So I am flipping around XM Radio....

[Bob Stoops]

First I am listening to Tim Brando and he and his guest are discussing the new Harris Poll and they get into a discussion about USC where Brando states, "They don't play anyone in the Top 15, there schedule is too easy."

Interesting I thought, so I flip over to ESPN and EriK Kuselias. He is listing his top 10 of which USC was number 1. But he goes on to say the USC schedule is a joke. "Where is a top notch team on this schedule? They will go undefeated and they will get in because they are USC." He went on to say"..save your east coast bias."

These are two national guys both saying the SC schedule is weak within one hour of each other. Please tell me again where the strength of the PAC 10 lies.

Scott, don't kill the messenger. Kuselias is taking calls right now, so call him up and make your case.

 

[Scott4USC]

I am not sure who EriK Kuselias is, but I do know who Brando is. He def. is bias to the south. He is from the south and he covers the SEC on CBS. But who cares. These retards have no ammo. You want to listen to someone on the radio who is intelligent? COLLIN COWHERD. Whether you agree or disagree with him, he supports his opinion. Usually with FACTS! That is an intelligent person. I hear Brando all the time and he usually just dishes his opinion out with no support.

From the looks of what you wrote, these guys are bagging on USC for not playing ranked opponents. Or opponents ranked in the top 15. Right there just shows their stupidity. Polls are based on wins/losses. NOT SOS, NOT Where a team plays. If team "A" played 4 straight home games against piss poor squads, then traveled on road and beat an average opponent, then lost on road to an elite school, they be 5-1. 4/6 games @home. I guarantee you they be ranked in the top 25 and prob. in the top 15. Maybe top 10. You need examples of this? THERE ARE MANY!

This is the way the top 25 works. WINS/LOSSES get you ranked. Not much focus (if any) where you play or who you play. WINS/LOSSES are the #1 criteria and everything else is secondary.

Funny he says throw out east coast bias. MAJORITY OF THE VOTERS ARE LOCATED IN THE EAST COAST! That is a fact! The greatest argument for East Coast bias is the Heisman Trophy. USC is the only freaking school out west that is respected nationally. Give me a break.

If he goes on the radio and backs up his opinion, then I will listen and start giving him more credibility. Any moron can give his or her opinion. An intelligent person backs it up! Remember that!

 

[THE KOD]

Best Offenses By Conference
1. Big Ten
2. Pac 10
3. SEC
4. ACC
5. Big 12
6. Big East
7. Mountain West
8. WAC
9. MAC
10. Conference USA
11. Independents
12. Sun Belt

 

[Sun Tzu]

Let's see - Cowherd is from Washington (state). Attended a Pac-10 school. Prior to joining ESPN Radio he worked the last several years in Porland, Oregon. HMMM I wonder where his biases lie.

And last I checked neither Tim Brando or much of anyone else either gets a petition on the internet to be fired less than 4 months on the job. But Cowherd managed that as well.

Yesterday he pulled a real dandy. He said that Vince Young sat out spring practice due to grades and then railed on him for 10 minutes about it. One minor problem - it isnt true. Legal action is possible.

http://www.petitiononline.com/firecc/petition.html

 

[gjn23]

the pac-10 as a conf gets no respect
thus the pac-10 schools schedules are considered "weak"

the sec get's way to much credit as a conf
thus the sec schools schedules are considered "strong"


@oregon, @asu, arizona , @nd

not an easy stretch...if a sec team had those 4 in succession people would be falling all over themselves about how STRONG of a schedule that was......but that involves 3-4 road games...never gonna happen in the sec.

 

[AU2001]

Let's see - Cowherd is from Washington (state). Attended a Pac-10 school. Prior to joining ESPN Radio he worked the last several years in Porland, Oregon. HMMM I wonder where his biases lie.

And last I checked neither Tim Brando or much of anyone else either gets a petition on the internet to be fired less than 4 months on the job. But Cowherd managed that as well.

Yesterday he pulled a real dandy. He said that Vince Young sat out spring practice due to grades and then railed on him for 10 minutes about it. One minor problem - it isnt true. Legal action is possible.

Ahhh...the truth. Nice info Sun.

 

[Sun Tzu]

Of course his 2 big bowl locks were AM over Tennessee and OU over USC. He really knows his stuff.

 

[gjn23]

i think most talking heads know very little about sports and even LESS about handicapping.

i love how most commentators (especially in college hoops) can talk about teams when in fact they rarely see any of these teams in action....tony kornheiser was the best....the guy NEVER watches sports, yet had a talk show on the radio, tv and a column.....classic.

off the top of my head:

andy katz and jay bilas are the best college hoops analysts

kirk herbstreet is a fairly knowledgeable college football analyst

 

[bjfinste]

I second the opinion on Katz. He's only an average writer, but from the guys I know that cover college sports (and I know a fairly decent number of them), Katz is pretty much universally regarded by them as an outstanding reporter with his contacts and the information he's able to get, as well with his work ethic. The guy really does know his stuff.

Plus he's a Badger alum, so I gotta give him some love.

