin early. On the other, the Bruins needed him to close the game out in the second half with just about no rest. And when you look at all the injuries that occurred during the game, it probably worked out for them. <br />
<br />
-With that said, Howland is very, very lucky UCLA pulled this one out relatively easily. If UCLA had lost, Howland's rotations would have drawn harsh criticism. <br />
<br />
-Want to know the funny thing about Muhammad's night? It should have been even better. After going 5-7 in the first half, the freshman stud missed his first four attempts of the second half, all of which were looks that were falling in the first half. <br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
-Tony Parker will be remembered for his 3-point play late in the second half, but he still has ways to go defensively. He missed several rotations and assignments that led to easy buckets. With that said, he just needs more game action for his confidence. <br />
<br />
-As I said, Walton calls the game as <em>he </em>sees it. Early in the second half all he could talk about was how great Shabazz was, even as he was missing some relatively easy looks. And later, all he could talk about was Tony Parker, ignoring those defensive breakdowns in the paint. And the most memorable of the night: how great UCLA's foul shooting had been at a point in the game when UCLA was 9-18 from the line. <br />
<br />
-Don't get me wrong however, Walton has many valid points as well. He has raised some good points regarding the overall state of the program and Howland's game management in his past two broadcasts. <br />
<br />
-Remember, as good as this win was, its just about meaningless if the Bruins don't walk out of Tempe with a win. UCLA should be favored through the rest of its games, with the possible exception of a visit from Arizona. Now its time to ride this momentum through the rest of the season. With the shape UCLA is in, all it takes is one loss for the dogs to let loose. <br />
<br />
-If UCLA just didn't lose to Cal Poly. Seriously, how bad is that loss? Cal Poly beat Eastern New Mexico by 3. Yes, Eastern New Mexico is a cupcake for a cupcake. If UCLA doesn't lose that, then this team is potentially harboring around the top 10 right now. <br />
<br />
-I have no clue how this is going to end now. 17-4, with a lot of winnable games remaining, a conference title on the table, and a West regional seed still possible. This is one of the strangest seasons yet. All I can say is, Bruin fans, enjoy the ride. Either we'll get a great finish, or a new coach. Hopefully nothing in between. </div>
LARivalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02692897927270900332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101898482574301676.post-13823082928278640742013-01-24T15:54:00.000-08:002013-01-25T12:21:55.470-08:00UCLA vs. Arizona: Random Thoughts<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
-Is tonight a must win game? Well if your going into the #6 team in the country's home court and its a must win game, your not in very good shape. <br />
<br />
-I just hate the idea of the must win game. It basically means everything is staked on one game. Your entire season, all your goals, your coaches job, everything on one game. And if all of that is flaky enough to come down to one regular season game, you obviously aren't going in the right direction. <br />
<br />
-Don't get me wrong, its not that I don't believe the Bruins can't win tonight, because they can. But the goal for the season goes beyond that. Even if the Bruins lose tonight, the season ends in March, not tonight. The objective is to get better and better, and eventually, fix all the wrinkles and position yourself for a big run in the tournament. <br />
<br />
-But UCLA absolutely can win tonight. Though there are only 8 scholarship players left on the roster, all 8 would make good contributions at any school, and I'd wager that 2-3 would start for any team in the country. <br />
<br />
-It's really just the small things that are missing from this Bruin squad. The stupid turnovers, rebounding, easy missed shots, that's really it. Everything else has fallen into place. Unfortunately, that's the difference between an elite team and a good one. And it's usually the hardest to fix. <br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
-From what I understand, Dan Guerrero <em>really</em> doesn't want to fire Ben Howland. The only reason he was eventually beginning to tip his hand was because after the Cal Poly loss, donors and alumni were blowing up the phones at the Morgan Center demanding a change. Those phones have since cooled, and Guerrerro is looking for any possible way to keep his coach. Basically, the only way Ben Howland goes is when the decision isn't up to Guerrero. The only way he really goes is if disaster strikes and donations are put to a virtual standstill. <br />
<br />
-And this where athletic directors need to do a better job evaluating the situation. If your the AD of UCLA, and a sweet 16 appearance saves your coaches job, are you really sure you got the right guy?<br />
<br />
-Problem for Guerrero is he's so far fired two football coaches and a Basketball coach. Furthermore, Howland has a bigger buyout than either of those three combined. It's human nature: look after yourself first. <br />
<br />
-Shabazz Muhammad. The prodigal son. The savior of UCLA Basketball. He's going to have to show up. If I had to go by what I see, I would say that while Shabazz is a great NBA prospect, he is just that for right now, a <em>prospect</em>. Physical defenders have been able to force tough shots, and have been able to disrupt his rhythm. Solomon Hill of Arizona will provide no exception. <br />
<br />
-Here are my issues so far with Muhammad. One, he is an above-average shooter, not a great one. He can be very streaky with his shooting. He mostly only goes left. He seems to have mastered about three go to moves: the left handed floater, the turn around jumper in the low post, and his three point shooting. Thats not a knock, very few have such a vast arsenal, but he has to be more consistent. His numbers have been inflated in some games when his three point shot is on. When it's not, you'll more likely than not see nights like he had against Oregon. He seems to be very impatient in transition, looking to score himself even when that might not be the best option. Defensively, he's an effort guy, but he's only an average defender. Basically, he's only scratched the surface of what he's capable of. Problem for the Bruins, they need him to peak sooner rather than later. <br />
<br />
-But Shabazz has always brought it when its time. Is it time tonight?<br />
<br />
-Mark Lyons should have his way with the Bruins. Larry Drew II is a good defender, and one of the better ones on this UCLA team, but still not a great one. Arizona has a lot of matchup advantages in the post. If the Wildcat bigs are getting in post position often, it'll be a long night for UCLA. <br />
<br />
-Kyle Anderson is going to have to have a big game. He's a special, special player and he'll need to use his outstanding court vision to get the ball in good spots. On the defensive end, he's going to need to sacrifice his body. He'll need to double down and crash the boards very frequently. <br />
<br />
-For all that people talk about Arizona having matchup advantages, so does UCLA. UCLA is just about a walking mismatch offensively for any team they play. Can the Bruins take advantage?<br />
<br />
-Bill Walton's been a trendy topic amongst Bruin fans. He calls it like <em>he</em> sees it, for better or worse. So when he's bashing Ben Howland and UCLA's style of play tonight, remember, Bill Walton can say these things because he's Bill Walton. His jersey is retired. And whether you like it or not, his voice is going to matter at UCLA. </div>
LARivalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02692897927270900332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101898482574301676.post-33495848686660254572013-01-10T11:21:00.000-08:002013-01-15T10:22:41.636-08:00UCLA Basketball: The Ben Howland Conundrum<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
To be very, very mellow, its been a strange season.<br />
<br />
First off, to those who thought that this UCLA team would not improve and wouldn't gain some momentum (I was among them), you should have known better. Ben Howland might be stubborn, and it might take a while for his players to get what he's saying, but he knows what he's doing. Anybody who questions Ben Howland's basketball coaching abilities are mistaken. He did not take a stupid pill overnight.<br />
<br />
Howland's teams always improve as the season goes on. Even the last three years, after miserable starts, the team has gained momentum and has put itself in a position to salvage the season, only to then fail. This year the talent level is far higher than it has been for some time, so the improvement is greater. So where does that leave us?<br />
<br />
No idea.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
For me, if UCLA does not win the conference and/or make the elite 8, Ben Howland has to go. There are no exceptions. This is UCLA, and those are the bare minimum expectations every year. Again, because the elite 8 becomes a crapshoot, and anything can happen, the bar isn't at a final four. At UCLA, you are expected to contend for national championships every year. I have defended Howland night and day, but I cannot do so if he cannot deliver in what was supposed to be <i>the year</i>. But really, its more about whats on the horizon that really bothers me.<br />
<br />
The reality is this: Shabazz Muhammad is gone after this season. He's already back up to the top 3 on most draft charts. Larry Drew II is graduating. And while that <i>should</i> be all the departures, you never know given the track record of the past few years. Tony Parker is already crying foul after just one season. Next year, its very likely that some subset in the group of Jordan Adams, Kyle Anderson, and Norman Powell will leave, along with the Wear twins to graduation. And again, this is UCLA. Rebuilding years aren't supposed to come every 2-3 years, final fours and/or national championships are. So can Ben Howland recruit at a high enough level that the roster will have enough bodies and talent to consistently contend against college basketball's upper echelon? At this point, I don't think so, unless he starts to win again, and win big.<br />
<br />
UCLA is facing far too many negative battles in recruiting right now. The narratives are very easy to bring about. Anywhere from "he's not a players coach, you wont like it there. Look how many people are leaving," to "how sure are you that their even going to win? This year they had all this talent, and they couldn't do it." Even the NBA production, Howland's greatest recruiting lifeline, is starting to fade. They might say "sure, they had a bunch of guys go during the final four years, but that was five years ago. Who's been their NBA rock the past few years?" Far too many high school coaches, AAU circuits, and parents are slowly becoming alienated from UCLA strictly because of Ben Howland. And UCLA picked a real bad time to be viewed as such.<br />
<br />
The talent on the west coast was at a major downswing these past few seasons, but that won't be the case for the next 2-3 years. In next years class alone, depending on which site your using, there are anywhere from 5-7 recruits from California in the top 50 alone. UCLA is on the radar of several top prospects from next years class. 5 star wing Justice Winslow has family connections out west. Jordan McLaughlin and Parker Jackson-Cartwright are both 5 star PG's, Jackson-Cartwright from LA and McLaughlin from Etiwanda, the same high school Darren Collison went to. Stanley Johnson is a 4 star wing from Mater Dei that has had UCLA in his sights as well, Shaquan Aaron is in the Bruins backyard at Taft HS. None of it matters if UCLA cannot put together a great finish, because at this point, the recruits have seen all they need to see. This year, with all the talent the team had, it still couldn't get it done, <i>and </i>all the player issues are there.<br />
<br />
To be fair to Howland, this isn't an issue that is exclusive to UCLA. All big time programs deal with earlier than expected NBA departures, as well as transfers. Majority of the transfers have been due to playing time, something that happens at every school. Arizona has seen more than their fair share of transfers in the past three years, as have North Carolina, Kansas, and Duke. As for the NBA departures, remember, these kids have been thinking about playing in the league for quite some time. It is their lifelong dream, and their leaving school more often than not just means they are chasing that dream, not because they hate UCLA. And while the Bruins have definitely seen more, and Howland deserves a lot of the criticism, its really just highlighted because the UCLA has been losing. Remember, during the final four years, UCLA regularly had guys transfer and leave early to the pros. They just reloaded for another run the next year, and nobody cared. <br />
<br />
Therefore, I for one can only see one way that Howland survives, and that is to keep the Bruins in title contention through late March, and perhaps early April. Winning really does cure all evils, and if the Bruins can meet those levels, then Howland will have shown that he really is still a great basketball coach. At that point, the administration and Howland will have to sit down and evaluate the program and ask, can we continue to sustain success? If the answer is no, then Howland goes. If some of the negativity clears, and I think it can if the Bruins win big with this group, and there is no other coach out there that can do better, Howland stays and must use his coaching abilities to put together a similar season next year. Now can the administration correctly make that decision? That's another issue entirely, one that would take several more columns to address.<br />
<br />
The basic question is this: with Ben Howland, can UCLA realistically win a national championship in the next 2-3 years? Once again, this is UCLA. If the answer is no, then there's nothing to discuss. The coach must go.<br />
<br />
It really is just a strange, strange situation.</div>
LARivalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02692897927270900332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101898482574301676.post-13720639617772993002012-10-19T18:22:00.000-07:002012-10-19T18:24:10.581-07:002012 UCLA Basketball: Season Preview<img alt="Ben Howland" height="225" src="http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2012/1010/la_g_howland_b1_576.jpg" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">UCLA Head Coach Ben Howland</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
When you go 19-14 at UCLA, you're going to feel the pressure.<br />
<br />
When you miss the NCAA tournament two out of the last three years, there's a red hot flame under your chair.<br />
<br />
Ben Howland took the Bruins to three straight final fours from 2005-2007, and six total NCAA tournaments in the last eight years, but UCLA is a unique place. UCLA is unique in that it is only one of two schools, Kentucky being the other, that does not hang banners for final fours. There are too many national championship banners.<br />
<br />
When it comes to the school, the basketball tradition, the support from the alumni, the success of former players in the pros, and now the facilities, everything is in place for UCLA basketball to be in the national title discussion year in and year out, and there's no reason to shoot for less. This is one of the premier programs in America, and 43 losses and a lone second round exit in the last three years isn't acceptable for a place that lost 26 games from 2005-2009 and made three final fours.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Last year was just the perfect storm. Tyler Honeycutt and Malcolm Lee left for the pros, leaving UCLA with a gaping void in its backcourt, so bad that David Wear was forced to play significant time at small forward. Center Josh Smith was home for the entire summer, and came back overweight and out of shape, ending whatever momentum he created in his freshman campaign. UCLA had no real shooters, no real go-to scoring option, and didn't have anywhere near the personnel or depth to play Howland's famed man to man defense. Jeremie Anderson stole a laptop, leaving him temporarily suspended (although he returned shortly after). The two early losses then just about ended the season when it barely started, while the Reeves Nelson fiasco and the Sports Illustrated article were just salt in the wound.<br />
