West Coast/Pac-10 Week 02

[fugazi]

I'll tell you what, no Pac-10 team impressed me more than UW this past weekend. I sold Sark short, but damn he has those kids fired up and playing with heart and passion. I had forgotten just how good Locker is.
UW is gonna pull of some upsets this year and Sark will bring that program back.
As far as my Bruins, I'm not really liking our chances against Tenneessee. I don't know if it was the competition or what but Tenneessee looked explosive against WKu. THeir running game looks very good and our defense didn't dominate quite like I hoped that they would against SDSU. I don't know, if Tenneessee scores early on us it can snowball into a beatdown like BYU did. Waht will be key for UCLA is limiting turnovers and stopping the run, if they can do that then they can keep it close but asking a RS Frosh to win his first road start at a place like NEyland is much. Our Oline isn't quite there yet. IF we can keep it close or win then it will be a springboard for our season. Still, even in my bluest of hearts, I think Tenneessee wins by 10+ points.

 

[maxcaesar]

Hey Conan, wanted to get your thoughts on a couple of games.

Stanford/Wake Forest. This is a 9am west coast start time and the line at the moment is Wake -2.5. I remember last year Cal playing Maryland as a 2td favorite at this same time and really struggling, especially early in the game. Wondering if you had Wake on your radar based on the low spread and early start time.

Idaho/Washington. This is more of a play against UW, then for Idaho. Everyone seems to be giving UW a pat on the back for their performance in the loss to LSU. Hell, after the game Jake Locker had a smile on his face. But they also play USC next week and I wonder if after keeping it close against LSU, they are already looking ahead to the challenge of USC. It seems that Idaho is a letdown spot, and the 20.5 points seems inflated based on their performance against LSU. I'm thinking UW might be a good fade in this spot.

 

[BigPIG19]

I believe everyone is looking at the OSU/Navy game all wrong. First of all OSU was clearly looking ahead to USC. No doubt about it. As a matter of fact, they have been preparing for this game for about 8 months now. This game was a tale of two teams with differing opinios. OSU was looking past Navy, and Navy was playing the game of their year. Also, the triple option is one of the toughest offenses to game plan against. In case you all have forgotten, OSU was a one yard gain of 4th and 1 away from possibly covering the 22' point spread agianst Navy. I also think everyone is putting too much stock in USC whipping a putrid SJSU team, which by the way lead 3-0 near the end of the first quarter. With thefocus solely on the Trojans, I think OSU can focus on the stopping the run and make Barkley beat em. Yes, Barkley looked good against SJSU, but he was also throwing into single coverage all day with superior WRs. I think OSU brings heat early and rattles Barkley, wins the game straight up and ultimately leaves the Horseshoe in jubilee

USC 21
Ohio St 23

 

[GoForIt]

I believe everyone is looking at the OSU/Navy game all wrong. First of all OSU was clearly looking ahead to USC. No doubt about it. As a matter of fact, they have been preparing for this game for about 8 months now. This game was a tale of two teams with differing opinios. OSU was looking past Navy, and Navy was playing the game of their year. Also, the triple option is one of the toughest offenses to game plan against. In case you all have forgotten, OSU was a one yard gain of 4th and 1 away from possibly covering the 22' point spread agianst Navy. I also think everyone is putting too much stock in USC whipping a putrid SJSU team, which by the way lead 3-0 near the end of the first quarter. With thefocus solely on the Trojans, I think OSU can focus on the stopping the run and make Barkley beat em. Yes, Barkley looked good against SJSU, but he was also throwing into single coverage all day with superior WRs. I think OSU brings heat early and rattles Barkley, wins the game straight up and ultimately leaves the Horseshoe in jubilee

USC 21
Ohio St 23

That would be a good theory if USC didn't have the best offensive line in the nation, but they do.

 

[BigPIG19]

I'll tell you what, no Pac-10 team impressed me more than UW this past weekend. I sold Sark short, but damn he has those kids fired up and playing with heart and passion. I had forgotten just how good Locker is.
UW is gonna pull of some upsets this year and Sark will bring that program back.
As far as my Bruins, I'm not really liking our chances against Tenneessee. I don't know if it was the competition or what but Tenneessee looked explosive against WKu. THeir running game looks very good and our defense didn't dominate quite like I hoped that they would against SDSU. I don't know, if Tenneessee scores early on us it can snowball into a beatdown like BYU did. Waht will be key for UCLA is limiting turnovers and stopping the run, if they can do that then they can keep it close but asking a RS Frosh to win his first road start at a place like NEyland is much. Our Oline isn't quite there yet. IF we can keep it close or win then it will be a springboard for our season. Still, even in my bluest of hearts, I think Tenneessee wins by 10+ points.

one thing going for your bruins is the fact that the mighty Florida Gayturds are on deck for the Vols-in-tears. I wouldnt think the UT would look past a team that beat em last year, but the gayturds would be as close to a look ahead as possible

 

[gynecologist]

ON Usc bud.. My biggest play of the week.

