Southern Cal Far From Terrible
Southern Cal Far From Terrible
USC is terrible. I don't think we are particularly great, but I like us in a rout. I don't get where any level of concern about this game would come from.
Terrible? They are 3-2. Sagarin ranks them as his #35 Team, one slot behind Michigan and two slots behind ND.
They lost to WSU by a FG while Sagarin says they should beat the Cougars by a FG. A 3 pt spread either way. What should have been a close game and was. The Cougars aren't a 2-10 this year.
They also lost to ASU, a 4 point favorite, in a game that was close until sometime in the 3rd Q when ASU put up to quick scores, one via a turnover, to open up a 2 TD lead. USC ended up losing by 21 and Kiffin got left in the parking lot, making USC a better team by subtraction. Sagarin would make ASU a 7 pt favorite today.
TYes, they're hurt by sanctions and injuries but still have an incredible array of talent. And without Kiffin's temper tantrums, they probably are a better team than they were.
How much disarray USC is will be demonstrated Thursday night when they play Arizona. Vegas has USC a 5.5 favorite while Sagarin would make USC a 2.5 to 3 point favorite.
As of today,
Sagarin would have ND a point 0.09 favorite over USC on a neutral field. ND would get 4.28 for Home Field Advantage, so make ND a 5 pt favorite.
Sagarin 10/5 Predicator Ratings
10 OU 86.86
13 ASU 85.04
25 UAZ 80.20
26 USU 79.83
33 ND 78.77
34 UM 78.76
35 USC 78.68
42 WSU 76.38