<br />
To put things in perspective, how different was last year than the year before? And how different was the year before that? Yes, the losing season in '09 was a disaster, and a 19-14 season at UCLA is unacceptable, but so is 23-11 and a second round exit. The bar is set at an unreasonably high level at UCLA, Kentucky, North Carolina, Duke, Kansas, Indiana, and a few other select places. And that's part of being an elite program; it shouldn't take much to jump right back to the top.<br />
<br />
College Basketball is just a funny game. All it takes is a few new faces, and you're right back in the spotlight. Somehow, someway, UCLA leveraged its way to land ESPN's #1 recruiting class in the country.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
It all started with Jordan Adams, a former disciple of now Bruin coach Korey McCray, and then the first big jewel in Kyle Anderson. McCray and Anderson would be used once again, as UCLA landed coveted recruit Shabazz Muhammad. Together, Muhammad and Anderson continued to vehemently recruit fellow blue-chipper Tony Parker. Along with Muhammad and Anderson, Coach McCray helped bring the talented Atlanta native to Westwood - forging one of the most talented recruiting classes to come through UCLA in Howland's tenure.<br />
<br />
Just like that, with two top 5 players, three 5 stars, and four top 75 players, the Bruins were back on the map. Howland had gotten his break. And now its time to show what he's made of.<br />
<br />
For all of Howland's flaws, be it personnel mismanagement or recruiting, nobody ever dared bringing up coaching as one of them. Ben Howland has made a living out of bringing the best out of players that were committed to both him and his system - anywhere from Jordan Farmar, to Darren Collison, to Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love, Luc Richard Mbah Moute, or even Ryan Hollins and Alfred Aboya. When the players have bought in, few coaches have been better when it comes to building tough defenses, efficient offenses, and smart overall basketball teams. Yes, Howland did deserve to come back to show once and for all that he can lead the Bruins with the right talent in place.<br />
<br />
The consensus if you ask those close to the program is that after the final four losses, Howland believed he needed flashier players, similar to the Memphis', Florida's, and Carolina's of the world that would consistently beat his Bruins late in the March and/or end up winning the whole thing. He then went out and took some over hyped kids based on their athleticism and raw abilities, believing he could coach them into his system. The belief some say is in the end, he'd have ended up having same system, same philosophy, just a greater crop of athlete and more explosiveness. What came next is well documented. The kids brought bigger egos than the size of Pauley itself, brought a me-first mentality, and in the end, after the final four talent departed to the NBA, Howland found himself with a team filled with divide and lac of discipline. Because of this Howland couldn't recruit with the best, and no longer could provide the relief and depth that his team's needed, and when striking out on the Ray McCallum's and Quinn Cook's of the world, there wasn't a plan B. Now Howland sits once again, with an elite recruiting class that has the potential to take UCLA back to where it belongs.<br />
<br />
The difference this time? This seems to be a more business-like group, one that wants to win, and nothing else. Shabazz seems to be a natural leader, while Kyle looks very calm and composed. Jordan Adams is a team player, while Parker is eager to learn and improve in whatever role he gets this season. This team meshes much better than any of the previous few years. Howland meanwhile has seemed to acknowledge the mistakes he made, and is looking to hold himself and the entire program more accountable. The talent is back. The facilities are now in tip top shape, and the games are back home on campus. Now there are no excuses. There's no reason a top flight coaching staff shouldn't be able to walk into any gym with this group, and have immediate success.<br />
<br />
Or is there? Just when everything was all set to sail for UCLA, along came the NCAA. Investigations in to the Bruins' two best players, Shabazz Muhammad and Kyle Anderson, have left a big gloomy cloud over the team. The purpose of this class was to build more overall explosiveness, depth, and discipline on and off the court, and without those two, UCLA may find itself right back where it was last fall: lots of front court players, very few back court bodies, and a team just not suited for Coach Howland's style of basketball. Anderson is expected to be cleared, but without Muhammad, the Bruins don't look to be in the elite category. Its just been a rough few years for UCLA, who just don't seem to be getting any breaks. Unfortunately for Howland, however this situation turns out, he'll need to deliver, or he'll soon be the nations most successful unemployed coach.<br />
<br />
<b>What to watch in the back court: </b>Scoring. This has been missing very dearly for the Bruins for quite some time. This might be the best offensive back court Howland has had, and that includes the final four teams. If the NCAA thing works out, Shabazz Muhammad will give the Bruins a scoring threat every time he has the ball, while Kyle Anderson is another dynamic play maker and distributor that will find players in good spots and score some on his own as well. Larry Drew II is as quick a guard as there is, Tyler Lamb is a veteran who has gained more confidence as time has gone on, and Norman Powell has improved his jump-shot and as long as he stays within his skill set, he will provide a huge boost for this new-look Bruin team. Throw in a sharp shooter in Jordan Adams, and good luck defending this group. There is no reason that 70+ points shouldn't be the norm.<br />
<br />
<b>What to watch in the front court: </b>The center rotation. David and Travis Wear are solid players that when surrounded by dynamic playmakers will make very good second and mostly third options, but for UCLA to be truly special, the might of the front court will have to come from the centers. Joshua Smith is living, breathing talent, while the addition of Tony Parker will help provide some valuable depth and production. The problem with Smith is well known, as his potential is about the size of himself, literally. Shabazz could be the top selection in the NBA draft next year, while Kyle will eventually be a high lottery pick himself. Smith, if he really wants it, can be better than both of them. Its not as much about the weight as it is just being in condition. Smith doesn't need to get down to 280 or any magical number as people might think, but he'll have to be able to run up and down the floor with consistency and move his feet on defense. This time however if Smith doesn't deliver, there's a backup plan. Tony Parker may be a lottery selection himself some day, and the coaches won't hesitate to give him significant time if the big fella shows up with a pizza box in his hand.<br />
<br />
<b>Best Overall Player: </b>Shabazz Muhammad, Fr., SG. If all the eligibility problems are solved, there's no reason Muhammad shouldn't be one of the best players in the country. He has all the tools you wan't in a guard. He's a good shooter, great in transition, and can attack the hoop. On the defensive end, he has a Ferrari like motor and a heart that jumps out of his chest. There's a reason that people were saying that in last years class, only Muhammad was the NBA ready player out of high school. Keep an eye out on Redshirt Junior Travis Wear too, the veteran forward has continued to improve his game, his range is deep and his motor is well-tuned - he will be one of the leaders of this team.<br />
<br />
<b>The Schedule:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Who's idea <i>was</i> <i>this</i>?<br />
<br />
The NCAA bugs better get out of the way soon. After the legends classic opener with Georgetown, UCLA gets a potential date with #1 Indiana. Then there's a big date with a San Diego State program that has argued that its now the premier program in the west. Throw in a trip to Texas, who should be improved, Missouri at home, and a tougher than you think Long Beach State squad, and this might be one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the country. Meanwhile, the PAC 12 should be much improved. Fortunately, it still shouldn't be up to sniff.<br />
<br />
Cal and Stanford will be improved, and some say the Bears could be a sleeper, but it doesn't have near the talent of the Bruins. Washington doesn't look to be any big deal this year, while Wazzu looks again to be a good but not tourney level team. Oregon has the chance to become better with enhanced recruiting efforts over the last couple years, but still might belong in the group of Cal, Washington, and Wazzu. Arizona is Arizona, but if the Bruins earn a split against the Wildcats, it should have a good chance at winning the conference. Meanwhile, Oregon State, Colorado, Utah, USC, and Arizona State are Oregon State, Colorado, Utah, USC, and Arizona State. There really is no excuse to not earn a top-two seed in the conference tourney and/or win the regular season crown.<br />
<br />
<b>The Goal for the Season: </b>Win the PAC 12, get a top three seed in the west regional (though if Shabazz is eligible, the top seed should really be the goal), and make it to at least the Elite 8. Once you enter the Elite 8, everything is a crap shoot, and anybody can win, so that's why the bar isn't at the final four. That said, if all the eligibility issues clear, there is no team in the country this crop of Bruins can't beat. That includes Kentucky, that includes Indiana, that includes anybody. If the right coaching and scheming is done, there is NBA talent on top of NBA talent all over the roster, and there's no reason UCLA shouldn't enter March as a legitimate national title contender. There's no reason, again if the eligibility issues are cleared, and injuries are avoided, that UCLA shouldn't be able to win the conference. Yeah, Arizona will likely be great, but this is UCLA, and they are not supposed to take a back seat to anyone. Anything less will be a major disappointment and could warrant a change of the guard next season in Westwood.LARivalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02692897927270900332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101898482574301676.post-19907432723633674332012-10-17T14:09:00.003-07:002012-10-17T14:09:58.845-07:00Week 7: UCLA vs. Utah Game Recap<b>What I thought would happen:</b><br />
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
Now we slowly start to see who UCLA really is. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The offensive line will have few answers to Star Lotuleilei and the Utah d-line, but the offense will eek out enough drives to make a difference. The Bruin front seven will have a tough time stopping the run, but will use the bend-not-break model for much of the afternoon. Hundley will have a solid bounce back game, while Franklin will carry the load and pull the Bruins through...<b>UCLA 28, Utah 24</b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>What did happen:</b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
The offensive line held up for the most part, and UCLA was able to put together some drives. But once again, as has been the theme for much of the season, the Bruins couldn't always finish. Yet another Stephen Manfro miscue on special teams kept the Utes in the game, but the Bruin defense was able to get enough stops and enough pressure to keep the game at bay. Hundley had a nice day, and while the running game wasn't flashy, it was enough to keep the offense moving.</div>
<div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
</div>
<div>
<b>The Good:</b><b><br /></b></div>
<div>
-Brett Hundley was able to bounce back strongly after a four interception performance. There's still improvement to be made, as he needs to be able to stretch the defense vertically on a more consistent basis, but he showed his other dimension on Saturday, running on some key third downs to keep the chains moving. Keep in mind, he is a <i>freshman</i>, and thus far has gone 167-251 for 1916 yards with 14 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. As he continues to improve, who knows where he and the Bruins could eventually go. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
-The run defense put the clamps after a very mediocre showing last week. John White and the Utah backs hardy had any room to move, garnering a total of 87 yards rushing on the day. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
-The offensive line was just about spectacular, using constant double teams on Star Lotuleilei and effectively neutralizing him. The running game wasn't at full speed, but if there's anything Utah does well, its that it clogs the middle, so its no complete shocker. Even still, the line toughed it out and the running game was effective enough to keep the defense honest. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
-Are the Bruins finally finding some big play threats in the passing game? Shaquille Evans had another long touchdown, and Joseph Fauria also found some big plays. For a school that has long desperately needed somebody, anybody, to scare people in the opposing secondary, the Bruins might finally be finding some. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
-I guess if secondary isn't giving up 70 yard touchdowns, its a positive. To keep things in perspective, Utah has already lost its starting quarterback from a passing game that isn't any good anyways, and were able to move pretty consistently through the air. That said, I'll give credit where credit is due for this week. However, on't mistake this as trust in Hester and Price all of a sudden.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
-It sounded like coach speak when Coach Mora said it, but this was a nitty gritty tough win that the Bruins desperately needed. A loss would have started to plummet the season, with a bowl game even in doubt. Now a south crown is still alive, as is the chance for an 8 win season. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>The Bad and the Ugly:</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
-The offense just can't seem to finish drives. The team got away with it this week, but with the schedule about to get real hot, the Bruins can't keep leaving points on the field be it by drops, turnovers, penalties, missed kicks, anything. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
-Special teams is just a hot mess right now. Outside of Jeff Locke, the kick return unit can't create any big plays, while the punt return unit has just found ways to mess up. Stephen Manfro has had two crucial dropped punts in two straight weeks. Mora seems to be pretty consistent with the guys he plays, but it'll be interesting to see what he does with Manfro going forward. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
-Slowly we're starting to find out who the Bruins really are. UCLA is not a top 25 team, that has become obvious. You can't get blasted by Cal, and then come back and squeak by a strugling Utah team and continue to express that you are one of the 25 best teams in the country. <br />
<br />
<strong>Looking Ahead:</strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
UCLA isn't a top 25 team, that is almost certain. However, there is no shame in that. This is the first year of a new regime, and some considerable steps have been taken. With all that said, the meat of the schedule is about to kick in. The road trip to Tempe will tell a lot about the direction the season is headed. If another performance like Cal is had, then watch out. The only surefire win left on the calendar is the trip to Pullman; every other game looks to be a crapshoot. A win over Arizona State would go long ways towards solidifying the regime as legitimate in its first year, as UCLA still hasn't beaten a real team on the road in a very, very long time. To have a chance, the offense will have to finish drives, while the defensive line will have to control the tempo against a quick strike Arizona State attack. </div>
LARivalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02692897927270900332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101898482574301676.post-69657349134541151412012-10-08T12:49:00.000-07:002012-10-09T13:50:34.005-07:00Week 5: UCLA vs. California Game Recap<b>What I thought would happen:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<span style="background-color: #4a4a4a; color: #cecece; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">The Bears wan't this one badly, but so does UCLA.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: #4a4a4a; color: #cecece; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;" />
<span style="background-color: #4a4a4a; color: #cecece; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Cal will come out with a sense of purpose on offense, with big plays from Allen and Harper. The ground game however will be all but absent. Meanwhile, Franklin will have another big day, and Hundley will keep the chains moving, keeping the ball away from Maynard and co. A couple of late stops will give the Bruins a chance to put the game away. They'll squander a couple chances before capitalizing on a Cal turnover to end this one for good...</span><b style="background-color: #4a4a4a; color: #cecece; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">UCLA 30, California 21</b><br />
<b style="background-color: #4a4a4a; color: #cecece; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></b>
<b>What did happen?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
UCLA started fast on offense, capitalizing on a Cal turnover for a 7-0 lead. Then, driving with a 7-3 lead and the game in control, Devin Fuller dropped a backwards pass that oppened up the floodgates. UCLA couldn't stop the run a lick, while Hester and Price were Hester and Price, allowing countless big plays and comitting numerous mind-blowing penalties. UCLA stayed in it and moved the ball with decently well but could not finish drives, ending too many crucial trips in turnovers. Hundley had a season high four interceptions, his final one all but sealing the game.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<b>The Good:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
-Whatever UCLA might be, wherever it might be, Johnathan Franklin will always be somebody to tip your cap too. He only got the ball a mind-boggling 15 times, but ran with great effectiveness and toughness.<br />
<br />
-That's it. Even Jeff Locke didn't meet his season punting average, netting 39.3 yards a punt.<br />
<br />
<b>The Bad and the Ugly:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
-It's time to stop sulking and whining when a big pass play is given up, or when the corners are missing tackles and committing penalties. It's time for the fans, and especially the coaches, to recognize Sheldon Price and Aaron Hester for what they are: bad. They weren't good when they started as freshmen, they weren't good as sophomores, they weren't good as juniors, and they aren't good as seniors. With no exaggeration, these two probably would not start for at least 3/4th's of division 1 football teams. The big problem for the UCLA coaches is that there aren't many other bodies the Bruins can plug in; Ishmael Adams already had season ending surgery. The backups right now are Marcus Rios, a true freshman, and Andrew Abbott, who starts and safety. The secondary, and specifically the corners, isn't an issue that looks like it can be fixed this season. It's time to start recruiting some CB's.<br />
<br />
-The offensive line was once again awful. Torian White and Simon Goines, the two freshman tackles, stunk, and consistently allowed pressure from the edges. Jeff Baca struggled mightily as well, and you have to wonder if his injury is still bothering him. This is a young unit that will be the strength of the team one day, but it sure wasn't Saturday. The Bruins surrendered five sacks and eight TFL's.<br />
<br />
-Come on, Noel. You have one of the best backs in the country. You are playing against one of the softest defensive fronts in the country. Your running the ball with good success. When the going gets tough, hand the ball off to your workhorse and let him bring you back. Yeah, the Bruins fell down by double digits, but the game was still in the balance, and UCLA wasn't out of it till about the 6 minute mark in the fourth. In the third quarter alone, UCLA threw a remarkable 24 times.<br />
<br />
-Brett Hundley had a better game than his numbers showed. Two of the interceptions weren't really his fault, one on the tipped pass, and another on a miscommunication where Shaquille Evans ran the wrong route. More than that, the coaches and the defense didn't do the best of jobs in putting him in a position to succeed. With all that said, he isn't at the level yet where he can consistently stretch the field vertically. He is a big time talent, he's already one of the better quarterbacks in the conference, and he'll likely be one of the best if not the best in the conference very shortly. But for right now, he isn't hitting the deep balls consistently enough. In both losses, Hundley missed some big vertical throws that were there for the taking.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>-</b>What happened to the d-line? The play-dough Cal offensive line was able to shove around the Bruin front four with relative ease. C.J. Anderson and the Cal backs were consistently in the second level, while Maynard had ten days to throw at a time. Of all the developments in the game, this one is the most alarming and the most dangerous, only because its the only one that wasn't expected. The corners are terrible and the line is young, everybody knows that. But if the d-line that was such a strength through the first few games begins to struggle, then its time to worry. If UCLA can't stop the run, and if it can't rush the passer, it'll be in for a long conference season.<br />
<br />
-Get a -3 turnover differential, you lose the football game. Hundley had a career high 4 picks, two coming deep in Cal territory, while the dropped swing pass and the fumbled punt were absolute killers. This was a very Neuheisel-esque performance in the discipline department, with balls flying around for no reason, and the Bruins doing everything in their power to lose.<br />
<br />
-The penalties just don't seem to be going anywhere. UCLA had just 30 less yards in penalties than it did rushing. If you put a freshman quarterback with an offensive line that starts three freshmen and a sophomore consistently in 3rd and long, forget it.<br />
<br />
<b>Looking Ahead:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Its time to worry again. But is it time to panic?<br />
<br />
This was a pathetic performance, but remember, Cal was much better than its 1-4 record entering the game showed. The corners were shredded, abused, and dismembered. No shocker there. The offensive line consistently allowed too much pressure, a cause for some concern, but remember, this is still a unit that starts three freshman and a sophomore. That said, if the defensive line begins to get pushed around the way it was tonight, then forget it. Now, for any hopes of a south crown, and to avoid a complete tanking the rest of the season, Utah could be a must win next week at the Rose Bowl. More than that, the Bruins need to get their confidence back. All the good work that was done in the beginning of the season is just about undone now, and UCLA must prove itself once again. The sky isn't falling, the Bruins are still 4-2, and there still isn't a team left on the slate that UCLA absolutely positively cannot beat. The offense still works, it just needs to finish drives better. The defense has to stop the run better, and the secondary, at the very least, have to just not allow yards after the catch.<br />
<br />
Its time to show what Jim Mora Jr. and this staff is really made of.<br />
<br />
<br />LARivalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02692897927270900332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101898482574301676.post-50687534872174208062012-10-06T02:59:00.003-07:002012-10-06T11:26:27.891-07:00Week 5: UCLA vs. California Game PreviewNow the real season begins.<br />
<br />
Somehow, a blowout win over Colorado was enough to remove any negative feelings surrounding the program after a loss to Oregon State. Of course, that might have something to do with the Beavers actually looking like their for real as well, but now, its time to show what all the fuss was about.<br />
<br />
For however much better UCLA has looked thus far, it'll all be for naught if the Bruins lose this one. Remember, Neuheisel's biggest flaw was his absolute inability to beat a single conference opponent with half a pulse on the road. Two years ago, the Bruins throttled Texas, beat Washington State, and then got blitzed at Cal, a game that looked like a potential turning point for the program. Cal might be 1-4, but it probably should have beaten Ohio State, and it nearly beat a really good Nevada team. The other two losses weren't anything to sulk over. About 100 other teams would probably lose to USC by more than 18 points, while Arizona State looks to be a solid squad that'll finish with a winning record.<br />
<br />
Both these two programs seem to be on opposite trends. UCLA has a new head coach that at the moment appears to be bringing the team back, while Cal is 1-4 in what might be the beginning of the end for Jeff Tedford. That's exactly why so much is at stake for both teams. For UCLA, this might be an elimination game in the south race with USC, Stanford, and Arizona State still to come, while for Cal, this game is all but a must win for postseason considerations.To add to the fire, UCLA hasn't won in Berkeley in over a decade.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<b>Why to be excited?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
The Bears don't seem to be blocking anyone. For as much skill position talent that Cal seems to have, it hasn't shown largely because the line is last in the country in sacks allowed. That's great news for a reborn UCLA front seven that should spend much of the evening putting Zach Maynard on his backside. The Bruins rank sixth nationally in sacks, and ninth in tackles for loss.<br />
<br />
The problems don't just end there for Cal. The Golden Bears' squishy goo run defense will now get treated to a solid dose of Johnathan Franklin. UCLA should have no issues running the ball, controlling the clock, and then using Hundley and the passing game to really stretch the field and put the game out of hand.<br />
<br />
<b>Why to be grouchy?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
As long as Aaron Hester and Sheldon Price are on the field, Keenan Allen and the Golden Bear receivers will have opportunities to score. The Cal skill position players are fast, explosive, and are game changers. Any time Allen, Bryce Treggs, Chris Harper, Ise Sofele, and Branden Bigelow get the ball in some space, they have a chance to take it home. The Bruins have come a long way in terms of tackling in space, but will really be put to the test this Saturday.<br />
<br />
<b>What to watch for:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
-It's Hundley's first true road test. Yes, Rice and Colorado don't count, Hundley might have played in tougher environments in High School. This will be a hostile environment in a rivalry game, and his poise will show a lot about what will be coming this season for the Bruins.<br />
<br />
-The Heisman race is so wide open right now, with Geno Smith holding the lead. However, a big time performance from Franklin could vault him back into the conversation. The most important thing to the Franklin campaign will be UCLA continuing to do well, but he can't be part of the conversation if he isn't getting into the endzone and showing that gamechanging ability.<br />
<br />
-Kai'mi Fairbairns isn't as bad as people might think. He has the leg, and his technique has come a long way since the first week, but that doesn't do much good when the Bruins need him to kick a big 40 yard field goal. The Bruin offense has had trouble finishing drives, so all the more pressure is on Fairbairns to grow up fast.<br />
<br />
<b>The Prediction:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
The Bears wan't this one badly, but so does UCLA.<br />
<br />
Cal will come out with a sense of purpose on offense, with big plays from Allen and Harper. The ground game however will be all but absent. Meanwhile, Franklin will have another big day, and Hundley will keep the chains moving, keeping the ball away from Maynard and co. A couple of late stops will give the Bruins a chance to put the game away. They'll squander a couple chances before capitalizing on a Cal turnover to end this one for good.<br />
<br />
<b>UCLA 30, California 21</b>LARivalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02692897927270900332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101898482574301676.post-19951764974114266922012-10-04T15:37:00.001-07:002012-10-05T01:58:05.422-07:00Week 5: USC vs. Utah Preview<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>269</o:Words>
<o:Characters>1535</o:Characters>
<o:Company>UC Santa Barbara</o:Company>
<o:Lines>12</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>3</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>1801</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The USC Trojans head into a crucial month of football with a
3-1 record. The four October games will set the tone for the rest of the
season. USC must use these ensuing tests
as preparation for the showdown with Oregon. Now that frustration with Lane
Kiffin and his Trojans program has settled, USC must move on with its goal of a
PAC-12 championship. A successful season is still there for the taking and the
Trojans must do everything in their power to execute to their best ability. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Why to be Excited?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is a huge showdown against a fellow PAC-12 south
opponent. Believed to be USC’s biggest divisional threat before the season
started, this game has been circled on the Trojans calendar since the schedules
were released. Utah opened the season with promise in victories over Northern
Colorado and BYU, but have dropped their last two contests against Utah State
and Arizona State. This should be a game the Trojans handle.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Why to be Grouchy?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This will be a tough road game at Rice-Eccles Stadium in
Salt Lake City. It is never easy to be Kyle Whittingham’s program on their own
stomping grounds. John White is close to
returning to 100%, and will help add a new dimension to Utah’s offense. Star
Lotulelei has been ranked number 1 on Todd McShay’s big board for the 2013 NFL
Draft, and will pose problems for a offensive line that has struggled at times
this season.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>What to Watch For:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-A hardnosed, toughly contested battle involving two good
football teams. The teams will be physical from the opening whistle.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-An angry USC football team. This team is still not happy
about the amount of flak it has taken in recent weeks. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>The Prediction:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Utah will give USC a tough test, but in the end the weapons
of USC’s offense click to perfection. USC pulls away late. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
USC 41, Utah 14<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->LARivalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02692897927270900332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101898482574301676.post-68732021470551586972012-09-26T22:27:00.000-07:002012-09-26T22:31:31.299-07:00Week 4: UCLA vs Oregon State Recap<b>What I thought would happen:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
This is Oregon State's big chance, and they know it. They'll come out with a sense of urgency and purpose, on defense. Franklin for the first time won't have much room for a couple quarters, while Brett Hundley will gut out a couple of scoring drives in the first half. The Beavers however won't have much fire power to keep up. Oregon State will look to establish a run early, and when that fails, Mannion will be forced to go to the air more than 35 plus times, resulting in him getting a good view of the Arroyo Seco Mountains on his backside. In the second half, Franklin will pull out a couple big runs, and the Bruins will put the game away in the fourth quarter with a late stop...<b>UCLA 31, Oregon State 20</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>What did happen:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
