I have heard that Fargas will not play. Don't know if it is true, I just heard it from a fellow alum who usually follows the team closely. Supposedly he is injured.
I am really trying to stay away from this game. I don't recall USC playing an SEC team in recent years so it is a tough call from that perspective. I also don't recall Auburn coming out west in recent years. I know USC has had a couple of nice early season wins vs. big conference opponents in the past, but they haven't gotten the job done in recent years in those situations.
One thing I worry about as far as the spread is concerned is USC's schedule. With a schedule like theirs, there is no incentive to blow a team out. If they finish 12-0 with non-conference wins over Auburn, Colorado, Notre Dame and Kansas State, they are in the Fiesta Bowl without question. Margin of victory won't mean crap with a schedule like that.
I also want to point out that I honestly believe that USC lines are always too high because there are too many wealthy alums that blindly bet USC every game for large sums (I must admit I've done just that in the past). This is also labor day weekend so if you believe action in Vegas drives lines at all, I would bet that there are a ton of USC alums from LA that were expected to come to Vegas and bet USC even if the line was as high as 7 or 8.
I am passing, obviously. I wouldn't bet against USC because expectations are just way higher than Auburn's expectations and often an early cross country trip is tough.
I am really trying to stay away from this game. I don't recall USC playing an SEC team in recent years so it is a tough call from that perspective. I also don't recall Auburn coming out west in recent years. I know USC has had a couple of nice early season wins vs. big conference opponents in the past, but they haven't gotten the job done in recent years in those situations.
One thing I worry about as far as the spread is concerned is USC's schedule. With a schedule like theirs, there is no incentive to blow a team out. If they finish 12-0 with non-conference wins over Auburn, Colorado, Notre Dame and Kansas State, they are in the Fiesta Bowl without question. Margin of victory won't mean crap with a schedule like that.
I also want to point out that I honestly believe that USC lines are always too high because there are too many wealthy alums that blindly bet USC every game for large sums (I must admit I've done just that in the past). This is also labor day weekend so if you believe action in Vegas drives lines at all, I would bet that there are a ton of USC alums from LA that were expected to come to Vegas and bet USC even if the line was as high as 7 or 8.
I am passing, obviously. I wouldn't bet against USC because expectations are just way higher than Auburn's expectations and often an early cross country trip is tough.
