Predict these games now - USC/ND and OSU/Mich

[tread]

For ND/USC, I think NDs line was great yesterday and deserved better, and is definitely better than OSUs. Their passing game is infinitely better and the few times that Pryor actually threw a good ball, I think it showed that you can move the ball against USC. McKnight is an all-american and will be dangerous, but given the game is at ND I think you should expect a similar game out of Barkley where he is largely ineffective and the game will be too out of reach for a dramatic 4th qtr comeback since ND can actually score points.

OSU/Mich is a little cloudier, but again, game at Mich, and I'm so unimpressed with Terrelle Pryor as a QB, I think he continues to play like a spazz in big games and will end up making big mistakes. You can just see in his temperment that he is too emotional and overly intense. Forcier is the exact opposite and it would seem he will do better in a pressure situation. Michigan's D is obv a huge question mark, but given OSU's complete ineptitude at throwing the ball, being able to load up on the run makes the game much easier.

 

[ElTaino]

usc 19
nd 17

osu 28
mich 24

 

[fivestarjake]

both notre dame and michigan should be dogs and both will not only cover but win su.

 

[blackbox]

Usc 31-27 ohio st. 28-24

 

[goblue12]

Ohio State at Michigan will likely be OSU -7. Michigan might be improved, but let's not get ahead of ourselves.

Tough predicting a spread for USC at Notre Dame. Let's see what ND does the next two weeks against Michigan State and at Purdue - two games that they should win.

 

[PokerKingJim]

Don't really know what to think of Michigan. Their QB looks good but their D looks poor. Have to see how they play against the other Big Ten schools.

 

[FairWarning]

Charlie Weis teams are bad against the run, and cannot run for tough yards. He is also horrible at halftime adjustments and in-game decisions. Don't get me started about the play calling at the end of the game Saturday.

USC will dominate by running the ball.

 

[UMCanes239]

both notre dame and michigan should be dogs and both will not only cover but win su.

:think2:

 

[Conan]

I give Mich a chance.

They have another "Barkley" playing QB and they are playing this one in the Big House. RR will be studying OSU and the USC game from now until then. I assure you he will be doing that intensely. OSU threw the defensive book at USC... shot thier wad, pulled out all the stops. RR should have a lot easier time game planning with that info handy. Forcier is an amazing talent. Not just good but outstanding. I think they will do a decent job protecting him too... better than the Trojans could without the benefit of seeing OSU at their best.

 

[fivestarjake]

:think2:

both are probably going to be installed as underdogs that i feel can win su...better???

 

[bigtendominator]

I give Mich a chance.

They have another "Barkley" playing QB and they are playing this one in the Big House. RR will be studying OSU and the USC game from now until then. I assure you he will be doing that intensely. OSU threw the defensive book at USC... shot thier wad, pulled out all the stops. RR should have a lot easier time game planning with that info handy. Forcier is an amazing talent. Not just good but outstanding. I think they will do a decent job protecting him too... better than the Trojans could without the benefit of seeing OSU at their best.

Another Barkley, please. Forcier is so far ahead of Barkley at this stage it isn't even funny.

Also, USC just isn't that good this year and neither is OSU.

 

[IrishTim]

ND will lose by 14. OSU will win by 7 unless it's the same refs from last Saturday, in which case Michigan wins by 3.

 

[rickrock]

No Bitterness There, Tim!!!

:think2:

ND will lose by 14. OSU will win by 7 unless it's the same refs from last Saturday, in which case Michigan wins by 3.

I totally understand -- UM did get the better of the calls but ND had SO many chances to win the game. Fat Charlie is not the best tactician in the world. In the last possession, I give Fat Charlie a compliment. In his attempt to kill the clock, he actually did run the ball ONCE (!!!!!)on first down -- before deciding to go to the aerial circus on 2nd and 3rd down.:think2::think2::think2::think2::think2::think2::think2::think2::think2::think2::think2::think2::think2::think2:

While you can no longer drink the Lou Holtz Kool Aid, Tim, I still think your offense is prolific enough to give you some warm moments this year. Best regards, RickRock

 

[IrishTim]

:think2:

I totally understand -- UM did get the better of the calls but ND had SO many chances to win the game. Fat Charlie is not the best tactician in the world. In the last possession, I give Fat Charlie a compliment. In his attempt to kill the clock, he actually did run the ball ONCE (!!!!!)on first down -- before deciding to go to the aerial circus on 2nd and 3rd down.:think2::think2::think2::think2::think2::think2::think2::think2::think2::think2::think2::think2::think2::think2:

While you can no longer drink the Lou Holtz Kool Aid, Tim, I still think your offense is prolific enough to give you some warm moments this year. Best regards, RickRock

You're right, Rick. ND had plenty of chances to win and SHOULD have won in spite of the refs but there were countless calls the refs made that cost us the game. If someone really wants me to, I could list at least 5 off the top of my head. Never seen such one-sided bullshit in my life.

RE: Weis playcalling, he did run it on the first play of the possession and Armando got 13 yards but got hurt on the play. We then put in our fat piece of shit 4th/5th string HB who picked up 6 inches. We had no chance of getting the first by running with Hughes, especially w/ 8-9 guys in the box so he decided to throw the fade to Golden. While I disagree with this playcall (despite the blatant pass interference), I understand why he did it -- he was going for the win, as he knew our special teams/defense was not going to stop anyone. The throw on 3rd down was actually a good call, if Floyd wasn't hurt, he catches that ball for 12 yards, the clop keeps running and we have a new set of downs. But unfortunately Floyd got hurt on track around that piece of shit stadium and we had a true freshman running the route who turned around too late. Just one of about 2 dozen things that cost us the game. If one of those 25 things goes our way, we win.

 

[FairWarning]

Irish Tim - don't forget how Weis forgot to use the TE in the 4th qtr also.

 

[Conan]

Another Barkley, please. Forcier is so far ahead of Barkley at this stage it isn't even funny.

Also, USC just isn't that good this year and neither is OSU.

How far is far? You've hardly seen either of them in action. One big game for Barkley vs a mutha of a defense and you know Barkley? OK how much do you know Barkley?

You don't know anything. Nobody does unless they have been paying attention to what he says and what the people around him have been saying for months. And you hardly know what that is, much less what he has shown everyone that has watched and listened to him all along.

I'm not saying Forcier is less talented or any less in any way, but I don't think you have enough to go on to make any kind of judgment between them. Both of them are stellar freshmen QB's. They even went to HS within 50 miles of each other in So. Calif. I think you are splitting hairs.

 

[IrishTim]

Irish Tim - don't forget how Weis forgot to use the TE in the 4th qtr also.

Pisses me off as well. Insists on bombing the deep fades to double covered Floyd and Golden while Rudolph, one of our best weapons, is one on one in the middle of the field all day.

 

[SantaBarbaraTrojan]

Pisses me off as well. Insists on bombing the deep fades to double covered Floyd and Golden while Rudolph, one of our best weapons, is one on one in the middle of the field all day.

Is that a problem with Weis or is it a problem with Clausen locking onto a reciever and not going through his reads?

Watching Clausen, it looks to me he is still locking onto his main recievers to much.

 

[SantaBarbaraTrojan]

Another Barkley, please. Forcier is so far ahead of Barkley at this stage it isn't even funny.

Also, USC just isn't that good this year and neither is OSU.

Um, OK.