 

[CWood97]

but that involves 3-4 road games...never gonna happen in the sec.

In a 7 week stretch Tennessee plays @ UF, @ LSU, vs UGA, @ Alabama and @ND.

UF, UGA and Alabama are ALL better than anyone on SC's schedule.

 

[The Judge]

Polls are based on wins/losses. NOT SOS, NOT Where a team plays.

The third component in the BCS formula is the team's strength of schedule. This component is calculated by determining the cumulative won/loss records of the team's opponents and the cumulative won/loss records of the teams' opponents' opponents. The formula is weighted two-third (66 2/3%) for the opponent's record and one-third (33 1/3%) for the opponents' opponents record.

 

[Scott4USC]

The Judge

I was strictly talking about the polls. Not the BCS.

 

[JCDunkDogs]

These media guys don't watch near as much football as the average bettor does. Remember, they have jobs on Saturday, while we hit the couch and channel surf the games.

 

[Scott4USC]

Fresno St.
UCLA
Arizona St.
CAL
ND
Oregon

ALL LEGIT TOUGH TEAMS! Exactly what I preached prior to the season. USC plays 4 of these teams on the road! :scared

Take a look at the pre-season top 15 and these 6 teams could easily beat or "compete" with most of them! Yet everyone harped that USC plays NOBODY and USC doesn't play anybody ranked in the top 10 or top 15. I told you all rankings are BOGUS! Too many people put too much emphasis on teams ranked in the top 25. It allows SEC honks to beat their chest but it is worthless IMO to determine SOS. I guarantee everyone here at MJ's Michigan and TN will be ranked pre-season top 10 next year as they always seem to be and Pac 10 teams won't be! LSU is now ranked #3 in the country and ASU is better than them. Or at the very least on par. I also guarantee next year people on MJ's will harp about how easy of a schedule USC plays. Happens every year! Every year these people are proven wrong. USC def. will finish the year with a top 30 SOS. Just like I predicted! Maybe top 15 SOS. Where are those posters who said USC's SOS will be EASY! ????

 

[The Judge]

Fresno St.
UCLA
Arizona St.
CAL
ND
Oregon

Half of those teams aleady have lost a game and we are not even into conference play yet. No way USC's schedule will be ranked in the Top 30 SOS.

 

[Scott4USC]

Half of those teams aleady have lost a game and we are not even into conference play yet. No way USC's schedule will be ranked in the Top 30 SOS.

All the teams listed are TOUGH teams. USC plays them all and plays 4 of them on the road. I guarantee USC finishes the season top 35 SOS. That was what I said prior to season and def. sticking with it.

 

[The Judge]

All the teams listed are TOUGH teams.

If Oregon is so tough, I guess you'll be taking the Ducks +20 this Saturday against USC?

I didn't think so.

 

[Scott4USC]

I said Oregon is a tough team. Did not say they were a great team. Oregon has the talent and skill level to compete with anybody in the country. NFL talent along with highly sophisticated passing attack. They are not a very good team because they don't have a strong defense (secondary) and they are not consistent on offense. Fix those 2 areas and Oregon is a legit top 10 team in the country. People might not realize it but it is true. Same thing with ASU. Give ASU USC's defense and DC and they are a legit top 5 team in the country. Hell, ASU outplayed the #3 team in the country LSU.

Playing these teams on the road makes them that much tougher!

BTW, I NEVER will bet against USC. I either bet on USC or a no play. If I think betting against USC is a good bet, I'll post it but won't play it. I also don't bet totals on USC games because that means I have to root for opponent and/or against USC. Never going to happen.

 

[The Judge]

Oregon has the talent and skill level to compete with anybody in the country.

Really?

They are not a very good team because they don't have a strong defense (secondary) and they are not consistent on offense.

Is it just me or do those two statements directly contradict each other?

Fix those 2 areas and Oregon is a legit top 10 team in the country.

Scott, I think that statement applies to half of the teams in the country. Give it a break.

Do you or do you not think that this "tough" Oregon team can hang within 20 points of your Trojans?

 

[Scott4USC]

USC, V-Tech, Texas, (LSU/ASU), maybe Florida, and I prob. forgetting a couple. Point is they are very good teams. Or you can categorize them as elite teams.

Offensively, Oregon has a great QB, great WR's, talented RB's, but an average OL. Defensively they have above average DL, and below average secondary. They are not consistent. You know what you are getting when you play USC etc. Oregon can be fantastic or flat.

I think Oregon is a tough team because they are tough to beat. It isn't easy to defend Oregon and beat them. Flipside, I don't think it is extremely difficult (unless their offense is clicking) to beat them. Therefore, I categorize them as a tough team. The WR corps of Oregon are almost as good as USC's! They don't have just 1 super talented WR, they have at least 3 that create matchup problems!

USC can beat any team in the country by 30+ pts if they are on their game. So it is very difficult for anyone to bet against USC. I think you can make a great case to bet Oregon +21 over USC! I initially leaned to taking Oregon but after looking at the #'s, I am now leaning to USC. Look for my write-up later and tell me what you think.