The UCLA offense couldn't move a lick in the first half, with nothing of substance outside of two big plays. Oregon State meanwhile took advantage of its two big plays, and had a long drive to start the game.To start the second half the Bruin defense forced two turnovers, only to see them result in zero points. Sean Mannion stayed poised while the Beavers were able to successfully run the ball and control the clock in the second half. Brett Hundley and the passing game got going eventually, but it was too late. A missed Kai'mi Fairbairns field goal just about put the game away for good.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<b>The Good:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
-Brett Hundley had a shaky game in the first half, but was able to stay poised and nearly brought his team back. He was hurt by drops and shaky line play, but still finished 27-42 for 372 yards and a TD. Through four games, Hundley has shown that the future of UCLA football is in safe hands.<br />
<br />
-The UCLA defense has shown the ability through two games to force turnovers, something it couldn't really for the last few years. The Bruins are winning the turnover battle, currently at 25th nationally in turnover margin.<br />
<br />
-Things really aren't as bad as they might seem. To look at the glass half full, this isn't a typical case of UCLA getting hopes up and then squandering them. The passing game looks a lot better than anybody could have dreamed of before the season, even with some big drops. The running game still can by dynamic. The pass rush is leaps and bounds better than it was at any point over the last few seasons. The linebackers are solid and are tackling well in space. The only concerns really at the moment are with an offensive line that starts three freshman and a sophomore and is missing a starter, and the secondary. It just depends what we're comparing things to. UCLA is clearly head and shoulders ahead of where it was last season, and people would have been fools to not take a 4-1 start to begin the season.<br />
<br />
-Jeff Locke once again was a weapon, consistently keeping the Bruins in the field position game when they couldn't move the ball. Yes after a loss, sometimes you have to go to punters as positive signs.<br />
<br />
<b>The Bad and the Ugly:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
-I knew it, I knew it, I knew it. Sheldon Price has shown no improvement over his four years at UCLA, and his benching in the second half was clearly addition by subtraction. With two big pass plays in the first half resulting in 14 points, it isn't a complete stretch to say he might have single handedly lost the Bruins the game. Of course, that's not the case, as there were some key drops and the o-line couldn't push the Beaver front a lick, but at some point, enough is enough. It'll be interesting to see where the staff goes with the secondary moving forward.<br />
<br />
-The offensive line after such a strong start to the season has had a miserable last two games. Jeff Baca's absence really has seemed to hurt, but that's sort of the point. The lack of depth has been glaring in the last two games, and for an offense that will run 70+ plays a game, that could spell danger down the road. Franklin and the backs never had any room to move, and the Beavers were able to stop the run consistently with six and seven guys in the box. Hundley is still a redshirt freshman, and its clear now that the Bruins won't be able to beat the cream of the PAC 12 without Franklin and the ground game rocking.<br />
<br />
-The dropsies have returned to UCLA football. Of course, its still not nearly as bad as the past few seasons when half of the students in the den could have caught some of the balls dropped, but some very catchable balls by Kenneth Walker and Stephen Manfro among others cost the Bruins. Manfro seems to still suffer from freshman excitement, wanting to do too much every time he touches the ball.<br />
<br />
-Jim Mora Jr. had his first curious decision of the season. On the 4th and 2 late in the game, the Bruins lined up in field goal formation, spread out for a possible fake, spent a timeout, and then missed the field goal. Having confidence in your kicker is one thing, but it was two yards to go, and your kicker has had issues for much of the season. More than that, it was a timeout wasted that would have added an potential 40 seconds at the end. I hate to second guess coaches, I feel they have a better grasp for what goes on than we as fans do, but I couldn't help but scratch my head at this one.<br />
<br />
-Kai'mi Fairbairns... okay maybe it was a bit unfair to expect Fairbairns to make that last kick considering his youth and struggles this season, but it still doesn't change the fact that his missed kick effectively ended the game. I have been consistent in saying that if this continues, Fairbairns will cost the Bruins at some point. That point was week 4.<br />
<br />
<b>Looking Ahead:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Well that was fun. Okay, so UCLA was a bit overblown, but lets not get too ahead of ourselves. Oregon State looks to be a solid team with the second ranked defense after two games against two teams with a combined record of 6-2. The concerns are in the secondary and on the offensive line. Everything else from the quarterback to the defensive line, seems fine. With all that said, this still was a big loss to start conference play against a beatable team at home. The momentum from the beginning of the season is somewhat gone, as is a 5-0 start, but thankfully Colorado is next to stop the bleeding. A good performance on both sides would do wonders for the teams confidence going into what now looks to be a make or break game on October 13th in Berkeley.LARivalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02692897927270900332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101898482574301676.post-42894404312278225402012-09-21T23:25:00.001-07:002012-09-21T23:25:25.050-07:00Week 4: USC vs. California PreviewSo what are you made of USC? You weren't the best team in America. No shame in that. Don't fold now though. There is still that PAC-12 championship to win. In the wacky world of college football, there simply is not anything that can be guaranteed. Are we absolutely positive that LSU or Alabama will finish the year undefeated? Will another team from a BCS conference finish undefeated? Win the rest of your games and a shot at a national championship could still potentially be on the horizon. This team is too good and too talented to not turn things around. The offense was an unequivocal disaster last weekend. Matt Barkley's unit did not score a second half point against Stanford. If USC thinks they are as good as their PAC 12 championship expectations, they should be up to their usual tricks against a unfortunate California team. Any chance Cal could play a distracted USC team were thrown out the window thanks to their bitter rival, Stanford. The makeup and character of this Trojan team will be revealed on Saturday.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<b>Why to be Excited?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
-Saturday represents a huge what-are-you-made-of game for USC. If you want to see how USC will respond to the early kick in the butt, the game against California will give you an answer. It's not simply the result that matters, but the attitude and commitment to the game.<br />
<br />
-Matt Barkley's Heisman trophy campaign probably went out the window after Stanford's victory, but the dude can still light it up. Do not be surprised with a 5 TD effort and a heavy dose of Robquise Woodlee.<br />
<br />
-The USC defense was actually quite effective. Sure it had its fair share of problems stopping Stepfan Taylor, but I think if you told Lane Kiffin that his defense held an opponent in any game this year to 21 points, he would have felt great about his chance to win each game this year.<br />
<br />
<b>Why to be Grouchy?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>-</b>I get it if you're still pissed off from last week. That effort is still a reason to be grouchy.<br />
<br />
-Overlooked in a disappointing start for Cal are the weapons it has on offense. Keenan Allen will be a genuine nightmare for Monte Kiffin and Nickell Robey. Zach Maynard doesn't have the greatest arm in the world, but on his best day he is capable of slicing up a college football defense. Isi Sofele is a good back who can churn out the yards.<br />
<br />
<b>What to Watch For:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>-</b>A grand performance from Matt Barkley. Maybe I'm being unfair, but the kid needs to deliver one of his best games in the Trojan uniform. Anything less will be a disappointment<br />
<br />
-An angry USC football team. Go out there and beat down the Bears. Take out your frustrations. Run the score up if you want. You have a pass this week.<br />
<br />
-The improving USC defense. Keep the positive momentum going. Yes, Stepfan Taylor and Stanford were able to keep the clock moving with the 200 ground yards, but as mentioned previously the defense only forfeited 21 points.<br />
<br />
<b>The Prediction:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
This will be ugly from start to finish. The USC defense will fluster Jeff Tedford, Zach Maynard and Keenan Allen. Matt Barkley will find his rhythm and confidence early in this game and surgical precision will ensue. Expect Barkley to be in a giving mood to Lee, Woods, Telfer and Grimble. California does not have the playmakers to make this game interesting. USC rolls.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>USC 45, California 21</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />LARivalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02692897927270900332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101898482574301676.post-10741545471338223132012-09-21T22:34:00.003-07:002012-09-21T22:34:40.061-07:00Week 4: Other Games, Predictions, Thoughts<b>Five Other Games:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Missouri at #7 South Carolina:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Kevin: </b>Blow it off South Carolina, who are you? Blow it off Missouri, who are you? Both these teams are still mysteries going into this game. South Carolina has their proverbial quarterback and offense concerns, but boast a defense that will be among the best in the SEC. Missouri has questions about what level its really at; is Mizzou a good team that will lose to top 10 foes or is it a really good one capable of challenging for the SEC east? I say the former. South Carolina will use Jadaveon Clowney and co. to beat the spit out of the Tiger lines, while the offense will do enough to put the game away.<br />
<br />
<b>South Carolina 30, Missouri 17</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Prashant: </b>How much should we trust the Gamecocks? Yes, yes, yes they are 3-0 but are they the team that struggled to beat the Vanderbilt Commodores, or are they the team that destroyed East Carolina or UAB? And, who is the quarterback of this team? Connor Shaw won the derby over Dylan Thompson but is he really the better option. Dylan Thompson has been outstanding by South Carolina quarterback standards( ask Syvelle Newton or Stephen Garcia what exactly that means). Regardless of which quarterback is on the field, Missouri will find it difficult to move on Jadeveon Clowney and DeVonte Holloman. South Carolina will do enough offensively to hold off the Tigers.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<b>South Carolina 28, Missouri 24</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>#18 Michigan at #11 Notre Dame</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Kevin: </b>It's college football's two most storied programs. It's the winningest program of all time vs. the second winningest program of all time. It's the winged helmet vs. the golden domes. It's Michigan vs. Notre Dame. Yes, this game always attracts some luster because of the names involved, but for the first time since 2006, both teams are ranked entering the showdown. Both teams have a lot to play for. Notre Dame still has to deal with Stanford, Oklahoma, and USC among others, making this game almost a must win for BCS hopes. Michigan meanwhile isn't playing for a national championship, but still wants to get that national respect back after an opening weekend drubbing against Alabama. If your picking Michigan in this game, it really is just on blind faith. Notre Dame has the better lines of the two and the better defense of the two. The Irish d-line should control the line of scrimmage forcing Michigan QB Denard Robinson to the air, and while he'll do a lot better throwing the ball than people might think, he won't have much threat of the running game to back him up. Meanwhile Notre Dame will struggle on offense, but will be able to pound the ball and will take advantage of a couple Michigan turnovers to seal the deal.<br />
<br />
<b>Notre Dame 28, Michigan 21</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Prashant: </b>The college football world should be salivating over this matchup. These two programs belong squarely in the conversation for greatest program of all-time. Winningest program of all time, meet the second winningest program of all time. Denard Robinson meet Stephon Tuitt. Everett Golson/Tommy Rees meet Jake Ryan. The 35-31 Michigan-Notre Dame game of 2011 might have been the best of the year. Can the matchup live up to the expectations? There is a growing perception it seems, that Notre Dame should be comfortable favorites. Notre Dame has perhaps exceeded expectations with this 3-0 start, beating Michigan State in impressive fashion. Meanwhile, Michigan was vastly overrated at number 8 in the preseason polls, but this team still has enough talent to win the Big 10 this year. Denard Robinson will find it incredibly challenging to find a rhythm. The Golden Domer offense will struggle to score, but do enough to provide support for the suffocating defense.<br />
<br />
<b>Notre Dame 17, Michigan 14</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>#15 Kansas State at #6 Oklahoma</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Kevin: </b>I wan't to, I really do. But I can't. Oklahoma trounced Kansas State in Manhattan last year, and simply put, giving Mike and Bob Stoops two weeks to prepare for an offense that relies so much on one player doesn't bode well for success. Oklahoma might be a tad big overrated, and the jury is still out on what kind of team they really are. This weekend the noise will start for the national title run. Collin Klein will have some success on the ground, but will throw a couple key interceptions that will allow Landry Jones and the Sooner attack to put the game away. Jones will look like a world beater, and the Heisman hype will begin to sound.<br />
<br />
<b>Oklahoma 38, Kansas State 20</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Prashant: </b>The wizard of Manhattan has down the unimaginable again. When Bill Snyder took over the job in 1989, Sports Illustrated deemed the Kansas State hopeful program as "...the most hapless program in America." What ensued over the next sixteen seasons was perhaps the greatest turnaround in the history of college football. The Wildcats became a force, winning at least nine games in ten of those years. Why is this significant? Bill Snyder is working his magic once again. Collin Klein and co. are poised for a big, statement season. Klein can launch himself to the forefront of the Heisman race with a big performance against number 6 Oklahoma. Unfortunately, I see Landry Jones having the game of his life to silence the many doubters. Oklahoma is a really good football team, but they are more USC than Alabama. At some point, they will stumble. This is not the week.<br />
<br />
<b>Oklahoma 35, Kansas State 23</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>#10 Clemson at #4 Florida State</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Kevin:</b> Okay Florida State, here's your shot. You only get so many chances to make a name for yourself in College Football, and after last seasons debacle, there are still many doubters as to whether Florida State really is back. At each level, players on the Seminole defense will be cashing big paychecks from the league at this time next year. All of it won't mean anything if the Noles don't win this one. For Clemson, the top ten ranking is there, the hype is there, and several people are picking them to win this one. But just like Florida State, do they really deserve it all? Clemson's win over Auburn doesn't seem like any big deal right now, and several players still remain from the team that lost 70-33 in the Orange Bowl. Clemson is still yet to play anybody with living breathing talent. The Seminole d-line will control the tempo, and the back seven will limit the big plays. Meanwhile, E.J. Manuel and Chris Thompson will have an efficient day on the ground putting Florida State among the lead players in the national title chase.<br />
