USC / Stanford

[ripper]

Looking Back at Cal

Carroll said the Cal game film review has been a bit surprising.

"The game we saw was different on both sides of the ball" from what might have been expected.

Translation: The offense played better than it looked and better than its results. The defense played as hard as it seemed that it had, but maybe not as well.

"Mark played the game we wanted him to play," Carroll said of a decision to go very conservative on Cal's ballhawking secondary and not throw the ball down the field. (KEY TIP)
And those 18 penalty calls on the two teams, Carroll said, were called closely -- and correctly.

"They called everything in this game -- and every play was correct."


Regardless of what Carrol said about the BCS, and the nonimportance of scoring “style points” I think this game will serve notice that USC can play offense. I fully expect that USC will get the passing game on track this week.
Stanford’s offensive strength is the run which doesn't bode well for them. This plays right into the strength of USC's Defense, which should not have a problem shutting down the run game, and at some point will force Pritchard into making costly mistakes.

I could be dead wrong, but with 3 remaining games to go, this is a great opportunity to display what USC has to offer offensively, with revenge to boot.



I will be at this game to hopefully witness the slaughter!


GL what ever you decide,

RIPPER

 

[isellgel]

when i saw this line i kinda laughed as Cards are going to PAY for the upset. Everyone here always talks about the 41 point favorite who lost to the lowly underdog!
i've both play this year, can see a 28-0 or 35-3 game just like Az st. game. Stanford is so 1-dimensional, it will be very easy to take away the run and force Cards to pass which get ugly fast.

enjoy the game, hear that new stadium is very nice.

 

[ripper]

isellgel,
I usually go to the USC games when they are in town as they alternate between CAL & Stanford every other year. Should be fun for the USC side this time around.

Yes the stadium is very nice compared to what they had (been there once since the renovation). Parking is free and never a problem. Where the parking and distance for Cal games can be quite a challenge.., But, it is Berkley.

ENJOY!

 

[5-0SAT]

Stanford + the number is very solid play for me this week. Look at tommy trojan on the road against conference teams that have a pulse (ie: excluding wash st).

Outright Loss to Oregon State in Corvallis
7 point nail biter in Tucson

bottomline: tommy trojan does not blow teams out on the road in conference play with teams that have a pulse. Really wouldn't be shocked to see Stanford win outright, and I'm being dead serious.

 

[Conan]

I like Stanford too but really man, it took 5 Booty picks in the last game to put Stanford in a position to win. I seriously doubt Sanchez will duplicate that feat.

 

[5-0SAT]

it's simply not the usc team we've come to know and love or hate the last couple of years. hands down best talent in America 4 sure at USC. (best athletes goes to Oklahoma). Something isn't clicking right now, too many points for a team that has proven to struggle and make mistakes on the road. I will wait until late friday or early saturday to get maximum value because we both know the line will only move in our favor.

 

[June_Jones]

(best athletes goes to Oklahoma)

especially on defense :missingte:missingte:missingte

 

[nd2000]

Stanford won't break double digits on offense. If Sanchez plays well, this will be an absolute blowout.

 

[ripper]

Certainly scoring averages don’t support the USC side, but I really like the situational angle on this play and the way they match up. Initially I had reservations on whether this would be just an action or regular play for me. If my intuition is right, USC is the side. Got on early at - 22.5 points.



NOTES, QUOTES
SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: Coach Pete Carroll admitted last week that he didn't want quarterback Mark Sanchez to force the issue downfield and risk interceptions against Cal. USC can afford to play it conservatively because its terrific defense can do the rest, but the Trojans aren't racking up the style points that could push them higher in the polls. Maybe this will be the week to take some shots because Stanford's defense is geared to stop the run and ranks last in the Pac-10 in pass defense (248.3 yards allowed per game).

SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: The national leader in scoring defense (6.7 points per game) and total defense (206.4 yards per game), the Trojans have allowed only one touchdown in the past five games, and it's nearly impossible to sustain a long drive against these guys. Stanford's strategy is to use its power running attack to control the game, but USC should be up for the challenge. Since the Cardinal doesn't possess much of a threat in the passing game, the Trojans -- and their terrific linebackers -- can really focus on stopping RBs Toby Gerhart and Anthony Kimble.



Defense wins championships. With that in mind, my top two ballclubs would be USC and Florida. Unless there are a series of top ranked losses, USC must win out in impressive fashion to have a shot at this.

 

[Conan]

Gerhart has a hammy. He's not feeling too good. He's 1/2 their offense.

 

[5-0SAT]

Gerhart has a hammy. He's not feeling too good. He's 1/2 their offense.

very true, let's hope he starts. gametime decision. cmon coach, put him in their for senior game.

 

[ripper]

Gerhart has a hammy. He's not feeling too good. He's 1/2 their offense.

Thanks for the info..Finally found it on Scout.com:


On the Other Hand:
Stanford’s best player, running back Toby Gerhart, is hurt and will either be out or will play without being nearly 100%. When you’re a big underdog, you can’t afford that sort of bad break. What makes it much worse is that USC can really move the ball through the air, and Stanford is awful at defending the pass. USC will try to do the same thing to Stanford as they did to Virginia and Ohio St, and it’s tough to say that the Cardinal D can stop it if the Trojans are hot.

 

[5-0SAT]

Stanford + the number is very solid play for me this week. Look at tommy trojan on the road against conference teams that have a pulse (ie: excluding wash st).

Outright Loss to Oregon State in Corvallis
7 point nail biter in Tucson

bottomline: tommy trojan does not blow teams out on the road in conference play with teams that have a pulse. Really wouldn't be shocked to see Stanford win outright, and I'm being dead serious.

ope:ope:


Go Stanford... nice early showing!!!