Interesting Phil Steele Rankings

[VolinArizona]

I still think USC is the most overrated team in the country this year and will be at the bottom end of the top 25

Yes, they have less talent (at least, experienced talent) than last year. However, their schedule is favorable as most, if not all, of their tough games are at home. I can also predict with a ton of confidence that they don't lose more than 2 games. Top 15 or Top 10 for sure. 0% chance they finish lower than 15th.

 

[vols kick balls]

Yes, they have less talent (at least, experienced talent) than last year. However, their schedule is favorable as most, if not all, of their tough games are at home. I can also predict with a ton of confidence that they don't lose more than 2 games. Top 15 or Top 10 for sure. 0% chance they finish lower than 15th.

they are going to lose to cal and maybe oregon

 

[VolinArizona]

they are going to lose to cal and maybe oregon

So you're saying 100% that Cal goes into USC's stadium and beats them? And possibly Oregon goes on the road to beat them too?

Every pre-season ranking has USC better than both of those teams. If USC played them on the road, I'd probably predict a loss in 1 of them. I know pre-season rankings mean little, but I trust them far more than you.

Why would a team who has 3 or 4 straight top 3 recruiting classes coupled with amazing coaches and total dominance for 2 1/2 years be underdogs AT HOME against 2 teams who aren't as talented?

 

[vols kick balls]

So you're saying 100% that Cal goes into USC's stadium and beats them? And possibly Oregon goes on the road to beat them too?

Every pre-season ranking has USC better than both of those teams. If USC played them on the road, I'd probably predict a loss in 1 of them. I know pre-season rankings mean little, but I trust them far more than you.

Why would a team who has 3 or 4 straight top 3 recruiting classes coupled with amazing coaches and total dominance for 2 1/2 years be underdogs AT HOME against 2 teams who aren't as talented?

USC wont be underdogs but they will lose to Cal and maybe Oregon. They just lost way to much talent.

 

[VolinArizona]

USC wont be underdogs but they will lose to Cal and maybe Oregon. They just lost way to much talent.

So you ARRRRRRRRRE saying 100% they lose to Cal, or you *think* they'll lose to Cal? I *think* and *predict* they go undefeated.

 

[vols kick balls]

they will lose atleast 2 of their last four games

 

[VolinArizona]

they will lose atleast 2 of their last four games

So, since you haven't directly answered my questions ... you are guaranteeing these things? Because stating "They will _____" is starting something as fact. Are you Nostradamus? I think if USC loses, it won't be at the end of the season when their "inexperienced" team has actually gained 8 games of experience, but earlier, say @ Arkansas or vs. Arizona State. Yes, those games, to me, seem like more difficult games due to their situation.

So, Ballstradamus, can you please tell us who wins each game this season? Kthx

 

[milohimself]

USC wont be underdogs but they will lose to Cal and maybe Oregon. They just lost way to much talent.

Did you pick up the Athlon magazine? Go to the section where they have the top 20 or 25 recruits (whatever the number is) by conference. Go to the Pac-10's section. Look at how many of them are going to USC. Now realize that USC has been doing this for quite some time.

USC may not win a national championship this year, and they may have lost two Heisman winners and a bevy of All-Americans. But believe me, they have the All-Americans to replace them. For my money, Pete Carroll is the best recruiter in all of college football. USC isn't going anywhere, people.

 

[VolinArizona]

Did you pick up the Athlon magazine? Go to the section where they have the top 20 or 25 recruits (whatever the number is) by conference. Go to the Pac-10's section. Look at how many of them are going to USC. Now realize that USC has been doing this for quite some time.

USC may not win a national championship this year, and they may have lost two Heisman winners and a bevy of All-Americans. But believe me, they have the All-Americans to replace them. For my money, Pete Carroll is the best recruiter in all of college football. USC isn't going anywhere, people.

Now I feel even more confident in my predictions.

Remember in 1998, we just lost our most statistically productive QB at Tennessee. We lost tons of talent, we were down on our luck. We win the NC.

As milo has said, losing talent is important, but it doesn't always end with a down season. People overuse the term "They don't rebuild, they reload." The only school in the NCAA that I can connect that phrase to is USC.

 

[vols kick balls]

So, since you haven't directly answered my questions ... you are guaranteeing these things? Because stating "They will _____" is starting something as fact. Are you Nostradamus? I think if USC loses, it won't be at the end of the season when their "inexperienced" team has actually gained 8 games of experience, but earlier, say @ Arkansas or vs. Arizona State. Yes, those games, to me, seem like more difficult games due to their situation.

So, Ballstradamus, can you please tell us who wins each game this season? Kthx

yes im friggin nostradamus. you are a f'n idiot. since when are people not allowed to make predictions. they will lose to cal, notre dame, maybe oregon. they will probably thrash arkansas. not sure about arizona state. dont know much about them.