 

[Conan]

ON Usc bud.. My biggest play of the week.

likewise

 

[Conan]

BP, allow me to answer this post.

Why would you argue that OSU was looking ahead to USC and USC was not looking ahead to OSU? How can you make a suggestion like that and look at it only from one side and not the other?

Calling SJSU putrid as a reason why they scored only 3 points holds some water, but how about the 3 points OSU scored last year when they played USC? According to what OSU's done vs USC recently, they are just as putrid. Probably worse with Pryor having no help this season in the backfield.

If OSU rattles Barkley, it will be the first time that's happened in his life. The only time in his entire life that he was forced out of his game was when he was in is Sr. yr. in HS. Mater Dei had a poor OL that year. Are you suggesting that USC's OL is poor? If so, do some homework and get back to me with what you find.

I find no basis in fact with anything you've written. Just a wild fantasy that serves your ego. Prepare yourself for a terrible ego death. You are headed towards being the laughing stock of this forum. It will be settled this Saturday.

I believe everyone is looking at the OSU/Navy game all wrong. First of all OSU was clearly looking ahead to USC. No doubt about it. As a matter of fact, they have been preparing for this game for about 8 months now. This game was a tale of two teams with differing opinios. OSU was looking past Navy, and Navy was playing the game of their year. Also, the triple option is one of the toughest offenses to game plan against. In case you all have forgotten, OSU was a one yard gain of 4th and 1 away from possibly covering the 22' point spread agianst Navy. I also think everyone is putting too much stock in USC whipping a putrid SJSU team, which by the way lead 3-0 near the end of the first quarter. With thefocus solely on the Trojans, I think OSU can focus on the stopping the run and make Barkley beat em. Yes, Barkley looked good against SJSU, but he was also throwing into single coverage all day with superior WRs. I think OSU brings heat early and rattles Barkley, wins the game straight up and ultimately leaves the Horseshoe in jubilee

USC 21
Ohio St 23

 

[SantaBarbaraTrojan]

As I stated several weeks ago, the Ohio State O-Line is no match for the USC DL. That in turn, puts winning the game on Pryor either running to the edge, or passing against the best secondary in CF.

I like USC's chances.

USC will win by 13+

 

[SantaBarbaraTrojan]

Hey Conan, wanted to get your thoughts on a couple of games.

Stanford/Wake Forest. This is a 9am west coast start time and the line at the moment is Wake -2.5. I remember last year Cal playing Maryland as a 2td favorite at this same time and really struggling, especially early in the game. Wondering if you had Wake on your radar based on the low spread and early start time.

Idaho/Washington. This is more of a play against UW, then for Idaho. Everyone seems to be giving UW a pat on the back for their performance in the loss to LSU. Hell, after the game Jake Locker had a smile on his face. But they also play USC next week and I wonder if after keeping it close against LSU, they are already looking ahead to the challenge of USC. It seems that Idaho is a letdown spot, and the 20.5 points seems inflated based on their performance against LSU. I'm thinking UW might be a good fade in this spot.

Not Conan, but I do know Sark and Holt.

Sark will step on Idaho to get his team to believe in themselves. Holt will want a shutout.

 

[jimmymo]

Not Conan, but I do know Sark and Holt.

Sark will step on Idaho to get his team to believe in themselves. Holt will want a shutout.

Washington a big play for me....

 

[SantaBarbaraTrojan]

I guess I should have mentioned this before, but Nick Holt is an Idaho Grad, player and former head coach of the Vandals.

Not that any of this matters, as he will still want "his team" [UW]and his players, to beat ID on every play on defense.

That is the way he is.

