Can USC crack the top 10 of the coaches’ or Associated Press Top 25 polls?
I would say no but given the high-profile of USC and the hype surrounding Lincoln Riley, nothing would surprise me.
I think it’s always worth looking at the schedule when you rank a team in the preseason. Who will USC be an underdog against? Utah. Who else? UCLA or Notre Dame? That’s not a sure thing.
So I might rank USC a little higher based on a very favorable schedule.
There are still legitimate questions about the offensive line, defensive line and Donte Williams’ coaching of the cornerbacks. Plus the punter situation.
But for voters, they will see USC and Lincoln Riley, so a top 10-ranking might just happen.
InsideUSC with Scott Wolf 
If they base it on wins and loses, then of course USC could be ranked in the top ten. If they go by the strength of schedule, then no way they’ll crack the top 25.
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They’ll crack the top 25 either way
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If they don’t land in the top 25 in the polls, I would brand this year as a disaster.
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Top 25 certainly
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Play Utah earlier in the season. By the time USC plays ND and UCLA late in the season, they will gel and win those games. Maybe they play Utah again in P12 Championship game which they should win at neutral site. This cancels out possible prior loss to Utah and USC gets into the CFP.
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If Utah beats them in the first game then I will definitely pick SC in the 2nd game. When you have 2 pretty evenly matched teams playing two games, If you are a sports better, you usually pick the team that lost the first game to win the 2nd game. It is really hard for a team to beat another team that is fairly equal to them twice in a row.
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LFOL!
Cue: “Wishing and Hoping”
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USC HAS to stay healthy. The depth issues will come to life the last two games of the season. Stay healthy and I can see winning both.
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I just love that song —nobody sings it better than the Chipper in his tight pink dress….
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I’m replying to my friend, Mister Owns…
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It’s all about the Culture.
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I will check the rankings in late November, and get back to you.
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Awh –leave reality outta this, John…
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You’re right, Michael, I have been a sheep lately– baaaaad!
(I stole that beauty from George Tirebiter)
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LOL!!
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LJ,
I was going to say it does not matter where SC starts. They could start at 133 in the rankings. All that matters is that they go undefeated and beat who ever in the Pac 12 championship and get in the play offs.
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Amen, PT, or as Vin Scully did after the 1988 Kirk Gibson home run,
nothing further need be said.
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Everyone talks about the Utah game, but the surprise team and early tough game will be against Oregon State in Corvallis. Oregon State is as good as anybody this year in the conference especially while playing at home.
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I pick SC to beat OSU especially since they were trounced last year by the Beavers.
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Very logical (I think)
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I agree, Tommy, and I’ve been saying the same thing since the schedule came out. That will be a tough early test against a rising team with a very good coach.
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My guess is 12th!
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If I had to bet money on each game in 2022, the only one that I would bet against SC is Utah.
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Don’t forget that in games SC is favored you would have to give up points to even the bet, and that is why it is hard to win consistently
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ugh,itz so troo john,no ether teems got enny weeknissis,onley us,smdh
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Now I know I’m right….Why?….because Eddie Boy says so
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Utah’s leading WR is gone, they lost their two best OLs to NFL, and they lost two LBs to the NFL. Not to mention their defense giving up nearly 700 yards to Ohio State in their bowl game, and Stroud throwing 6 TD passes. They have speed deficiencies except perhaps at RB. I don’t see the top 10 ranking for the Utes.
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Every year we sit here and read about how each team did last year when in fact last year doesn’t mean shit. Players leave, graduate, get hurt, and when a star moves on it leaves a hole that the rest of the team needs to cover. So every year each team is different than the previous season, and that is just college football. Sometimes they get better (USC) and sometimes they get worse (Utah). Give it a month and half and lets see where we are.
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We forget that Helton and the Heltonites from last year are all gone. They didn’t want to compete. This should be a much better disciplined team.
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It sounds like ’67 you ripped your Utah assessment straight out of Phil Steele’s 2022 CFB magazine.
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My Dear Friend, Owns —
Phil Steele: “My power ratings have the Utes going 12-0 –Utah is my pick to win the Pac 12 and be a playoff contender.”
#Close
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Sorry owns. I don’t need no stinkin’ Phil Steele magazine.
by the way, ucla is really playing some powerhouses in bowling green, ‘bama state, and southern ‘bama. Who knew there were so many institutions of higher education in that state?
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….wall to wall chapels of higher learning…Alabama is & always has been about scholarship & love of knowledge for its own sake…..
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The only thing Utah had over USC the last several years was –coaching….
#That’sOverNow
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Michael,
Don’t forget physicality. SC got beat like a steel drum on the lines and in tackling. That will be the entire point of the year, how physical will SC be? If they played like they did under Helton, forget about it. If they play like they did under Goux, then maybe they might have a chance.
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Yeah ’67, the last time Rice had a winning record Frank Ryan was their QB. And as usual, SUCC doesn’t play Oregon or Washington this year.
Cue: “Sleep Walk”
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HOW ARE YOU
MR
SC JUST OWNS MY LITTLE ASS. ????
I SEE YOU WANT SOME ATTENTION BRUBABE
WHY DONT YOOKLA GIRLS EVER BATHE OR SHAVE THEIR FACIAL HAIR ??
AND WHY DO YOOKLA MALES KISS EACH OTHER. ??
WITH TONGUE IN MOUTH !!
AND THE SAME FOR YOOKLA FEMALES ??
ALL YOOKLA STUDENTS SMELL LIKE CHIP KELLY
YEP JUST LIKE A DAY OLD TURD
OR A FRESH CHIP KELLY FART !!!!
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Tirebiter,
When you said that the Yookla girls smell like Chip Kelly, I thought you meant like his pus$$y, stank style smell.
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Just Rent,
Then take a bus to Vegas and put your entire month’s unemployment check on SC against Rice. If you put down your $300 you get back $50 plus your $300. That will be your entire supply of Boone’s Farm for September.
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Five questions ahead of USC’s first fall football camp under Lincoln Riley
https://sports.yahoo.com/five-questions-ahead-uscs-first-160452456.html
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JuJu Smith Schuster said to be looking very good in Chiefs camp. Ronald Jones currently 5th in the RB rotation and may be traded or cut.
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Would love for Rams to pick up Ronald Jones as they need more depth as well a Trojan on their team.
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YEAH I THOUGHT ROJO PLAYED PRETTY WELL LAST YEAR WHEN HE WAS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE HIM AS A RAM TOO
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Tirebiter,
Make him a Charger. They need a rb. Besides, the Chargers started in 1960 in the Coliseum.
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