Learn more about future USC Trojan Matt Barkley. He will be playing QB
for the Trojans in 2010 and is exprected to start right out of the gate.
There isn't a satisfied Trojan fan on the planet at this moment.
They came very close to losing to another lower tier Pac-10 school on Saturday in Arizona.
Now they face a tremendous uphill climb up the BCS rankings if they want to make it to New Orleans.
The Trojans are ranked 14th in the latest standings.
A road they are not used to taking, but doing the math, it's still manageable for USC to head to New Orleans:
Here's how it happens:
USC MUST win out: Plus the following must occur to the teams in front of them.
13) Kansas:
They control their own destiny.
Win out and they will have enough of a resume for the computers to send them to NO.
One loss and they are done. At Colorado and Big12 Title game will be major obstacles. USC shouldn't worry so much here.
12) CAL:
It's tricky when talking about future opponents; USC has to beat them anyway and a two loss Cal won't go.
USC fans root for Cal versus everyone left except ASU in two weeks.
11) VTECH:
Remember the Hokies?
After scaring off the media by getting beat badly by LSU, the Hokies are rolling.
This team has the schedule to win out and may be a major hurdle for USC.
Trojans must root for VT over BC on 10/25 and hope for VT to trip up possibly at Virginia on 11/24.
10) OREGON:
Same scenario as Cal; Beat the Ducks and root for the Sun Devils in Eugene.
9) WEST VIRGINIA:
Would the Trojans jump the Mountaineers if they both win out?
I think so. Still wouldn't hurt to root for Rutgers in New Jersey on 10/27
8) ARIZONA STATE:
Kind of the wildcard here.
USC needs this team to be ranked as high as possible for their national television showdown on Thanksgiving.
If neither team loses until then, ASU will be ranked in the top five and probably number one.
A win for USC in Tempe will catapult the Trojans back in the drivers' seat.
ASU has the meat of their schedule coming up with games versus Cal, at Oregon and at UCLA before USC comes calling.
7) KENTUCKY:
This is where the SEC Championship hurts the SEC.
A two loss Kentucky team would not go over a one loss USC.
Can the Wildcats get thru games versus Florida, at Georgia, Tennessee and the title game?
Doubtful, if they do, USC won't leap frog these guys.
6) SOUTH CAROLINA:
The ole ball coach has the schedule to possibly run the table.
Trojans once again will be rooting for the Gators on the road. Before the Florida match up, the Gamecocks must go into Tennessee.
5) OKLAHOMA:
Virginia Tech/BC winner, LSU, Ohio State and the Sooners are the biggest speed bumps for USC.
OU will be favored by at least double digits in the remainder of the game they play.
The only exception may be when they travel down to Lubbock to take on the Red Raiders.
4) LSU:
Auburn will give them a game as will Nick Saban's squad in Tuscaloosa.
Louisiana Tech has no shot.
It's hard to find a spot where theses guys lose again. SEC title game?
3) BOSTON COLLEGE:
At VTech, Florida State, at Maryland, at Cincy, and Miami to close out the season.
We will find out if these boys are for real.
2) SOUTH FLORIDA:
Trojan fans will be turning into Rutgers fans.
Big game in Jersey!
Two years ago tell me that South Florida at Rutgers may determine the NCAA National Championship!!!
The Cinderella of football has six games remaining, with only one of them where they will be a double digit favorite.
1) OHIO STATE:
November 17th at Michigan. Win and they are going to New Orleans. No need to say anymore.
One side note before the power rankings:
Brady Leaf, Mark Sanchez , Danny Sullivan, Kyle Reed and Mcleod Bethel-Thompson are the names that may determine the PAC-10 conference.
How vital is a back-up quarterback? Ask Cal.
Kyle Reed showed he has the tools to be an All-American, but it's his experience that ultimately sealed the Bears' fate in Berkeley.
If Nate Longshore was playing would Cal be the top team in the nation?
How much does Arizona State trust Danny Sullivan?
The way Rudy Carpenter plays, it amazes me he hasn't suffered an injury severe enough to cost him substantial playing time.
Oregon has Brady Leaf, who started games last year.
PAC-10 POWER RANKINGS
1. OREGON 5-1: at Wash
Oregon crushed WSU; those are the kind of wins pollsters love.
Once again they are the media darlings and are being penciled in to play in a BCS game.
Prediction: OREGON 42 WASHINGTON 35
2. ASU: 7-0 vs. CAL 10/27
I've been touting their depth at RB all season long, and when 2nd and 3rd string RB's take runs 65+ yards or more, it shows they have 3 big time running backs.
That doesn't include former West L.A. College stud Jarrell Woods, who hasn't gotten involved yet.
How well will ASU respond to the injury to Ryan Torain?
The undisputed leader of the tailbacks will be out anywhere from one to four games.
3. CAL 5-1 at UCLA
The loss hurts and the way they lost hurts just as bad.
Take car of business the rest of the way and they will be OK.
Kyle Reed is going to be all Pac-10 one day.
Reed and Jahvid Best is a pretty sick backfield for years to come!
Prediction: CAL 38 UCLA 24
4. USC: 5-1 at Notre Dame
Goes to show you how important recruiting sill is for SC.
Injuries happen to everyone and you need the depth.
That's how Pete Carroll can keep getting five star players at every position.
USC 27 Notre Dame 10
5. UCLA: 4-2 vs CAL
Beat the Bears and they very well could be the favorites to be in the Rose Bowl.
3-0 in Pac-10 play, it's time for UCLA to turn it up and take that step.
6. OREGON STATE: 4-3 BYE
This team is still going to win 7 games.
Maybe more, they are a great team in the second half of the season. Cal found out just how good they are.
7. WASH: 2-4 vs. Oregon:
Test after test. These guys led ASU at the half before the ASU defense fired away.
The Husky defense worries me a little bit; they couldn't get much of a pass rush against ASU.
The same ASU that couldn't keep their QB off the ground against Stanford and Washington State!
8. ARIZONA: 2-5
Played well enough to win at USC but it's time for these guys to be consistent and show results.
They will pull off an upset or two here and there but it's going to be a major climb go get to a bowl.
Prediction: Arizona; 41 Stanford 24
9. STANFORD: 2-4 vs. ZONA
Heart-breaking loss to TCU. They had some momentum building.
Now they travel to Zona to take on a desperate Wildcat team. I think there will be a lot of points scored.
10. WSU 2-5 BYE
Down 40-0 at half to anyone is tough. Bye week will not be fun in Pullman.
SPORTS CENTRAL TOP 25:
1: OHIO STATE
2. OREGON
3. ARIZONA STATE
4. BOSTON COLLEGE
5. LSU
6. OKLAHOMA
7. SOUTH FLORIDA
8. CAL
9. WEST VIRGINIA
10. VIRGINA TECH
11. SOUTH CAROLINA
12. KENTUCKY
13. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
14. FLORIDA
15. KANSAS
16. MISSOURI
17. AUBURN
18. TEXAS TECH
19. CINCINNATI
20. TENNESSEE
21. TEXAS
22. HAWAII
23. BOISE STATE
24. ILLINOIS
25. RUTGERS