 

[leisure]

Conan ... I drink the USC koolaid as well ... my kid is a recent USC Alum which means I bought Pete Caroll's swimming pool and more .. :lol:

2 units on USC -7 (+100)

I was staring at -5 the other night... wtf was I waiting for??? hno:

 

[fugazi]

The USC-UW match in two weeks will be interesting, I will be interested in that line. UW will have this as their game of the year and will want to shock the world to put their program on the Map. There is the potential for this game to be a trap like OSU was last year for SC coming off of another beatdown of OSU.
The only thing that worries me is that there is some bad blood between Carroll and Sark as Carroll didn't like that Sark came after his assistants and some of his recruits. Also Sark mentioned to some recruits that SC would be going on probation soon and that had to have ticked Carroll off. When Carroll doesn't like someone he usually runs it up on them. We will see what happens, but I am very interested in this line.

 

[leisure]

The USC-UW match in two weeks will be interesting, I will be interested in that line. UW will have this as their game of the year and will want to shock the world to put their program on the Map. There is the potential for this game to be a trap like OSU was last year for SC coming off of another beatdown of OSU.
The only thing that worries me is that there is some bad blood between Carroll and Sark as Carroll didn't like that Sark came after his assistants and some of his recruits. Also Sark mentioned to some recruits that SC would be going on probation soon and that had to have ticked Carroll off. When Carroll doesn't like someone he usually runs it up on them. We will see what happens, but I am very interested in this line.

fugazi .. I for one minute do not beleive that Pete and Sark have problems. Hell Pete helped him get the WA job!!

Of course Pete knows there will be competition in recruiting but Pete also knows the 4 and 5 star recruits are his in any head to head matchup with the boys out of SoCal ..

 

[3peet]

Conan ... I drink the USC koolaid as well ... my kid is a recent USC Alum which means I bought Pete Caroll's swimming pool and more .. :lol:

2 units on USC -7 (+100)

I was staring at -5 the other night... wtf was I waiting for??? hno:

I'd give more creedence to your avi but Snoop is so fuckin Hollywood, he changes jerseys faster than he changes rolling papers.:>>>(

 

[Conan]

fugazi .. I for one minute do not beleive that Pete and Sark have problems. Hell Pete helped him get the WA job!!

Of course Pete knows there will be competition in recruiting but Pete also knows the 4 and 5 star recruits are his in any head to head matchup with the boys out of SoCal ..

Tsk tsk fugazi. Don't start these nasty rumors without some proof at the very least. Hugs all around.

 

[SantaBarbaraTrojan]

The USC-UW match in two weeks will be interesting, I will be interested in that line. UW will have this as their game of the year and will want to shock the world to put their program on the Map. There is the potential for this game to be a trap like OSU was last year for SC coming off of another beatdown of OSU.
The only thing that worries me is that there is some bad blood between Carroll and Sark as Carroll didn't like that Sark came after his assistants and some of his recruits. Also Sark mentioned to some recruits that SC would be going on probation soon and that had to have ticked Carroll off. When Carroll doesn't like someone he usually runs it up on them. We will see what happens, but I am very interested in this line.

Forget the bad feelings between the two, there is none.

Sark will do well at UW and will get that program back on track very soon, he is a very good coach who has assembled a good staff, that will in time, will make better than it is today.

I'm not going to bet this game, as Jake Locker has given USC fits in the two games he's played them, he is that good.



"Also Sark mentioned to some recruits that SC would be going on probation soon and that had to have ticked Carroll off."

Thanks for the stupid comment, but Sark wouldn't, nor he doesn't need to do this to get recruits for his program. If you have a source, other than the internet BS, please provide the link or source. I'm betting you don't have one.

 

[Conan]

OK OK I'm on board with all you crazies!

It's official. UW's on a roll with Sark's brand of enthusiasm and I don't think the Vandals will be able to do a damn thing about Locker. His throwing accuracy also impressed me in the last game. I also think Polk will have himself a good game rushing the ball. It's like a men vs boys thing and I don't see any reason why Sarkisian won't keep his foot to the floor for 3 quarters at least. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see Udub put up 40-50 points. Idaho will be lucky to score 2 TD's. I'm betting the pups in a walk. The only reason for any hesitation before was getting used to the idea of UW laying 3 TD's. But it's much harder for me to wrap my mind around the idea of the Vandals staying with the Huskies whatsoever.

UW-21/Idaho*

(I could have gotten 20½ but it don't matter)

Also, keep an eye on Stanford @ Wake. The line is up to 3. Give me another half point or point and I will take a shot on the Cardinal taking it SU (??) Nah, the points are the way to go in case of a close game. Love that Cardinal OL! They are awesome!

 

[AlwaysKeen]

good stuff conan...