USC is really good. After two games columnists and talking heads across America have claimed that USC is unbeatable and will win the National Championship. One columnist even went as far as to say that he thinks this is Pete Carroll's best team in his USC tenure (please watch the hilarious video).After three weeks of the season, USC has climbed in the rankings to near unanimous number 1 in both polls.
While USC has looked unbeatable this season so far, there are teams out there that can hang with the Trojans. USC might get lucky and miss having to play some but it is always fun to project
Here are the teams that have the best chance to beat the Trojans:
- Oklahoma - Now I know I am going to sound like a total homer here but I believe the Sooners have the best chance to beat the Trojans. The Sooners dominated a lower team from a weaker conference in Washington while USC did likewise against Virginia. USC destroyed a top team from a weaker conference in Ohio St. at home while Oklahoma did the same against Cincinnati. Now I am not saying that Cincinnati and Ohio St are on the same level, maybe offensively, but still comparable. The Sooners are averaging 557 yards and 55 points per game. Defensively the Sooners haven't been slouches either, giving up only 14 points a game.
- Florida - The Gators have just as much speed as the Trojans do. The Gators defense has played tremendously well so far this season in allowing only 13 total points. I know it was against Hawaii and Miami (FL) but the Gators defense has the speed and experience to contain the Trojans. They also have this guy by the name of Tim Tebow, perhaps you have heard of him. If the Gators can make it through the SEC, they have a great chance to knock off the Trojans.
- Missouri -Along with Oklahoma, no one has looked more impressive on offense than the Missouri Tigers. Chase Daniel is right there with Tim Tebow in the Heisman race and Jeremy Maclin is a star. Missouri is averaging 58 points and almost 600 yards per game this season. One big thing that will hold the Tigers back will be the defense. Any defense that make Juice Williams look like an amazing passer, will get torched by a Quarterback the caliber of Mark Sanchez.
- Georgia - The Bulldogs are right up there with Florida as the class of the SEC. They have the offensive fire power with Matt Stafford and Knowshon Moreno, even though they didn't show it last week against South Carolina. Defensively they have allowed only 15 points per game this season, and not to mention they are in the SEC so speed would not be an issue against the Trojans. The thing holding the Bulldogs back is the schedule. As of today, Georgia has 4 games against top 10 teams, and if they were to somehow make it through that schedule unscathed, then there is a rematch against LSU or Auburn in the SEC title game.
- USC - Yes, I know the Trojans don't play themselves, but since 2006, USC has dropped a game in conference to an unranked foe. Oregon St. & UCLA in 2006 and Stanford last season. The Trojans have shown in the Pete Carroll era that they have the tendency to look past or just plain not show up for games against the lower teams in the Pac 10. The Trojans will have to avoid that or they may be on the outside looking in at the National Championship picture this season.
My original National Championship game prediction before the season started was Oklahoma vs. Florida, but the way that USC has played in these two games, USC most certainly looks like they are the team to beat this season.
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