Why is Southern Cal #3?

Why is Southern Cal #3

Speedblog

The Pac-10 is always looking to get respect from the so-called “East Coast Bias”, and with good reason. It’s hard to showcase your talent with a 3 hour time difference. Unless you are a really big college football fan, you are not likely going to be watching any Pac-10 games at 9pm or 10pm at night…or later.

And with Oregon losing to Boise State in the first week, some have turned a cold shoulder to the strength of the Pac-10. Either Boise State is THAT good…or the Pac-10 is THAT weak…or something in between.

So, is USC worthy of a #3 ranking?

Both major polls agree that USC is worthy of such a ranking, one of those polls giving the Trojans a first place vote. Mind you, this was a team that won 12 games, losing only one (to Oregon State).

Outside of that lone loss, nobody came close to USC. Not Ohio State, not Virginia, not Penn State, not Notre Dame, not California. This team dominated every team they had outside the Beavers, and won their bowl at the end of the year. If there is a knock, it would be in the quarterback, which will leave some questions when they get to serious conference play.

But are they truly worthy of that #3 ranking?

Mind you, I am writing this before they play Ohio State AT Ohio State, so the result of that game can be different. But to me, I believe that USC has every chance of taking the Pac-10 championship (too bad they don’t have a conference title game…they really do need one if the NCAA would allow teams under 12 to do so). The argument for Alabama is a good one but considering that Florida is in that conference, it is not that likely that BOTH will be in the BCS, will they?

I wonder a bit about the quarterback slot, I really think it can be a problem with a high profile team. Experience means everything folks, and that QB job is as tough as they come. We’ll see a lot from this youngster this weekend when they play Ohio State. Both teams realize a loss now might dump the season, but the good thing is that because it is so early there is time to come back.

I just don’t know if USC can go undefeated this year, not too confident in that, but I can’t argue their placement right now. With Oklahoma falling and Virginia Tech falling, lots of teams by default had to move up, why not the Trojans.

But they’ll have to earn that spot this weekend…we shall see.