 

[VolinArizona]

yes im friggin nostradamus. you are a f'n idiot. since when are people not allowed to make predictions. they will lose to cal, notre dame, maybe oregon. they will probably thrash arkansas. not sure about arizona state. dont know much about them.

Honestly, you just don't speak, nor type, very well.

Look at the differences:

Me - "I think USC finishes undefeated."

You - "They will lose to Cal."

Mine is a prediction, yours is a guarantee.

Sure, it's semantics, vocabulary, etc, but you speak and type so poorly that I'm pointing it out. Now you are guaranteeing that USC loses 2 home games, and possibly 3.

I'd still enjoy your guarantees for all the other games. I'm waiting with anticipation.

 

[OrangeSquare]

I'm not ballsy enough to pick it, but you wouldn't be able to knock me over with a feather if Arkansas beats USC in Arkansas this season.

For what it is worth, Steele has USC finishing 4th, TN finishing 12th, Cal finishing 16th and Oregon finishing 25th.

 

[VolinArizona]

I'm not ballsy enough to pick it, but you wouldn't be able to knock me over with a feather if Arkansas beats USC in Arkansas this season.

For what it is worth, Steele has USC finishing 4th, TN finishing 12th, Cal finishing 16th and Oregon finishing 25th.

My predicted records pre-bowl games for them:

USC 12-0
UTK 10-2
Cal 10-2
Oregon 7-5

 

[vols kick balls]

Honestly, you just don't speak, nor type, very well.

Look at the differences:

Me - "I think USC finishes undefeated."

You - "They will lose to Cal."

Mine is a prediction, yours is a guarantee.

Sure, it's semantics, vocabulary, etc, but you speak and type so poorly that I'm pointing it out. Now you are guaranteeing that USC loses 2 home games, and possibly 3.

I'd still enjoy your guarantees for all the other games. I'm waiting with anticipation.

oh man i used bad grammar. someone shoot me. you know what i mean.

what do you want me to do. make a prediction for every game for every team? those are the games i think USC will have trouble with

 

[VolinArizona]

oh man i used bad grammar. someone shoot me. you know what i mean.

what do you want me to do. make a prediction for every game for every team? those are the games i think USC will have trouble with

No, I didn't know what you meant. Your way of going about it is silly and kind of brash. As a sidenote, I'm somewhat of a nit, so forgive me for pointing it out, but how hard is it to add "I think" in front of something?

Anyway, I agree, USC will have to fight for victories against Cal, ND, and Oregon, as well as ASU, in my mind. You said they WILL lose to Cal. WILL.

Anyway, I'm confident my predictions are better than yours.

 

[OrangeSquare]

My predicted records pre-bowl games for them:

USC 12-0
UTK 10-2
Cal 10-2
Oregon 8-4

Not a bad pick, but I think USC loses to either Cal, Oregon or Notre Dame.

USC returns JUST 10 starters. They lost a ton of guys to the NFL and there is a chance that NCAA violations are on the way along with their QB problems with injuries and suspensions. Ofcourse, most of that will be sorted out by late season.

 

[vols kick balls]

No, I didn't know what you meant. Your way of going about it is silly and kind of brash. As a sidenote, I'm somewhat of a nit, so forgive me for pointing it out, but how hard is it to add "I think" in front of something?

Anyway, I agree, USC will have to fight for victories against Cal, ND, and Oregon, as well as ASU, in my mind. You said they WILL lose to Cal. WILL.

Anyway, I'm confident my predictions are better than yours.

i put they will because i think they will. i wouldnt be suprised if they beat either cal or nd but they wont beat both. they just have too many tough games there at the end.

 

[VolinArizona]

Not a bad pick, but I think USC loses to either Cal, Oregon or Notre Dame.

USC returns JUST 10 starters. They lost a ton of guys to the NFL and there is a chance that NCAA violations are on the way along with their QB problems with injuries and suspensions. Ofcourse, most of that will be sorted out by late season.

I can't disagree with those sentiments. They lost a ton of talent. A boatload. However, I am highly confident that the new starters will be ready. The violation possibility worries me more than the talent loss. And I stress that if inexperience is what we're worried about, the losses would probably happen earlier in the season, not after they have 8-10 games under their belts.

However, I do have Notre Dame being 11-0 going into Southern Cal 11-0 as ND's last game. ND might not be able to stop the USC offense ... again.

 

[Vol423]

I agree with VolinArizona that USC will definitely NOT lose two home games to both Cal and Oregon. Honestly, I think USC will win both of those games. As others have pointed out, NOBODY has recruited even close to as well as Pete Carroll over the past few years. His only problem in recruiting has been that he's had some 5 star recruits go elsewhere because they didn't like the fact that USC had already landed commitments from other 5 star recruits at their position and they didn't want the competition (AKA, Chris Simms syndrome). That is why Deshaun Jackson ended up at California. He didn't like the fact that Patrick Turner was committing to USC, which was Jackson's first choice, so he signed with California instead.