<br />
<b>Florida State 28, Clemson 17</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Prashant:</b> There are a few certainties in the college football universe. One of them is the overhyping/overrating of the Florida State program. Are these Seminoles worthy of the hype? The answer will be provided on Saturday. If Florida State believes they are amongst the elite in college football, the stage has been set. The Florida State defense has given up exactly 1.0 points per game. Who have they played though? Murray State, Savannah State and Wake Forest do not exactly resemble Alabama, LSU and Oregon. This is their proving ground. Can they stop Tajh Boyd, Andre Ellington, Sammy Watkins and DeAndre Hopkins? This story will be the key to the game. EJ Manuel and his backfield mate Chris Thompson will find it just a little too difficult for comfort. In the end, the Clemson offense will provide enough big plays for the upset bid.<br />
<br />
<b>Clemson 31, Florida State 24</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>#22 Arizona at #3 Oregon</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Kevin: </b>This one pits the father of the spread offense in Rich Rodriguez against the spreads modern master, Chip Kelly. Last time I picked against Arizona, I used the reasoning that while Rodriguez may get Arizona to this level one day, this year does not contain that day. I'm sticking by that. Matt Scott and the Wildcats will have their share of success on the ground, and the defense will force a couple Marcus Marriota interceptions<br />
. Other than that, the quack attack will roll on, with De'Anthony Thomas ripping off big touchdown play. Arizona will struggle to move the ball late in the 3rd quarter, putting this game away.<br />
<br />
<b>Oregon 45, Arizona 27</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Prashant: </b>As Rich Rodriguez said, he didn't take a stupid pill at Michigan. Sometimes, things just do not work out. As perhaps the most unfairly treated coach in the history of Michigan football, Rodriguez always was fighting a losing battle. The Arizona Wildcats found themselves one of the finest coaches in America, as a result. Matt Scott is a perfect fit for what Rodriguez likes doing. In the end, there are not enough play makers on defense to slow down Marcus Mariota, De'Anthony Thomas and Kenjon Barner to pull of the unthinkable. One day Arizona can dream of this victory. September 22nd, 2012 is not that day.<br />
<br />
<b>Oregon 41, Arizona 24</b><br />
<b><br /></b>LARivalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02692897927270900332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101898482574301676.post-65172247717449269212012-09-21T16:29:00.002-07:002012-09-21T16:29:39.066-07:00Week 4: UCLA vs Oregon State PreviewIf I told you at the beginning of the year that this would be a match up of two of five undefeated PAC 12 teams, and that USC was not among the five, you'd call me crazy. Funny season in the PAC 12.<br />
<br />
For all that UCLA has done so far however, it really hasn't done anything of substance yet. Beating Nebraska is a nice feel good story, and blowing out Rice and Houston were fun, but it'll mean nothing if the Bruins can't climb up the conference ladder. UCLA has gone 13-23 over the last four years in conference play, and while its had some success in the non-conference games, the conference schedule has often brought things back down to earth. Yes, in college football, your constantly trying to prove something new, and now its about getting back to the upper end of the PAC 12. Oregon State looked like a walkover at the beginning of the season, but thanks to a win over Wisconsin, its looking to make a statement on a national scene. A lot is at stake for the Bruins this weekend, namely a 5-0 start, a potential top 15 ranking, and a 2-0 start in conference play.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<b>Why to be excited:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
It's possible the win over Wisconsin doesn't really mean anything.<br />
<br />
Wisconsin might be the defending Big Ten champs, but it was lucky to get by FCS opponent Northern Iowa and should have lost to Utah State if not for a missed game winning field goal. Sure Oregon State is improved from last year, but don't let anybody fool you into believing that Wisconsin is good at the moment. Besides all that, the win really was only about one side of the ball: the defense.<br />
<br />
Oregon State scored a grand total of ten points against the Badgers, and doesn't seem to have much firepower on offense. Outside of the Sean Mannion-Markus Wheaton connection, there aren't many reliable options. Malcolm Agnew and the running game never really got going against Wisconsin, and if Mannion is dropping back to throw 47 times again against a revamped Bruin defense that has seven interceptions on the year and the nations 11th ranked pass efficiency defense, forget about it.<br />
<br />
<b>Why to be grouchy:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
That win really was only about one side of the ball: the defense.<br />
<br />
Oregon State has a front seven that's playing with loads of confidence. Wisconsin might be down, but holding Montee Ball and the Badger ground game to 35 yards is something worthy of praise. Scott Chricton and Dylan Wynn are fantastic pass rushing ends, while Michael Doctor and D.J. Welch form as good a linebacker tandem as there might be in the conference. So the defense is only big on stopping the run right? Yeah, right. CB Jordan Poyer will be in charge of neutralizing the opposing teams best receiver, something he does successfully more often than not.<br />
<br />
UCLA meanwhile might have shown a formula to beat its offense last weekend: sell out on Franklin, keep the big plays to a minimum, and make Brett Hundley go 8-12 plays down the field to beat you. Oregon State possesses all the tools to execute this plan. The Bruins better be ready.<br />
<br />
<b>What to watch for:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
-How does the UCLA offensive line respond after a poor showing in week three? The biggest battle of this game might be the Bruin o-line against the Beaver front. If Hundley is given time to throw the ball like he was against Nebraska, then UCLA will absolutely positively win this game.<br />
<br />
-The Johnathan Franklin Heisman hype has reached new heights thanks to USC's loss to Stanford. Ironically off his worst game of the year, Franklin is now listed in the top three on most Heisman charts. Of course, worst game is all relative, he still had 168 yards of offense, and if he rocks again in a Bruin win, the noise might reach a whole new level considering that there really isn't any front runner at the moment and that the Bruins could crack the top 15 based on what happens nationally.<br />
<br />
-The Bruin defense had a nice showing in week three, the offense had a nice showing in week two, and both had nice moments in spurts in week one. So whats real here? Improvement has beThe beaen shown from week to week in several areas for UCLA, and now, consistency on both sides of the ball is the next step for this team.<br />
<br />
-Was that really Sheldon Price? I still don't believe it. I still have memories of Marquise Lee and Robert Woods torching him on two different touchdowns last season. It wasn't just Price however, the entire Bruin secondary seems to be transformed. Another good performance Saturday, and you'll start to have a believer here.<br />
<br />
<b>What will happen:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
This is Oregon State's big chance, and they know it. They'll come out with a sense of urgency and purpose, on defense. Franklin for the first time won't have much room for a couple quarters, while Brett Hundley will gut out a couple of scoring drives in the first half. The Beavers however won't have much fire power to keep up. Oregon State will look to establish a run early, and when that fails, Mannion will be forced to go to the air more than 35 plus times, resulting in him getting a good view of the Arroyo Seco Mountains on his backside. In the second half, Franklin will pull out a couple big runs, and the Bruins will put the game away in the fourth quarter with a late stop.<br />
<br />
<b>UCLA 31, Oregon State 20</b><br />
<br />
<br />LARivalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02692897927270900332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101898482574301676.post-52015543511134226822012-09-17T10:50:00.000-07:002012-09-26T21:20:22.418-07:00Week 3: UCLA vs. Houston Game Recap<b>What I thought would happen:</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<div>
This has letdown game written all over it. But Jim Mora Jr. has brought the no-nonsense approach the Bruins have needed for a long time. UCLA hasn't had many chances to do the playground bully act this past decade. Here's their chance. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The Bruin offense will come out and march up and down the field, doing whatever it pleases by land or air. Franklin will have another spectacular evening, while Hundley will continue his march towards the Freshman All-American team. The Bruin defensive line meanwhile will put up 5 sacks. The UCLA secondary however will struggle in the first half, as Houston attack will have its fair share of success in the first two quarters. After that, it'll be all Bruins. Richard Brehaut will see some action in the fourth quarter...<b>UCLA 45, Houston 21</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><b>What did happen:</b><br />
<b><br />
</b>After the second play from scrimmage, in which UCLA picked up a backwards lateral and returned it for a score, it was clear that the bench would be emptied in the fourth quarter. Houston was never competitive and never showed much threat. The UCLA offense sputtered and was inconsistent for much of the night, and yet, it put out 567 total yards. The Bruin defense meanwhile put on the clamps, only allowing one big play late in the fourth quarter.Franklin didn't quite explode, but still ended up with 168 yards of total offense. Meanwhile, it was Kevin Prince, not Richard Brehaut, that saw action in the fourth quarter.<br />
<br />
<a href="" name="more"></a><br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<br />
<b>The Good:</b><br />
<b><br />
</b>-The defense, much maligned nationally due to its slow starts in the first two games, allowed next to nothing in the entire game, literaly. If not for a long qb run late in the fourth, the D would have pitched a shutout. Of course, people might say its Houston, and to be fair, it is just Houston. But Houston still put up godly numbers last week, and people would be lying if they told you they expected what they saw from the Bruins Saturday night.<br />
<br />
-Stephen Manfro is slowly turning into a play maker the Bruins can rely on. He came up with some key plays on third down and has shown several ways to contribute in the early going. He has shown the ability to catch out of the backfield, as a receiver, and now has shown that he can run it with authority too.<br />
<br />
-Who is this #22 and what have you done with Sheldon Price? David Piland still targeted several passes in Price's direction, only to see them on the field or in Price's hands. Price had 3 interceptions, while Tevin McDonald and Randall Godforth recorded picks of their own. The UCLA defense had six turnovers total on the night, one for a touchdown.<br />
<br />
-A kicker! Yes, going 3-3 on field goal attempts was big, even if they were all from within 35 yards. Good decision by Jim Mora Jr. early in the game to bring his kicker out on 4th and 1 and get him some confidence rather than keep his offense on the field to get a meaningless touchdown in a blowout. With the inconsistency the Bruins showed Saturday night, Fairbairns might be needed to put points on the board at crucial moments. He has shown some improvement every week.<br />
<br />
<b>The Bad and the Ugly:</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><b>-</b>It has to be a bit concerning that an awful Houston defense was able to fluster this Bruin attack some. UCLA found little rhythm throughout the evening, and when the Cougar D sold out on the running game, Hundley wasn't quite at the level he needed to be to call them off.<br />
<b><br />
</b>-Brett Hundley put up some good numbers on the surface, but often locked on to one reciever several times resulting in some key drive killing interceptions. His performance was inconsistent at best, as the Bruin offense sputtered far too much for much of the night. The game served as a reminder that while Hundley really is a big time talent, he still is a 3rd game starter and is still very inexperienced.<br />
<br />
-The offensive line that was so good in the first two games was absolutely torched. The running game never really got going to the explosive level it was at in the first two games largely because Houston was far too efficient in its gap penetrations. Freshman tackles Torian White and Simon Goines were especially miserable allowing far too much pressure from the sides. Like Hundley, while this group has a ton of upside, it is still one that has three freshman and one sophomore.<br />
<br />
-The Bruins really do seem to be doing a good job of cleaning up what they did badly in the game before and improving upon it in the next game, for the most part. That statement does not hold true for penalties. UCLA had 8 penalties for 62 yards, and while the yardage is far less, eight penalties is still a big number, and something that will hurt the Bruins once conference play begins.<br />
<br />
<b>Looking Ahead:</b><br />
<b><br />
</b>The freshman were going to play like freshman at some point, so it might as well come against Houston. Conference play begins next week against an Oregon State team that looks a lot tougher than it did at the beginning of the season thanks to its win over Wisconsin. The key moving forward will be to continue to improve and become more consistent on offense, while keeping the defense at the level it was at this weekend. Next Saturday's game looks to be an especially good opportunity as it will be a nationally televised game, and yet another opportunity to show the nation that UCLA football really is on its way back. The flip side however is that with the country watching, a clunker will convince the naysayers that UCLA was indeed an early season wonder. Beat Oregon State, and 5-0 is virtually guaranteed with Colorado the following week. </div>
LARivalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02692897927270900332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101898482574301676.post-66130275867092720052012-09-17T10:38:00.000-07:002012-09-17T10:47:43.367-07:00Week 3: USC vs. Stanford Recap<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>488</o:Words>
<o:Characters>2785</o:Characters>
<o:Company>UC Santa Barbara</o:Company>
<o:Lines>23</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>6</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>3267</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oolEiGoNubg/UFdg4PCyumI/AAAAAAAAAAM/wdEKye1XLOQ/s1600/lanekiffinimage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oolEiGoNubg/UFdg4PCyumI/AAAAAAAAAAM/wdEKye1XLOQ/s320/lanekiffinimage.jpg" width="320" /></a><b>What I thought Would
Happen?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You think Matt Barkley is excited for this game? The man
might walk away from the University of Southern California as its most revered
player ever, yet he has never beaten the Cardinal. When did that become an
acceptable statement? Matt Barkley gave up a spot in the first round of the NFL
Draft in order to complete “unfinished business.” You can bet the house that
this was on his checklist of goals. Jim Harbaugh and David Shaw have built a
nice program in a short time, but this is USC. If they truly are the preseason
number 1 team, this is a game they must win. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>What did Happen?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I guess USC should not have been the preseason number 1
team. Now is not a time to make excuses Trojan nation. The truth often hurts,
