A Trojan's Christmas List

With seven weeks in the books and eight to go, the USC football team is currently ranked 6 by the Associated Press and 4 by USA Today. And with a cream puff schedule left to be played, the Trojans will unfortunately have to rely on the missteps of other teams to have any hope at the title game. I know it's only October, but here are a few things I wouldn't mind Santa delivering a little earlier this year:

1) Texas loses to Missouri on Oct. 18.

After upsetting the top-ranked Sooners last week, Texas continues its minefield march this Saturday against the explosive Missouri Tigers. If Colt McCoy is able to lead his Longhorns passed the Tigers, the hard part of their journey will be over, as they will only have to contend with Oklahoma State, unproven Texas Tech, and middle-of-the-road Kansas (though we'll know what the Jayhawks are made of this weekend when they play Oklahoma, won't we?).

As it looks now, Missouri looks like our best hope to trip up the undefeated Longhorns, moving us one spot closer to the title game. And with the great Chase Daniel having been embarrassed last weekend by being picked off three times, he and his Tigers will be seeking redemption.

2) Alabama loses to LSU on Nov. 8.

Before Week 7, people were labeling LSU as the most overrated team in the top 5. I, however, will have to go with Alabama as the most overrated team in the top 5. Sure they toppled former #3 Georgia 41-30 in their matchup two weeks ago. But anyone who watched that game could easily question the legitimacy of that win.

Close to one of the worst halves of football Georgia could have played, they committed five penalities for 56 yards that resulted in Alabama scoring on all five drives (four touchdowns and a field goal) of the half. After starting their opening drive on their own 20 yard line, Alabama would never again start inside their own 35. In fact, two drives would open on Georgia's 48 and 33, as a result of a terrible punt and a Georgia fumble, respectively. Finally, Alabama quarterback John Parker Wilson was a startling deviation from his normal self, playing an almost perfect half. Wilson was 10-11 for 139 yards and a touchdown in the first half. All of these factors would contribute to Alabama building what proved to be an insurmountable 31-0 lead.

Without this win, Alabama would be just another team peering into the top 10. And if these two teams were to meet again, I highly doubt that fortune would hand the game to Bama on a silver platter the way she did three weeks ago. So fine, after getting shredded by Florida 21-51, LSU didn't deserve the hype they were getting either, but this is my Christmas list, and LSU is my best shot at beating Bama.

3) Penn State loses to Ohio State on Oct. 25.

No team in the top 5 scares me quite like Penn State. I don't understand how Joe Paterno is still able to walk, but he walks, and coaches his team to dominant victory after dominant victory. With its current ranking of 3 by both the Associated Press and USA Today, and with Ohio State (laughing out loud as I am typing) as its biggest test remaining on the schedule, Penn State is easily the team with the best chance at the title game.

I know, it's sad.

Ohio State, the #3 team to open the season, for a while couldn't even decide who to play as their quarterback. But with Pryor having started the last two games, I think it's safe to say that they have opted to go with their freshman. The replacement of Boeckman with Pryor means the added threat of a quick, mobile quarterback. Unfortunately, this also means the Ohio State passing game will take a hit. In his two starts against Wisconsin and Purdue, Pryor has averaged just 120.5 yards of passing offense, with no touchdowns.

And while Penn State has been dominating, Ohio State has been doing the exact opposite, barely squeeking by opponents. I know it's outlandish to even suggest Ohio State has a chance against Penn State, but again, this is my Christmas list, and Ohio State is my only hope...

4) Oklahoma loses to Oklahoma State on Nov. 29.

A loss last week to a strong Texas squad was not quite enough for the AP voters to rank Oklahoma beneath USC. Therefore, I will be wishing for one more loss on OU's part. With remaining games against Kansas, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma State, Oklahoma has most reason to worry about Oklahoma State. And with its impressive victory over Missouri last week, it looks like Oklahoma State will be my darkhorse to beat the Sooners in the final game of the season.

Of course, if I am granted my first three wishes, this wish won't be necessary, as a USC Oklahoma championship game will likely be the result. That and the fact that I honestly cannot see Oklahoma State being nearly as successful against Oklahoma as they were against Missouri. Oklahoma actually has a defense.

5) To get buff like Jae Pee.

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USC vs Ohio State: The Aftermath

Nice pants, Beanie.

The night before the big game, I’m told, students had already started camping outside the Coliseum, ensuring the best possible seat. USC vs. Ohio State: easily one of the most anticipated college football game in years. For the Buckeyes, this was more than just a game to win, it was a point to prove. After being humiliated in two consecutive BCS championship games, the Buckeyes had lost some respect in the college football world. Long considered one of the powerhouses in college football, Ohio State suddenly found it difficult to even remain in conversations discussing the best football programs in the country. Ridiculed for having spotless records as a result of laughable strengths of schedules, Jim Tressel decided to go in a different direction this year. Hoping to silence the critics and nonbelievers, Tressel boldly scheduled USC at the Coliseum. Perhaps Coach Tressel should have thought twice about what he was doing.


Already a 4 to 1 underdog, at least according to the general money line, Ohio State received some bad news just days before the game. Their best player and quite possibly their only hope at beating USC, Chris Wells, would be out of Saturday’s game due to lingering ankle injury. Instead, Coach Tressel would have to turn to freshman quarterback Terrelle ‘Chris Brown’ Pryor. It’s no surprise that the USC defense often struggles against quick, versatile quarterbacks, and the talented Pryor was no exception. His presence was felt immediately as he ate up chunks of yards, earning first downs that kept Ohio State in the ball game early on. When asked about the impact of Pryor in the first half, Pete Carroll casually shrugged it off as a few careless mistakes on behalf of the coaching staff. Sure enough, the effectiveness of Terrelle Pryor diminished in the second half as USC quickly put the game out of reach.

Before this season started, USC had plenty of questions that needed to be answered. Could Joe McKnight really be the second coming of Reggie Bush? Could Patrick Turner finally start living up to his expectations with a new, confident quarterback feeding him this year? Could Mark Sanchez avoid another John David Booty fiasco and bring back greatness to the USC quarterback position? Most, if not all, of these questions have been answered after last Saturday’s ravaging of Ohio State. Joe McKnight is making the steady transition from ‘flashes of greatness’ to just plain ‘greatness.’ And with his performance against the Buckeyes, Mark Sanchez has put his name in the same sentence as Sam Bradford, Chase Daniel, Chris Wells, and Knowshon Moreno for this year’s Heisman Trophy. Although if it were up to me, I would have handed the trophy to BRIGHAM Young quarterback Max Hall three days ago.

Just three weeks into the season, the Buckeyes’ football season is now over. Plummeting in the AP Top 25 to #13, Ohio State has notable matchups against #8 Wisconsin, #16 Penn State, and #22 Illinois left to be played. Even with convincing victories in these games, it won't be enough to reinsert Ohio State back into the national championship picture, especially with USC, Oklahoma, and Georgia guarding the top 3 spots. And with USC on the schedule again next year, it looks like Jim Tressel may have to wait two years before he can finally earn another undeserved trip to the BCS national championship game.

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