When the preseason polls came out, USC was not number one. Then, they went down to Charlottesville and put a hurtin’ on Virginia, 52-7. Result: Resoundingly No. 1 in both polls. Mark Sanchez and the Trojans looked so dominant that everyone immediately assumed this is by far the best team in the nation.
But what did Pete Carroll’s squad really do?
The perception is that USC annihilated a respectable BCS-conference foe on the road, while everyone else was beating FCS teams by a similar margin.
First of all, anyone who knows anything about college football knows that Virginia is one of the worst, weakest teams in the land right now. The Cavaliers snuck into a New Year’s Day bowl game last season by the skin of their ACC garbage-laden teeth on the “strength” of about five heaven-sent one-point victories.
Last year’s team featured Howie Long’s son Chris, a masterful DE who ended up a Top 5 NFL draft pick. This year’s team features, well, nobody that would even get drafted by a Chinese League football team.
Most experts who actually research and watch football agree that Virginia is one of the worst—if not THE worst—team in the ACC. The ACC. The worst in the ACC. And, as we know, that conference is softer than Roseanne Barr’s flabby, taco-stuffed stomach.
Virginia went out and showed the world what they’re made of the following week, as they jumped up off the mat and crushed FCS foe Richmond, 16-0. Sixteen whole points baby. Now there’s a respectable BCS-conference team right there!
So before you crown USC the Greatest Team on Earth, let’s see what they do against a team who can actually get a defensive lineman into the backfield in less than eight minutes.
19 comments Last one added 9 months ago — Leave a Comment
12 9 months ago
I'm just glad we don't have to play USC. They look like the #1 team in the country right now. That could change, but they look strong to me. I think they beat OSU handily Saturday.
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Gray Ghost 9 months ago
Thats what I'm talking about JB! Everyone is swooning over the win at Ol' Virginny, but they did't bring much to the table. They were just waiting until after the first game so that they could vote them past my DAWGS. We'll see who's standing when the season is over. Good article!
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Justin Goar 9 months ago
can i get a mother freakin amen!!!!??
great job!!!
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Kristofer Green 9 months ago
you funny! LMAO!
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Kristofer Green 9 months ago
Great job! I've been saying all week that USC hasn't yet faced a team that hit back. I know Pete Carroll goes full contact in most of his practices, but teammates are not hitting eachother as hard as they can. OSU will hit them. Can't wait for the game!
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Robert 9 months ago
Thank you Jux.
Let's let them play more than one game before we crown them.
Yes, they looked good. But, that was against an overmatched team.
How do they not even play a game and still receive some of OSU's number 1 votes?
I'm pretty sure that Central Michigan is a better opponent than a bye week.
We're coming for that #1 spot!
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Scott Pusich 9 months ago
Virginia is no Youngstown State. Or Miami (FL). ;-)
I would think better of the Trojans if they had followed the smackdown of the Cavaliers with a home win against Ohio State--LAST weekend. As it is, they were out of sight, out of mind, and I have them at #2, below... Florida.
Some may think that Miami = Virginia, and I would say some are wrong. Miami kept it close partly due to the in-state rivalry factor, but Florida held in there and put the 'Canes away. I consider that (along with the win against an overmatched and June Jones-less Hawaii) equal to or better than the other top teams at this point in the season.
Of course, it could be as topsy-turvy as last season. No one apparently wanted to be #2!
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Nick The Only 9 months ago
True, the only team with a better resume is ECU.
Alabama has a solid win, too. But their struggles against Tulane are a concern.
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Doug Kraus 9 months ago
I agree. Beating up Virginia is no indicator of anything. Especially when you consider how long (Dirty) Sanchez played compared to other top ranked teams' first string QB's. I'm not saying Carroll ran the score up on purpose but he did leave Sanchez in the game to make sure he had the kinks worked out.
That said, I think we'll see a very, very good USC team on Saturday night. Hopefully just a notch "less good" than the Buckeyes.
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Nick The Only 9 months ago
Virginia was barely good enough to beat an FCS team.
The main reason Mark Sanchez looked so good was he had FOREVER to throw. I was watching college football live breakdown Sanchez's performance and it was remarkable how many BAD throws he made despite having no pressure at all.
The interception that he threw was thrown behind the receiver even though it was a less than a 10 yard route. He threw a slant that sailed high enough to get his receiver killed (if Virginia had anyone capable of a big hit). He threw several other balls that would have been picked by a good defense.
Its one thing to throw a few bad passes when you have defenders in your face, but Sanchez was just sitting pretty in the pocket and missing wide open receivers.
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Michael Bergman 9 months ago
true that man!
p.s. - interesting name. From one Berg to another, rock on!
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Gil HHH 9 months ago
You guys have to be kidding right? USC travelled from LA to VA and put a beat down on VA. USC has been great against non-conference foes and I doubt that anybody is going to put 52 on VA for the rest of the year. I admit that VA is not a good team but aside from USC how many top 10 teams have travelled on the road? The only exception might be Missouri who played on a neutral site. People mock USC and the PAC 10 but yet nobody outside of the PAC 10 can beat USC. I also remember a few years ago when USC put 50+ on AR and it turned out that they weren't so bad after all.
Do people really think that USC is a finesse team? They have some of the hardest hitters in the game and they play against one another in practice and people think OSU is going to scare them? C'on I think it's going to be the other way around b/c the OSU WRs will be scare to get the ball, Boeckman is going to be on the ground a lot; I don't think Tressel plays Pryor and Beanie will not beat USC. USC will win by 14 pts.
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Nick The Only 9 months ago
How do you explain Mark Sanchez looking so inaccurate at times despite having no pressure?
How is he going to react if the defense actually lays a hand on him?
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Mick Seyler 9 months ago
I am absolutely enjoying everyone giving OSU no chance in this game. Just a reminder, if the time comes for crow and coleslaw, OSU had to fly all the way to the west coast and get the job done.
Nice article Jux, Virginia does not equal mediocre. Not even close.
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Jeff Allen 9 months ago
I hope you're right, but I'm not nearly as confident as you. Nobody gave OSU much of a chance against LSU, either - we had a ton of motivation and a million reasons to play with a chip on our shoulder...and we still came up flat. I am not expecting a win at USC, but it won't shock me either.
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Austin Thomas 9 months ago
I couldn't agree more jux, great article my potd.
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Kevin Paul 9 months ago
Agreed - and people forget to point out the fact that Virginia played Richmond the following weekend - and only won that game 16-0. The Richmond Spiders... the football powerhouse that they are.
Anyway, I think this USC-OSU game should be interesting this weekend...
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Gil HHH 9 months ago
Youngstown St. lost to South Dakota State by 40-7.
USC by 14 pts.
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Jux Berg 9 months ago
Look at that, I was right. USC isnt invincible.
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