but this team isn’t good enough. USC is still really good football team, maybe
even really really good. It’s just not great. Hindsight provides the prism to
make these statements, but this USC team could not beat the ultimate measuring
stick, Alabama. It’s not the talent. Many of these current Trojans will be
collecting a paycheck from the league in the next few seasons. It just does not
have the single most crucial element in college football today. What has
allowed Alabama to bludgeon teams on both sides of the ball? What has happened
to the Wisconsin Badgers from last year to this year? Why is LSU the consensus
second best team in the country? There is one common answer here. LINE PLAY. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The line play against Stanford, especially that shocking
final drive just was not good enough. Stanford ran thru, around and past USC
defenders all game long to the tune of 200 yards rushing. On a day when Josh
Nunes was not very good, USC had to force the Stanford rushing attack to beat
them and it did.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>The Good:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>-</b>Absolutely
nothing positive from this game<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>The Bad:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>-</b>The Line Play<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It stunk
both offensively and defensively. Lane Kiffin is building something special
again in Los Angeles, but there will need to be some improvement on the fronts
of both sides of the ball. Alabama has four offensive linemen who will play on
Sundays. If USC’s product on the field is to match up with the Crimson Tide’s,
similar talent will need to be fielded. After the game, Kiffin stated that Matt
Barkley was “physically beat up.” That statement should never be uttered about
the most important player in the program.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-What Happened to Matt Barkley? Lane Kiffin said after the
game that Barkley’s decision making was poor. He went so far as to say that his
two interceptions were the two worst throws of the Barkley-Kiffin honeymoon. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Khaled Holmes’ Injury ultimately was the dagger. The all
Pac-12 senior center was the veteran leader of the offensive line. Without
their heart and soul, USC was physically beaten by the Stanford defensive front<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Looking Ahead:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now that USC has been hit in the chin, it’s time to fully
wake up. I feel bad for opponents the Trojans face before their November 3<sup>rd</sup>
encounter with Oregon. Cal, Utah, Washington, Colorado and Arizona do not stand
a chance. It is unlikely, but if USC wins the rest of their games and is lucky
enough to get a rematch with Stanford in the conference championship game, there
is still an outside shot at playing in the Discover National Championship Game. <o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->LARivalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02692897927270900332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101898482574301676.post-80326456371260204172012-09-14T10:59:00.002-07:002012-09-14T21:46:31.569-07:00Week 3: Other Games, Thoughts, and Predictions<b>Five Other Big Games</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>California at #14 Ohio State</b><br />
<b><br />Kevin: </b>Theres just too much raw talent on the Bears to mark this game as a walk. But there really isn't any reason to even think about a potential upset either. Braxton Miller and the Buckeye attack have been nearly flawless thus far, and an awful Bears defense that got torched by Nevada and struggled mightily against Southern Utah won't be slowing things down Saturday. Zach Maynard will have a few bright moments, and the Bear recievers led by Keenan Allen and freshman Bryce Treggs and Chris Harper will have some nice catches. But Isi Sofele and the Cal ground game will be all but absent. Meanwhile, Miller will have another big day, as the Buckeye offense will move on all cylinders.<br />
<br />
<b>The Prediction - Ohio State 38, California 21</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Prashant: </b>What has happened to the Jeff Tedford era? Let’s face it; this program really hasn’t been the same since the Kevin Riley catastrophe. Primed to be the number 1 team in the country, Cal laid an egg against heavy underdogs Oregon State when Kevin Riley scrambled in bounds as time expired. Cal would go on to lose six out of its last seven regular season games, before barely beating Air Force in the Armed Forces Bowl. Fast-forward five years and Cal football really has not recovered. Week 1, this Cal team with explosive playmakers laced throughout the offense, played a stinker and lost to an upset minded Nevada team at Memorial Stadium. At least Week 2, the Golden Bears were able to salvage a victory albeit by giving up 31 points to Southern Utah. Urban Meyer’s more talented group should be able to impose their will in the second half of this game. At the end of the day, Ohio State just has better football players (Braxton Miller is flat out special) and this fact will be reflected in the final score.<br />
<br />
<b>The Prediction - Ohio State 38, California 17</b><br />
<b></b><br />
<a name='more'></a><b><br /></b>
<b>#1 Alabama at Arkansas</b><br />
<b><br />Kevin: </b>Arkansas just about lost this game on April 24th, 2012. That was the day John L. Smith was hired. Yes, Bobby Petrino was really that good, and with him, this game would have been one of the games of the year, with the winner in supreme position to close out the West. Tyler Wilson might be back, but Arkansas' defense has just been so miserable to start the year, that it'll have zero chance against a Tide offense with an o-line that starts four future millionaires. Something to watch though in this one: the Tide running back rotation. With the injury of Jahston Fowler, Alabama might be one running back injury away from trouble.<br />
<br />
<b>The Prediction - Alabama 40, Arkansas 21</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Prashant: </b>At least Arkansas doesn’t have to travel to Tuscaloosa… Maybe this is an overreaction to one game, but the Razorback program is in serious trouble. It is not the type of program where the school and tradition do the selling. Arkansas absolutely NEEDS Bobby Petrino. <span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt;">John L. Smith... Keep in mind this guy has won 23 out of his last 50 games. </span>With Tyler Wilson, this team needs to play a perfect game. Simultaneously, Alabama needs to play much worse than their unstoppable best. The Alabama defense should as usual dictate play. AJ McCarron just needs to be steady for this to be a blowout. With TJ Yeldon and Eddie Lacy, Alabama will have more than enough offense for the bad Arkansas defense After the Michigan game, Nick Saban turned to his team and applauded. I would not be one bit surprised if that image is seen again.<br />
<br />
<b>The Prediction - Alabama 31, Arkansas 10</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>#18 Florida at #23 Tennessee</b><br />
<b><br />Kevin: </b>Remember when this game was one of the can't miss events of the year? When it would routinely decide the SEC East? When it had the headlines such as Wuerfuel vs. Manning? Those days seem like ten years ago, and for the first time in a while, Florida vs. Tennessee has some luster again, and could have major implications on the SEC East race. Rocky Top will be buzzing for the first time in a while, as this could serve as the turning point in the Derek Dooley era. Florida had some late game heroics last weekend, but still showed little ability to move the ball. The Gator lines are better than their Vol counterparts, and the Florida defense is still nasty. But the gamechanger is the location. Jeff Driskell will make some key mistakes in the hostile Neyland Stadium, turning the ball over twice. Meanwhile, Tyler Bray will take advantage via Justin Hunter and Cordelle Patterson.<br />
<br />
<b>The Prediction - Tennessee 28, Florida 21</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Prashant: </b>Why exactly is everyone so excited Knoxvillle? I understand that starting off 2-0 is progress for this once proud program, but let’s remind everyone before the excitement level reaches a boiling point. They beat NC State and a Georgia State team playing its first year of Division 1 football. Settle down folks. With all that said, there is some reason for optimism. Tyler Bray might be the best quarterback in the SEC when healthy and some within the Tennessee coaching staff believed Justin Hunter had Heisman potential when he stepped foot on campus. If that duo can stay healthy, Tennessee might have the most dynamic QB/WR combo in the SEC. That counts for something. Meanwhile, the Florida Gators have a great defense but Jeff Driskel is still a question mark. He won the we-love-everybody derby at Florida and he is not without talent. Unfortunately, these aren’t your older brother’s Gators. The Gators lack dynamic playmakers and one or two huge pass plays from the Tennessee offense will make the difference.<br />
<br />
<b>The Prediction - Tennessee 24, Florida 14</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>#20 Notre Dame at #10 Michigan State</b><br />
<b><br />Kevin: </b>The Big Ten, to put it nicely, has stunk it up in the non-conference season. The league will be hoping now for the Spartans to carry the banner. Michigan State is 2-0, and has a much better win over Boise State than people will ever care to give them credit for. Notre Dame meanwhile is beginning the nasty part of its sadistic schedule. The Irish still have Michigan next week, and travel to Norman and Los Angeles to face Oklahoma and USC. Thats still not mentioning the dates against BYU, Miami, Stanford, the list goes on. The easiest game the Irish will play might be Pitt, and they were among the preseason favorites in the Big East. Basically, this is a big game for Brian Kelly and the Irish. Unfourtuately for them, the Spartan defense shows very little weaknesses. The Michigan State formula of Le'veon Bell, defense, and enough plays from the passing game will work once again. Everett Golson will hang tough, and the Notre Dame defense will keep it close. It just won't be enough.<br />
<br />
<b>The Prediction - Michigan State 27, Notre Dame 20</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Prashant: </b>Both teams enter this fixture ranked in the top 20 for the first time in nearly 25 years. I won’t jinx things, but both programs outlooks seem to be on the rise. Although their record won’t reflect it, with perhaps the most idiotic schedule I have ever seen, Notre Dame really has made progress under Brian Kelly. His spread offense is finally giving Notre Dame the schematic advantage that has been promised in recent years. Mark Dantonio is building a juggernaut in East Lansing to complement its better-known basketball team. The Michigan State D will make one big play late in this tightly fought contest to decide this one. Le'veon Bell will hammer away at the Notre Dame defense late in this matchup. Andrew Maxwell will once again make enough plays in a Spartans' victory.<br />
<br />
<b>The Prediction - Michigan State 28, Notre Dame 21</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Arizona State at Missouri</b><br />
<b><br />Kevin: </b>The Todd Graham era has started off on the right foot with two dominant wins, one being over a decent Illinois team. Theres a feeling in some parts that this Sun Devil team could be one of the surprises of the season. With UCLA and Arizona getting a lot of attention with their big wins last weekend, here is Arizona State's shot. Mizzou meanwhile held tough against Georgia last weekend until bowing late. For the PAC 12, this would be more icing on the cake to what has been a marvelous non-conference season thus far. But Mizzou is at home, and looks to be the better football team at some important slots. The Tigers have quarterback James Franklin, and have two game changers on the d-line with Sheldon Richardson and Brad Maddison.<br />
<br />
<b>The Prediction - Missouri 31, Arizona State 21</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Prashant: </b>Todd Graham might be slimy, and he definitely should have handled his exit from Pitt in a better manner, but these aren’t Dennis Erickson’s Sun Devils. The program will have its road bumps this year, but starting 2-0 is significant. Believed to be the third quarterback in the derby, Taylor Kelly has provided exceptional quarterback play through two games. On the other side of the sidelines, James Franklin will have to be at his dynamic best. If Kendall Lawrence and T.J. Moe can assist in the cause, Mizzou should come out on top in Columbia, Missouri.<br />
<br />
<b>The Prediction - Missouri 31, Arizona State 21</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>A few other games people don't care about but are kinda interesting:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
-Utah State at Wisconsin: After Bucky's disastrous week one against Northern Iowa, we should have known that something was wrong. Well now we know. Wisconsin just fired its offensive line coach, and after only 23 rushing attempts last week with a backfield containing Montee Ball, the Badgers should clean house if there are more than 20 passes attempted.<br />
<br />
-ULM at Auburn: Okay, so ULM isn't going to beat Auburn. But after its stunning win over Arkansas, there is a little luster to this game. There's a 2-0 team in this game, and it isn't the one wearing blue chanting "war eagle."<br />
<br />
-Northern Iowa at Iowa: Don't laugh. Iowa just lost to Iowa State 9-6. Northern Iowa meanwhile almost beat Wisconsin week one, and fattened up last weekend against some school called Central State. If the Hawkeyes lose this one, they'll be in third place in the state of Iowa.<br />
<br />
<br />LARivalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02692897927270900332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101898482574301676.post-23225499377425646522012-09-14T10:54:00.002-07:002012-09-15T10:39:30.693-07:00Week 3: USC vs. Stanford<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>545</o:Words>
<o:Characters>3107</o:Characters>
<o:Company>UC Santa Barbara</o:Company>
<o:Lines>25</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>7</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>3645</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
You think Matt Barkley is excited for this game? The man
might walk away from the University of Southern California as its most revered
player ever, yet he has never beaten the Cardinal. When did that become an
acceptable statement? Matt Barkley gave up a spot in the first round of the NFL
Draft in order to complete “unfinished business.” You can bet the house that
this was on his checklist of goals. Jim Harbaugh and David Shaw have built a
nice program in a short time, but this is USC. If they truly are the preseason
number 1 team, this is a game they must win. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Why to be Excited?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s a showdown of two top 25 teams. The beauty of college
football is that marquee matchups seem to happen on a weekly basis. The media
will not hype this game as much as the darling SEC matchup Florida-Tennessee,
but if you want to actually see two really good teams play football, Stanford,
California is your spot. As aforementioned, it is not possible for the Trojans
to be more hyped for this matchup. If you are not a fifth year senior for USC,
you have never beaten Stanford. The first two games were a good watch, but USC
has been waiting all off-season for this game. After a triple overtime loss in a game they
led late in the fourth quarter, there is one thing that is absolutely certain: the Trojans will be fired up.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Why to be Grouchy?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Uhhhh…The last time USC beat Stanford was November 15<sup>th</sup>,
2008. It’s been a really long time. In 2007, in perhaps one of the greatest
upsets in college football history, Tavita Pritchard’s Cardinal shocked the
Trojans in the Coliseum. USC lost starting center Khaled Holmes in last week’s
victory at Syracuse. Cryus Hobbi will be counted on, but he is only a redshirt
freshman. The strength of the Cardinal team is in its front seven play. Shane Skov
and Chase Thomas form the most formidable linebacker duo in at least the PAC-12.
