Trojans' achilles heel?, Pay attention, Longhorns

Probably a bad analogy, since the Trojans in the Iliad killed Achilles, so I used a lower case a.

But you want to know where the USC team ranks in punt coverage among Div. 1 teams? Dead last, 117th, allowing 17.7 yds/return. This could be the difference between these 2 closer than you might think teams (USC avg. points/gm --> 50.9; Texas avg. points gm --> 50 -- USC had the #1 recruiting classes in the nation the last 2 yrs, Texas had the best class the yr before).

Note that USC took advantage very early in its last championship game vs Oklahoma by recovering a fumbled punt, & in the game that kept it closest against them in last yr's regular season, Cal's KEny MIxon lost a fum,bl;ed punt to the Trojans.

So, if 6-point underdog Texas doesn't lose a fumbled punt & manages to return a couple of SC punts after their defense holds them to 3-&-out, they could pull off the upset.

You wagerers should note that the line favoring SC in this game is as high as 8 & 1/2 points now in Vegas, & it could go higher.

Heh. "Read a book!"

(apologies to non-Tick fans)

It doesnt matter, UCLA had the best punt return average and USC had the worst punt return defense but it really was irrelevant since UCLA could not stop USC. USC has one of the better punters in the nation, everyone said Special Teams would play a huge role in the UCLA/USC game but USC just dominated every aspect of the game and I expect them to do the same versus Texas.

UCLA also had one of the worst defenses in the country, not one of the best.

Do you really think Texas is going to stop USC more than 3-4 times ? I doubt it. USC will put up 45 points and punt maybe 2-3 times.

USC - 45
Texas- 24

Sleeper, I want to believe you, but you also told us that UCLA would beat USC. I just can't accept your rationale as truth.

Im one of the bigger homers on the board... You really expected me to say USC was going to beat UCLA ?

As his attorney I advised Sleeper to cop a plea to the lesser offense, & it works. Not guilty -- no one expected him to say SC would win vs the Bruins. Yes you are one of the biggest homers, but we've seen a lot worse.

BUt it was apparent to me after 3-4 minutes of viewing that SC vs UCLA was a blowout so I watched another game So did about 75% of the national audience. But nobody stood a chance in SC's conference schedule this season, & the only major defense they faced was Notre Dame's & it came withing a muddy yd or so beating them. So they can be had.

But no extra credit for picking them over Texas. SC will probably win, but my heart is with the Horns on this one, & so should your $ with that exaggerated point spread, a byproduct of the overhype. Texas could cover it & you'd still win.

I'm just saying it will be a closer game than the 6-8.5-point spread would indicate (note the subtle intrusion of a sports wagering reference again -- aren't big point spreads in championship games a j/k ??)