What To Watch For: USC Edition
by Brian Floyd on Sep 25, 2010 12:03 AM PDT
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PrintYou know the drill. Below are a few storylines to keep an eye on. Just like last week, this will be your ESPN College Gameday thread and a place to discuss the morning games.
- Can the offense get in gear? Jeff noted the offense has been "sputtering" over the first quarter of the season. We know the strengths of the unit and we've seen USC get torched by Hawai'i. Will the offense get the ball out wide and use playmakers like Marquess Wilson? Will the Cougs continue to run into a brick wall by establishing the run? We should find out more today.
- How much has Jeff Tuel progressed? Tuel gets a shot at a pro-style defensive scheme in Monte Kiffin's Tampa 2. Again, we saw what Hawai'i's quarterback did at the line of scrimmage in the opener. If the offense is going to click, Tuel has to make his pre-snap reads and make adjustments. Linebackers playing way off? Gash them with a run up the middle. The Cougs know what they'll see tomorrow. It's up to Tuel to recognize the coverage and find the holes in the Tampa 2. There are holes to be found.
- Can the defense stop the run? USC averages 5.6 yards per carry. If the defense is going to hold up, they must stop the run. Against SMU and MSU -- well one quarter of SMU -- the defense dialed up the pressure and got after the quarterback. Today, they must be disciplined and control gaps. Run blitzes should help, but the Cougs need to make tackles again. In Dillon Baxter, C.J. Gable, Allen Bradford and Marc Tyler, USC has a four-headed running back that should keep Chris Ball awake at night. Stop the run and pray the pass defense holds up.
- Can the Cougs string together games? After a rough start at Oklahoma State and three quarters of near futility against MSU, the Cougs seem to have pulled it together lately. A rough third quarter doomed them at SMU, but they played sound football during the first half. Was that because SMU wasn't as good as we thought, or because WSU was improved? One thing is for sure, USC has elite-talent. How the Cougs stack up against the Trojans say a lot about where WSU is in their development
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SMU played tough last night
faded, but gave me a little hope
I'm glad there was not a whole lot of Coug fans at BSU.
I’d much rather have them at Martin Stadium.
CougCenter In Reid We Trust
Twitter!
Is anyone watching the Michigan/BGSU game?
Man, I turned it on to see Denard Robinson, and he’s injured. Apparently it’s not really serious, but it’s 21-0 to start the 2nd quarter, so Rich Rod is playing it safe and keeping him out.
Well they do have 10 completions
on the season
Just a LIIIIIIIIIIITLE different offense when he was there.
by Jeff Nusser on Sep 25, 2010 10:29 AM PDT up reply actions
Well it wasn't Paul Johnson's offense, but Reggie Ball was at QB.
it’s a wonder how Megatron got any offensive statistics
by Kyle Rancourt on Sep 25, 2010 10:31 AM PDT up reply actions
All they did was throw it up and he went and got it.
That was seriously their entire offensive attack.
by Jeff Nusser on Sep 25, 2010 10:36 AM PDT up reply actions
It reminded me of a HS team that has one D1 player.
Let’s just throw it to Calvin every play and see what happens
by Kyle Rancourt on Sep 25, 2010 10:37 AM PDT up reply actions
We've got Maryland-FIU on here.
Hello FIU.
by Brian Floyd on Sep 25, 2010 10:30 AM PDT up reply actions
Just flipped over to it.
What was the spread in this game? I actually think it was almost 20.
by Kyle Rancourt on Sep 25, 2010 10:32 AM PDT up reply actions
I also picked Oregon State to cover. They were going at +18.5
I really hope they beat Boise State. I think they’ll cover, but I have a bad feeling BSU will pull out the W.
I hate games like that.
The point spread isn’t big enough to really make a bet worth it. You’re basically betting straight up on a W or a L at that point. I mean, a FG sure, but there’s just not enough room for error for my tastes.
by Kyle Rancourt on Sep 25, 2010 10:42 AM PDT up reply actions
?
The point spread isn’t big enough to really make a bet worth it.
I don’t understand
First, I don't like betting on teams favored to win, but that's just because the payout is way less
For example:
So Stanford is 4.5 point favorites at Notre Dame. That means Stanford can still win, but they have to win by more than 4.5. So if they win by a FG, you still lose.
If Stanford was like 14.5 point favorites, I’d take Notre Dame and the points. At that point, you don’t need ND to win, you just need them to lose by 2 TDs or less.
I never like taking the team that is favored, and especially not when they’re only favored by 4.5. That’s a “stay away” game for me, as it could essentially go either way.
by Kyle Rancourt on Sep 25, 2010 10:49 AM PDT up reply actions
How is the payout less?
you pay juice to the sportsbook either way
So you get the same amount of winnings by betting on Alabama to beat Duke than you'd get on Wyoming to cover at Texas?
by Kyle Rancourt on Sep 25, 2010 10:57 AM PDT up reply actions
No
but we’re talking about the spread, not the money line. if you bet on a 14 point dog to cover the spread you get paid the same as you would by betting the 14 point favorite
Ok well I just re-read the whole subthread and I think I misread your comments initially
So nevermind. I think we’re talking about 2 different things.
by Kyle Rancourt on Sep 25, 2010 11:04 AM PDT up reply actions
Cougar Pride walk
now the Cougar Prowl. Kinda tough to create a tradition if you change the name isn’t it?
Maybe it needs a catchier name
Next week: the Pub Crawl!
Too early
Both in terms of the tradition, and the time this A.M. Give it time.
by Jeff Nusser on Sep 25, 2010 11:08 AM PDT up reply actions
Interesting...
Joe Houston is 1-for-3 on field goals, including 0-for-2 from beyond 34 yards.
Read more: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/09/25/1355840/its-trojans-turn-to-make-the-obligatory.html#ixzz10Z6BQ4vb
by displacedcoug on Sep 25, 2010 10:55 AM PDT up reply actions
This is either super awesome
or a terrible idea. I can’t figure out which.
(I’m leaning towards awesome)
by Kyle Rancourt on Sep 25, 2010 11:00 AM PDT up reply actions
It looked pretty slick
in the 2008 apple cup
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