Linemen Ben Gardner and Terrance Stephens are excellent players who
will be looking to have their way against a USC offensive line missing their
best and most important player. Josh Nunes is more than capable of managing an
efficient Stanford offensive attack. His focus will be on his gigantic tight
ends Zach Ertz and Levine Toilolo. The undersized USC linebackers could have
difficulty in pass coverage against those behemoths. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>What to Watch For?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Will Matt Barkley continue his Heisman campaign? He was
excellent last week in throwing for six touchdowns. Giving Barkley time to
dissect the Stanford defense is the key in the matchup. If the right amount of
protection is given, USC will have a distinct advantage in this game.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-How will USC stop the Stanford running game? Stepfan Taylor
is a great football player. If he has his way against the USC front seven,
Stanford will definitely have a shot in this game. Anthony Wilkerson is a solid
backup who can capably spell Taylor when needed<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-If the Cardinal want to win, they will need a solid day
from Josh Nunes. You never want to be the man who replaces the legend, but
exactly do we know about Nunes? Is he capable of leading the program? Those
questions will be answered on Saturday.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Prediction:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This will be a physical game won at the line of scrimmage.
If Matt Barkley has ample time to make his throws, the game will be over. For
Stanford to have a chance at the upset, pressuring Barkley is required. Long,
sustained drives with pounding from Stepfan Taylor and Anthony Wilkerson will
provide relief to the Cardinal defense. In the end, the best three players line
up for the Trojans. Marquise Lee, Robert Woods, and Matt Barkley will make enough
plays to stave off the upset bid.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
USC 28, Stanford 24<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->LARivalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02692897927270900332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101898482574301676.post-90312806395500875762012-09-13T02:10:00.001-07:002012-09-13T15:50:32.706-07:00Week 3: UCLA vs Houston PreviewTalk about role reversal. Two years ago, UCLA started an abysmal 0-2 coming into their game against then #23 Houston. The teams are the same, the setting is the same, the ranking is just one off, but the tides are reversed. Nobody could have predicted this one.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Sure, people might have predicted a Bruin win last Saturday, but if you told somebody before the season that after two games Brett Hundley would be in the running for quarterback of the week, Franklin would be a dark horse Heisman candidate, the UCLA offense would eclipse the 640 yard mark twice, the defense would register nine sacks, and that the Bruins would be ranked 22nd with very little negative talk surrounding them if any, people would look at you like you had ten heads. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Yes, it has happened, and now the expectations are higher than they have been for UCLA football in quite some time. College football however is a tough crowd to please, and you're only as good as your last result. Lately, the Bruins have trounced Rice and beat a good Nebraska team fair and square. However, if UCLA turns in a stinker against Houston, all the questions will be back, and the Heisman hype for Johnathan Franklin will be all but gone. </div>
<div>
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /></div>
<div>
<b>Why to be excited?</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For Houston, all the pieces that sparked the programs big run over the past few seasons are just about gone. Art Briles, the architect of the offense, has moved on to Baylor and now has had a Heisman trophy quarterback. Kevin Sumlin, the head coach, has moved on to Texas A&M. Case Keenum meanwhile is on the Houston Texans practice squad. While Briles took over Baylor sometime ago, Keenum and Sumlin led the program to a near BCS bowl game last season finishing 13-1. In the first game without Briles, Keenum, and Sumlin, the Cougars lost to a Texas State team that is in its first season in the FBS. The loss was so embarassing that it caused then OC Mike Nesbit to "resign" (<a href="http://aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-football/story/2012-09-03/houston-cougars-offensive-coordinator-mike-nesbitt-resigns-tony-levine" target="_blank">seriously</a>). Of course, that seemed to have sparked something, as the Cougars scored 49 points last week against Louisiana Tech. With Houston's 119th ranked defense however, it wasn't enough as the Cougars still lost 56-49. Things don't get much better this week. The Cougars are going to be without three offensive line starters this Saturday against a UCLA defense that is second in the country in sacks. Throw in the fact that UCLA has an offense, a dynamic playmaker at running back, and well, a better overall football team in every aspect, and there are several reasons to be excited. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Why to be grouchy?</b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
Remember the last time UCLA beat someone nationally acclaimed? </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
After UCLA blew the doors of Texas in Austin, it followed it up with a 42-28 win over Washington State that was in doubt all the way until the final few minutes. The consensus after that game was that the Bruins were frauds, and the win was a mirage. The consensus ended up being right. The Bruins finished the season 4-8. After UCLA beat Tennessee in 2009 on way to a 3-0 start, it went 4-6 to close the season. And in 2008 after UCLA beat Tennessee, became ranked, and then lost 59-0 to BYU and finished the season 4-8. This is still UCLA, and some more consistency will need to be shown until full respect and attention are received. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The UCLA defense has had a knack for not showing up until the second half. Houston meanwhile, seems to have found an offense last week, and while it was against Louisiana Tech, 49 points and 693 yards of offense is 49 points and 693 yards of offense. Houston quarterback David Piland had a field day last week, and if the Cougars can get off to a fast start offensively, it'll put the pressure on the Bruin attack to keep up the pace. Football is a funny game, and Houston really has nothing to lose this Saturday night at the Rose Bowl. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>What to watch for:</b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
-Will the Heisman campaign continue? Johnathan Franklin will have every opportunity to run all over a Houston run defense that ranks 114th in the country. A third straight 200 yard game and a dominant Bruin win would really get the ball rolling for the new "Jet Ski" Heisman push. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
-Good job Brett Hundley. Now do it again. Houston is awful, and a big time quarterback and leader makes sure that no upset bid is put on by consistently moving the chains and putting points on the board. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
-After slow starts by the defense in weeks one and two, this will be a good test for the Bruins. Houston really should have a big time offense, and this will be a good test to see if the Bruins can be ready out of the gate. It should be a particularly interesting night for the Bruin corners, who will be forced to make several tackles in space against this Houston air raid offense. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
-Field goal kicking anyone? Kai'mi Fairbairns showed improvement from week one to week two through the ability to make his PAT's (that wasn't a joke, that really was huge). Now it's time to show that he can kick 30 yard and in field goals consistently. Baby steps everybody. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>The Prediction</b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
This has letdown game written all over it. But Jim Mora Jr. has brought the no-nonsense approach the Bruins have needed for a long time. UCLA hasn't had many chances to do the playground bully act this past decade. Here's their chance. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The Bruin offense will come out and march up and down the field, doing whatever it pleases by land or air. Franklin will have another spectacular evening, while Hundley will continue his march towards the Freshman All-American team. The Bruin defensive line meanwhile will put up 5 sacks. The UCLA secondary however will struggle in the first half, as Houston attack will have its fair share of success in the first two quarters. After that, it'll be all Bruins. Richard Brehaut will see some action in the fourth quarter.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>UCLA 45, Houston 21</b></div>
LARivalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02692897927270900332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101898482574301676.post-8770148238053886442012-09-11T23:10:00.003-07:002012-09-12T23:59:57.507-07:00Week 2: USC vs. Syracuse Game Recap<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>158</o:Words>
<o:Characters>902</o:Characters>
<o:Company>UC Santa Barbara</o:Company>
<o:Lines>7</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>2</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>1058</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>What I Thought Would Happen:</b><br />
<br />
<br />
This line will be written many times this year, but USC will easily win this game. The offense should not break a sweat in putting up 500 yards of total offense. Look for Syracuse to keep the game interesting for a little over a quarter, but by halftime keep a wandering eye on the other games. There will probably be more compelling television out there.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>What Happened:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This was a tricky one. The Trojans played in a time
zone they usually reserve for their Orange Bowl games. Toss in a nasty weather
delay and there are some excuses to be made. However, this being the University of
Southern California, more was expected on Saturday. Matt Barkley boosted his
Heisman resume with a 6 TD performance, Robert Woods was his usual explosive
self and Silas Redd had his first 100 yard game as a Trojan. The concern stems
from what was really a sorry defensive performance from USC. Allowing 29 points
to what is admittedly a good passing Syracuse football team does not bode well
for PAC-12 play, namely the two expected games against Oregon. I understand
that Monte Kiffin’s Tampa 2 scheme is difficult to gain a grasp of, but this is
the third year in charge of the defense and progress needs to be
made throughout the season in order to avoid an upset bid. That being said,
Ryan Nassib very well could be the best passing quarterback USC faces the rest
of the season. Yes, Isiah Wiley is missed more than anticipated, but its not like Drew Brees will be dissecting this defense the rest of the year.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Final Score: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
USC 42, Syracuse 29<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>272</o:Words>
<o:Characters>1551</o:Characters>
<o:Company>UC Santa Barbara</o:Company>
<o:Lines>12</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>3</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>1820</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>The Good:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->I know every pundit in America keeps harping on
this point, but the USC offense is just flat out special. Even when the other
team is moving the ball relatively well against the USC defense, the USC
offense still manages to find time to churn out 40 points. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Robert Woods had a very nice game catching the
football. The dude is a reception machine and his 10 catch, 2 TD game should go
a long way to erase any doubt about who the USC number 1 target is. At this
point, it is 1a and 1b. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Two Words. Silas Redd. I do not think we will
see Curtis McNeal listed solely atop the USC depth chart this year. McNeal is a
special talent who will get a ton of carries this year, but it just feels like
at worst it should be a Silas Redd or Curtis McNeal situation on the depth
chart listing. Lane Kiffin swears we shouldn’t read into the fact that Redd has
gotten more carries this year. In the end they will be in the same ballpark as
far as carries go, but get rid of the
idea of the backup running back here<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>The Bad and the Ugly:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: 261.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->The defense. Giving up over 300 yards passing is
a bad omen. The offense should easily average 40 points a game, but there will
be one game when things simply are not clicking. In that game, the defense will
be called upon to carry the team.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; tab-stops: 261.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: 261.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->The loss of Khaled Holmes should not be
underestimated. Even if it is for a short time, which seems to be the case,
Holmes was the veteran leader of the offensive line. Cyrus Hobbi, the redshirt
freshman, will take over his spot. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Looking Ahead:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Next Saturday USC will face a
tricky encounter on the farm. Win that game, and USC should expect to be 8-0 on
November 3<sup>rd</sup>. However, any one of the remaining teams before that
encounter is capable of a shocker, save for Colorado. Therefore, USC must remained
focused in its quest for perfection.<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->LARivalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02692897927270900332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101898482574301676.post-78523414000140531692012-09-09T17:09:00.000-07:002012-09-12T00:52:14.574-07:00Week 2: UCLA vs Nebraska Game Recap<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">What I thought would happen:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b>
Maybe one day, but Saturday is not that day.</span><br />
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>95</o:Words>
