FOOTBALL

My USC-Arizona Pick

Do you want me to lie and say this game excites me?

USC is 3-3 and now comes the yearly exercise of wondering whether Arizona QB Khalil Tate will be good or bad tonight?

You could say the same thing about Arizona (and Arizona State). Once you put any expectations on them, they usually disappoint you.

It is a Pac-12 game, which means anything can happen. But Arizona’s defense seems to be a major liability. For the Wildcats to have any chance, either Tate needs to have the game of his life or backup Grant Gunnell needs to replace him and take apart USC’s young secondary.

It’s a lot to ask for even if USC has Genius Graham Harrell, who will be forced to play Markese Stepp, which is bad news for Arizona.

I’m taking USC, 41-27.

  • By the way, did you see Josh Imatorbhebhe catch a 29-yard TD pass for Illinois in its upset of No. 6-ranked Wisconsin? He could have stayed at USC and stood on the sideline and watched the Big 3 receivers play the whole game.

Defensive end Oluwole Betiku is also having a good season. USC could probably use him too with Christian Rector bothered by a sore ankle.

34 thoughts on “My USC-Arizona Pick”

  1. Everyone pretty much agrees that 60+ points will be scored tonight, if Tate goes off SC will lose, if Clancy Dumbass can contain him, a first, then SC wins

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    1. I predict Slovis getting slammed to the ground and separating his shoulder. Stepp will have his lungs explode after carrying the ball 28 times for 92 yards and 2 touchdowns. Southern Cal loses as Fink and 4th string QB throws 3 “pick 6′

      #whereartThouSears

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      1. Gee. That’s the first time in a very long time that someone has “predicted” serious physical injuries for our players….
        #Nice

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  2. SC has no defense. When every team in the last three years are running over 180 yards and passing over 300 yards. There is no defense. Why is it that I don’t care

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    1. pt —Do you say that cuz Brigham Young University NEVER scored 30 points before or after they scored 30 on us (and that includes a double overtime game)?

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  3. In that Illinois game, Brandon Peters was their starting QB, transfer from Michigan where former SC QB candidate Shea Patterson is the starter. Peters is 6’5″, 230 lbs. and looks NFL caliber.

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  4. None of these should be excioting , even if we win. Bottom line: we need a new head coach. If we keep missing that point we are enablers of incompetence. Picking things apart is useless. Keep an eye on the real target:. Helton must go!!!!!

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  5. Those Clownsters who believe U. Meyer will be the next bozo HFBC are, as I’ve often stated, delusional.

    Meyer has never claimed he was interested in the bozo job as he claimed recently, rudely out loud on Friday’s Colin Cowherd show, that he’s “absolutely interested” in the Cowboy HC position.

    #LOL

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    1. You certainly could be right about this, but there a couple of factors that militate the other way. Meyer isn’t dumb, and one suspects when he considers what the difference was between Saban and Carroll, and which of the two he is more temperamentally like, it would seem that he is much more a Saban/control personality type. And when one considers that the Cowboys job still means dealing with Jerry Jones and his tendency to meddle (to be fair, he at least wants to win, like Kroenke/Rams, unlike Spanos/Chargers)…so maybe it comes down to, if he returns to coaching, which of the two (USC administration vs. Jones) can convince him that they will let him have the total control he will insist on?

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      1. James — Meyer probably became “excited” about the Dallas thing after meeting with USC officials who spent 2 hours grilling him on domestic violence reporting requirements under California law.
        [Question: Did Cowherd ask Meyer if he’d be interested in the UCLA job?
        Or was he afraid Meyer might walk out?]…..

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      2. MG
        Right (although I hope not right on the USC admin. part)…I still think, with only circumstantial evidence and reasonable inferences to be drawn therein, he will be named the USC coach after the season ends…on UCLA – remember I’m the one who supported Owns after the opener at Cincinnati (I thought they were better than the score)…now that their QB is starting to get it…well, let’s hope a Meyer signing is in the offing and it will be immaterial…hope the team plays well tonight (rather, is given the opportunity!)…go Stepp and defensive players keeping Tate under control…

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      3. James —- Anyone who is watching carefully can see that UCLA (when and only when Dorian Thompson-Robinson is at QB) has the potential to be very dangerous—especially if they’re playing a team that can’t deal with (1) a mobile QB or (2) runners with the speed to go outside….
        #WhoDoWeKnowLikeThat?
        #Um,Bingo…..

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      5. James, Jones wants to win another SB before he passes. Meyer has the chops to make it so. The ‘Pokes can offer Meyer substantially more money and choice perks that bozo FB can’t.

        I personally love CFB, but for the CFB HC, there are inherent drawbacks.

        1) Your future is tied to the performance of still growing teenagers who think mainly with their junk.

