The week after that circus, the feisty Trojans from Troy, Alabama come to town. They are well known throughout the South for near misses against good ACC and SEC teams, and they captured a big win over Oklahoma State in 2007. Troy runs the spread offense that gives Ohio State fits, and though former offensive coordinator and spread guru Tony Franklin has left for Auburn, his protégé Neal Brown is taking over and keeping complete continuity.
In a similar trap game scenario, Troy played Georgia to within 10 points the week after the Bulldogs played Florida. If Ohio State comes home fat and happy after a win in L.A., this game could be a lot closer of a contest than anyone thinks.
Why it May Not Matter: If Ohio State loses to USC, they will probably take it out on Troy in ugly fashion. While it's true that the Trojans played Georgia to within 10 points, it took a touchdown with five seconds left to keep that from being 17. Troy also lost senior QB Omar Haugabrook to graduation and star CB Leodis McKelvin to the NFL draft this offseason.
Ohio State is absolutely loaded on both sides of the ball, so it's a bit much to expect a Sun Belt Conference team to win in the Horseshoe no matter the circumstances.
PAC-10
The Game: USC at Washington State, October 18
Before: Arizona State
Why it Will be a Trap Game: Arizona State appears to be main contender in 2008 to end USC's hegemony in the Pac-10. QB Rudy Carpenter will be in his senior year, it's the second season under turnaround specialist Dennis Erickson, and the Sun Devils have seven returning starters on both sides of the ball. Given what Oregon has lost, ASU is the clear No. 2 in the conference this fall.
The week after that crucial game for USC comes a road match in Pullman, Washington. Washington State's team is a bit thin in the first year of the Paul Wulff regime, and he is installing a new offense and defense there. His no-huddle spread offense could be dangerous against USC if the Trojans are napping the week after a big game.
USC won by only six the last time it played at Washington State, and if the Trojans can lose to Stanford last year they can lose to anyone. If things click for the Cougars by mid-October, they could be dangerous in this game.
Why it May Not Matter: Did I mention Washington State's team is thin? It is, and it lost scholarships to Academic Progress Report-related penalties. Plus, there has been a rash of disciplinary and academic problems there. If injuries strike at all, they could torpedo the Cougars' season entirely. Besides, the new schemes may not have gelled by this point, severely limiting Washington State's chances in this game.
SEC
The Game: Florida at Arkansas, October 4
After: LSU
Why it Will be a Trap Game: Sandwiched for Florida between a road match at Tennessee and a home game with LSU sit two SEC West teams, each breaking in new coaches—Ole Miss with Houston Nutt and Arkansas with Bobby Petrino. It will be very tempting for the Gators to lump the two together as future threats, but nothing to speak of this season.
While that's true for Ole Miss, Arkansas is an intriguing team. Petrino immediately brings credibility as a coach who has won a BCS bowl game, and senior QB Casey Dick will finally get a chance to play in an offense that treats the pass as more than a novelty. Dick had a nice spring for the Hogs too, and they get a week off before hosting the Gators.
Florida's secondary was a disaster last year. Though Urban Meyer said it's the most improved part of the team, even if it's twice as good as 2007 it still won't be elite. Petrino's scheme gives Arkansas's passing game immediate credibility, and Dick won't have to play like an all-SEC quarterback to cause trouble if Florida is looking ahead to LSU.
Why it May Not Matter: It's not clear that Dick will have anyone to throw to, as every receiver on the Hogs' roster is a question mark. The player with the most receptions in 2007 coming back is TE Andrew Davie with 14.
There's also no guarantee that Dick can repeat his spring success against real defenses in game situations this fall. Florida's defense will be better, and its offense should better too. If UF takes this one seriously, the disparity of talent and skill on offense should allow the Gators to win, even if the defense doesn't show up.
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