<o:Characters>546</o:Characters>
<o:Company>UCLA</o:Company>
<o:Lines>4</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>670</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Martinez and the Husker attack will start fast, pounding the Bruin D in
the mouth on route to a double digit lead. Hundley will be forced to go to the
air, resulting in a couple drives that display his potential and what might be
coming for the Bruins, and a some others that will show that he's just a second
game starter. Franklin will gut out a tough 100 yards, but the Huskers will
bottle up Hundley in the ground game. 70 yards of penalties later, UCLA will
show that while its on the right track, its not quite there yet. Martinez will
have yet another efficient day throwing the ball, while Kenny Bell will have
100 yards receiving...<b>Nebraska 31, UCLA 21</b></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>What Happened:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">After an absolute shootout in the first half in which neither offense could really be stopped, the UCLA defense came out and made the adjustments necessary. Nebraska was held to three points and had no rhythm on offense whatsoever. Taylor Martinez ended his short lived Drew Brees impersonation from last week and showed why he is so heavily criticized despite having such dynamic playmaking ability. The co-stars of the show however were Brett Hundley and Johnathan Franklin. A Datone Jones safety finally put the Bruins ahead for good. Only penalties and missed kicks kept this from being ugly. </span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b></b></span><br /></span>
<br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<b style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Good:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">-This ones for real. </span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">After UCLA beat Texas, questions remained about quarterback play and the absolute lack of a passing game. When UCLA beat Tennessee, the consensus was that while it was a big win for the Bruins, Tennessee wasn't going to be all that good anyways, and the Bruins hid behind their defense to cover many of their flaws. When UCLA beat Arizona State last year at the Rose Bowl, there were still lingering questions about the football team as a whole, and how competitive would it really be against an upper echelon team. This time, the only questions remaining are regarding penalties and field goal kicking. The UCLA attack moved at will, while the defense put the clamps in the second half. Only missed field goals, penalties, and a brief Brett Hundley injury kept UCLA from hanging over a half-hundred. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">-Enough. Johnathan Franklin takes a back seat to nobody. Not to Montee Ball, not to Rex Burkhead, not to Kenjon Barner, not to Le'veon Bell, not to anybody. There are better pro prospects out there, but in terms of production and what a back is capable of night in and night out, there really are few if any better. It's time to start talking Doak Walker, and if the Bruins keep winning, maybe bigger things. Franklin has consistently not gotten the credit he deserves nation wide, and now after 273 yards of total offense against the "blackshirts," it really is time to start paying homage. Through two weeks Franklin leads the nation in rushing yards.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">-As Joseph Fauria said after the game, "some guys just have that aura to them." Brett Hundley has only played two games in his UCLA career, and he's already put together the best performance by a UCLA quarterback since Cade McNown. What makes Hundley so special is that unlike what people might believe, he is a pure pocket passer who can run. Hundley made good decision after good decision, while ocassionaly taking off and getting good yardage. His ankle was of some concern for a brief moment in time, but that was about the only sour note for him on this night (although, falling on his butt while trying to take a knee was a good laugh). For now, it seems the Bruins have finally found the quarterback they have been yearning for since 1998.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">-Sure, Hundley and Franklin were special, but do you want to know why UCLA won this game? UCLA won because it not only won the battle of the lines, it dominated it. The Bruins o-line that starts three freshman gave up just two sacks, and hardly ever allowed much pressure on Brett Hundley. The defensive line meanwhile controlled the tempo in the second half, bottling up the Husker ground game and putting pressure on Taylor Martinez consistently in passing situations, garnering a sack and 9 TFL. Datone Jones seems to have finally shown up, and NFL scouts will begin to take notice if more performances like this are had in the future. Jim Mora Jr. and co. deserve major credit for once again storming out of the gate after their halftime adjustments. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">-The Bruins are beginning to find other fringe play makers as well. Devin Lucien showed flashes of brilliance in the open field, while Steven Manfro overcame his freshman jitters from last week and showed that Manfromania was no fluke. Of course, there's still the walking mismatch in Joseph Fauria Jr. In the redzone, any ball thrown near his head standing at 6'7 off the ground will have a chance to be brought down. Franklin is special, and Hundley looks like oozing potential as well, but for the team to succeed as a whole, these players will have to continue to perform. Another fun fact: Hundley hit eight different receivers on the day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">-Out goes Sheldon Price, in comes Andrew Abbott, and at saftey goes Randal Godforth the freshman. And what a game they all had. Abbott had 5 tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception, while Godforth had nine tackles and saw two picks float right through his hands.</span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>The Bad:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">-Kai'mi Fairbairns will hurt the Bruins at some point this season if this continues. Of course, there was some improvement, he made his PAT's this week, but when 20 and 30 yard kicks aren't automatic, there are major issues to be addressed. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">-11 Penalties for 126 yards is just not acceptable, and very nearly cost the Bruins the game. Of course a couple calls were questionable, but that's football, that's just how it works. This is still a young team, and you could see it at times last night. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">-The run defense was gashed in the first half, and while they improved dramatically in the second, Nebraska still finished with 260 rushing yards. Tackling in space still seems to be an issue, as the Bruins missed several tackles that resulted in big gains in the first half. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>Looking Ahead:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Bruin fans, this one was for real. This looked like a real, live team with a good quarterback, a dynamic running game, a plethora of options to throw to, and solid line play on both sides. Now the team must not lose focus, as a 5-0 start is there for the taking (though Oregon State looks tougher now). With a top 25 ranking for the first time since 2007, UCLA now will have to show that this wasn't a fluke. Critics will say that while this was a big win, it was still against Nebraska, who has struggled to get the passing game going and has consistently looked bad when the run is shut down. Houston is awful, and the Bruins must avoid any let down and come out looking like the 22nd best team in the country. As good as this win was, a bad performance against Houston would undo it all in a hurry. All in all however, it's a good day to be a Bruin.</span>LARivalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02692897927270900332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101898482574301676.post-75439826928904376332012-09-07T23:18:00.003-07:002012-09-07T23:31:39.227-07:00Week 2: Other Games, Picks, Thoughts<b>Five Other Big Games</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Miami at #21 Kansas State:</b> These two played an absolute thriller last September going down to the final play. Miami started very slow last week, but then bulldozed after the first ten minutes to a 41-32 victory. If the Canes can pull this one out, starting 2-0, there's no reason the team cant make some noise in the ACC and really spring forward the Al Golden era. Why do I believe they won't do it? Kansas State is the team with the difference maker in this one. Collin Klein will look to light up a Miami D that gave up 446 yards passing last week, while using his dual threat capabilities to keep the Canes of balance.<br />
<br />
<b>The Pick: Kansas State 34, Miami 24</b><br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<b>Auburn at Mississippi State:</b> Don't let the score fool you. Clemson for the most part was able to move all over the Auburn defense, and while Clemson might be that good, panic sirens will be going off if the Tigers don't pull this one off. Gene Chizik has his national title ring, but patience will begin to wear thin if Auburn starts 0-2. Mississippi State is loaded with veterans on defense and has Ladarius Perkins at RB, who should give Auburn fits after giving up 330 yards rushing. For the Bulldogs, a win will probably mean a 5-0 start going into the home date against Tennessee.<br />
<br />
<b>The Pick: Mississippi State 24, Auburn 17</b><br />
<br />
<b>#24 Florida at Texas A&M:</b> After the "we're confident in everybody" charade Florida played with its quarterbacks, Jeff Driskel has finally been named the starter. Of course, if last week was an indication, they really don't trust anybody. They ran the ball, found that the run didn't work, ran anyways, and barely walked out with a win over Bowling Green. If Will Muschamp doesn't want to start hearing yells and moans form Florida fans, he better win this one. A loss would put the Gators at 1-1 with Tennessee, LSU, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida State still to follow. Texas A&M hasn't seen a defense like Florida's, but the Aggie defense isn't too bad either with 6 starters returning. Texas A&M meanwhile hasn't seen an offense like Florida's in a while either, and that's not a complement. Driskel will struggle while the Aggies will take advantage of a couple turnovers to pull ahead.<br />
<br />
<b>The Pick: Texas A&M 27, Florida 20</b><br />
<br />
<b>#15 Oklahoma State at Arizona: </b>The Rich Rodriguez era at Arizona got off to an interesting start. The Zona offense moved at will with 600+ yards of offense, while the defense shut down Toledo cold. And yet, the team won 24-17 in overtime. Oklahoma State meanwhile had a bye week last Saturday with their 84-0 win over Savannah State (they should have just gone for 100). Quarterback Wes Hunt looks to be the next big thing for the Cowboys who are slowly turning into a factory with 9+ win seasons the last four years. Rodriguez really is a fine football coach, and may get Arizona at this level one day. But Saturday is not that day.<br />
<br />
<b>The Pick: Oklahoma State 38, Arizona 24</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>#7 Georgia at Missouri: </b>First chance for Georgia to show the world it really does belong in the national title conversation. Mizzou is no slouch either however, with James Franklin and a passing attack that should be among the best in the SEC. The key to this game is how Mizzou will block the Georgia front seven. If Georgia DT John Jenkins wants his big paycheck, this is where it starts. If Georgia is getting to Franklin on a regular basis, it could be a long day. On the flip side, Mizzou will have to stop the run against a young stable of Georgia backs. If Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall are running wild, forget it. Georgia will get some pressure on Franklin, who will have a solid day, while the Georgia attack will rely on Aaron Murray to bring them home. Mizzou will come close; it just wont be quite enough.<br />
<br />
<b>The Pick: Georgia 28, Missouri 17</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>A few other games people don't care about but are kinda interesting:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
UCF at #14 Ohio State - While the Devin Smith catch got all sorts of attention last weekend, and rightfully so (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pirizn5I22Y" target="_blank">check it out</a>), the jury is still out on Ohio State for this season. They'll beat UCF, but we'll know a bit more about the Buckeyes after week 2.<br />
<br />
Toledo at Wyoming - Both these schools did something they don't do all that often last season: win. Toledo had a heartbreaker last weekend at Arizona, while Wyoming hung tough at Texas. A 1-1 start and an inside look at bowl eligibility is on the line (seriously, that does mean a lot to these schools).<br />
<br />
Texas State at Texas Tech - Don't laugh. Texas State destroyed Houston last weekend 30-13, forcing Houston OC Mike Nesbitt to resign (<a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/houston-oc-resigns-30-13-loss-texas-state-154454985--ncaaf.html" target="_blank">I'm not making this up</a>). Former Alabama and Texas A&M head coach Dennis Franchione looks on the verge of doing miracles, and he could be up to the task against a Red Raider defense that still needs a lot of help.<br />
<br />
<b>Some other final thoughts:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b><b>-</b>Poor Savannah State. Scheduling FCS schools is one thing, but this is just not okay. After this weekend, Savanah State's defense might average 75 points in opponents ppg.<br />
<br />
-When gameday is at Florida Texas A&M, you know its a long weekend. As you can see by the pickoff, there isn't much must see TV this weekend on the college football front.<br />
<br />
-The PAC 12 really could be in for a long weekend. Washington and Oregon State are surefire losses to LSU and Wisconsin. The big tests come with UCLA and Arizona battling Nebraska and Oklahoma State respectively. The Mike Leach era might go from rough start to utter disaster if the Wazzu loses to Eastern Washington.<br />
<br />
-Washington State won't lose to Eastern Washington.<br />
<br />
-Michigan, want to show that last week was really about Alabama being that good? Come out and smack Air Force team that's better than most people think. If there are problems this weekend, then it really will be time to worry with road dates at Notre Dame, at Nebraska, and at Ohio State to follow.LARivalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02692897927270900332noreply@blogger.com0