        2) NCAA rules inhibit CFB practices, recruiting, and insist on scholastic eligibility. One could say the CFB coach is a Univ. FB nursemaid.

        3) The bozo booster activity and alcoholic fat cat meddling is a coach’s nightmare. And Meyer has to convince Folt and the BOT his reputation isn’t deserved. Good luck with that!

        4) Recruiting is a 24/7, 365-day problem. Often a CFB is blamed for poor recruiting that actually is the fault of NCAA or Univ. guidelines.

        As the ‘Pokes HFBC, Meyer will not be saddled with the above CFB problems, and I’m sure Meyer will insist on total NFL Draft supervision if Jones really wants to win that pre-death SB.

        The Cowboys is where Meyer belongs.

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      6. A lot of good points in that. And I suspect a la Jimmy Johnson he could do it. But need to cling to that lifesaver for the remainder of the season! Watching broadcast of OU-West Virginia today and they showed a fadeout to commercial of him looking down at the desk and I’m thinking “He’s already making notes for what he’s going to do on December 1st…” I tried to get through school on test days with such Calvin & Hobbes like thinking…

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      7. Mule,
        Every once in a blue moon you start to make some sense. Good thoughts.

        #Who’dYouPlagiarize?

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  6. Scottie notes: “Do you want me to lie and say this game excites me?”

    How many Pac-12 games would anyone get excited about over the course of a season? Colorado-Oregon State? Stanford – Arizona? The list goes on and on.

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      3. James —I would love to see Hilary put on a smart little Nancy Sinatra outfit and sing “Back in The USSR” on Jimmy’s Late Nite….
        #[IBetSheCouldReallyPutSomeEmotion…
        #[…IntoThoseLyricsAboutRussianGirlsLeavingOur’sBehind…]…

        Liked by 1 person

  7. Clay Helton never, ever has an easy win. It’s always some degree of ugly.

    USC prevails in a double OT thriller. USC makes a comeback just to send the game to OT.

    #FireHelton!

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  8. Amon-Ra St Brown’s dad was interviewed for the LA Times and was quoted….
    But while Harrell remains confident and Helton praises his coordinator’s adjustments, John Brown questions if the issue is more fundamental than systems or schemes.

    “We embrace competition,” Brown said, “and I’m not sure they embrace competition over there.”

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    1. Dude —It has to be hard for these parents who have worked their asses off to do ALL in their power to get their kids prepared for the BIG Show to watch the nonchalance of Helton and Company during practice & on game day….
      Baxter: “Wrong Jersey #?! I know these kids as people, not numbers!”
      #LoveToSeeIfHeCouldTellThatToAnyNFLCoach….AndLive….

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      1. That’s an excellent point. Jones is one of their fastest kids and hasn’t caught a ball. It’s like punishment for entering the portal. Kickoffs is all he does.

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  9. My prediction of the game: In a strange twist of fate, and a totally planned accident coach Helton will trip while running on to the Coliseum floor. People in the peristyle end of the field will wonder why the roar from the tunnel end is so deafening while Helton is trampled by ninety football players making their way to the bench.
    Coach Harrell will be placed on the field while Helton is taken to the press box . Sitting propped upright, hat on backwards, with a vacant stare and gaping mouth, left hand twitching involuntarily, Helton will be photographed at several angles through different filters for use later on this blog.
    Meanwhile with the elimination of Helton as the middleman, Harrell proves his assertion that he calls the plays has been only half truth. The plays were called they just weren’t related to the team. The offense turns into an unstoppable juggernaut and the defense finds a new purpose. With players playing at or near their ability the Trojans become a football team. The defense scores a pick six and it’s first fumble for a touchdown.
    In the press box Helton strings together a series of syllables that sounds almost like, “call time out.” Because this is neither prudent nor coherent , Helton’s boxmates ignore him. When what’s left of his left leg is brought to the booth, Helton manages to call a play through the headset. Unfortunately the headset is unplugged. Equally as unfortunate an assistant coach enters the booth with a fresh urn of coffee, which is accidentally bumped against Clay’s head. As Helton’s head pitches forward, several photographs are taken such will be used Monday with the headline, “Helton sleeps during game.”
    the game ends 55 to 17 in favor of USC. Helton is left in the booth no one knows what has become of him.
    Actually I’m stuck in Idywilld without PAC 12 channel so please feel free to keep me updated. I’ll settle for the pick six.

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  10. Since it was my second try, it was more of a chore than the first time (which disappeared mysteriously) The major change was omitting the name of the blog owner. I think there’s a program that counts the number of times it is used. Still when it formed in my mind I did get a chuckle or two.

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  11. Ariz coach…if that is what he is…has neutered Tate…
    if Rich Rod was still their coach they could have been a factor by now

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  12. Solid game was played and yet you find game not to your standards, well who cares, it was a win that’s all that counts. The team played good. Wishy washy commentary on you part.

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