I also agree with VolinArizona that the biggest danger time for USC will be early in the season before many of their talented, but inexperienced players have had the time to gel. Arizona State could be a very dangerous game for them. I just don't think that Arkansas has the horses to compete with USC regardless of how many new starters USC will be playing in that game.

The USC/Notre Dame game could turn out to be another classic, but I think Notre Dame may very well take them this year.

 

[VolinArizona]

i put they will because i think they will. i wouldnt be suprised if they beat either cal or nd but they wont beat both. they just have too many tough games there at the end.

Yeah, it is a tough stretch, for sure.

However: W @ Oregon in 2005 by 32 points
W @ ND by 3
W @ Cal by 25
W v. UCLA by 47

Oregon, Cal, and UCLA probably didn't catch up to USC's talent or coaching to make up for the respective point losses AT HOME last season.

ND is the only team of those 4, IMO, whose talent has caught up by the points, if that makes sense. And in 2006, the game is at USC. Tough games for sure, and ND should be a toss up again, but I predict USC to come out on top. Good game to discuss though.

 

[OrangeSquare]

Reggie's not there to push the QB into the endzone though against ND this season.

That first game for USC at Arkansas is a land mine game. I'm telling you. If they aren't gelled as a team and ready to play, it could be a very very bad day for milo and the other Pac-10 fans.

How bad would it be for the Pac-10 to have thier top two teams lose on the same day to two teams that combined for a 9-13 record in 05.

It WON'T be a 70-17 outcome in Fayetteville this season.

 

[milohimself]

Now I feel even more confident in my predictions.

Remember in 1998, we just lost our most statistically productive QB at Tennessee. We lost tons of talent, we were down on our luck. We win the NC.

As milo has said, losing talent is important, but it doesn't always end with a down season. People overuse the term "They don't rebuild, they reload." The only school in the NCAA that I can connect that phrase to is USC.

Georgia also fits that bill, in my opinion.

yes im friggin nostradamus. you are a f'n idiot. since when are people not allowed to make predictions. they will lose to cal, notre dame, maybe oregon. they will probably thrash arkansas. not sure about arizona state. dont know much about them.

Arizona State is still up-and-coming in the Pac-10. ASU is probably the best passing team in the country over the last couple years, pretty much unstoppable through the air. Derek Hagan attributed largely to this, not to mention guys like the now-departed Andrew Walter, and the currently deepest QB spot in the coountry with Sam Keller and Rudy Carpenter. ASU is very, very good but stil has yet to put it together quite well enough to really contend for a Pac-10 title. USC has had their number, by the way.

Honestly, you just don't speak, nor type, very well.

Look at the differences:

Me - "I think USC finishes undefeated."

You - "They will lose to Cal."

Mine is a prediction, yours is a guarantee.

Sure, it's semantics, vocabulary, etc, but you speak and type so poorly that I'm pointing it out. Now you are guaranteeing that USC loses 2 home games, and possibly 3.

I'd still enjoy your guarantees for all the other games. I'm waiting with anticipation.

Yeah but there's also something to be said about the difference of making predictions and making statements.

My predicted records pre-bowl games for them:

USC 12-0
UTK 10-2
Cal 10-2
Oregon 7-5

Decent picks. I would give USC one loss and Tennessee 9 wins. Cal and Oregon are about on the money. That's unless Dennis Dixon is money. That, combined with a great offensive line and Jonathon Stewart... Oregon is looking at possibly having the best ground attack in D-IA in 2006.

Not a bad pick, but I think USC loses to either Cal, Oregon or Notre Dame.

USC returns JUST 10 starters. They lost a ton of guys to the NFL and there is a chance that NCAA violations are on the way along with their QB problems with injuries and suspensions. Ofcourse, most of that will be sorted out by late season.

Mark Sanchez returned to the team last I checked, and his problems should be cleared up by September and he, or JDB will be ready to roll. Other than that, if the NCAA stays sensible and realizes Reggie Bush's troubles involved USC in no way shape or form, the USC has no problem. The biggest thing I've heard about is recruits getting taken out to lunch or some such garbage. It ain't like Carroll is going SEC-style and running a professional football team.

 

[Vol423]

Reggie's not there to push the QB into the endzone though against ND this season.

That first game for USC at Arkansas is a land mine game. I'm telling you. If they aren't gelled as a team and ready to play, it could be a very very bad day for milo and the other Pac-10 fans.

How bad would it be for the Pac-10 to have thier top two teams lose on the same day to two teams that combined for a 9-13 record in 05.

It WON'T be a 70-17 outcome in Fayetteville this season.

The problem is that I don't even think that USC needs to have gelled as a team to beat Arkansas in the first game of the season. If you line up USC's players and compare them to Arkansas' players, USC has an edge in talent at the overwhelming majority of positions. As I said before, I just don't think that Arkansas has the horses to beat USC. I think that many people around here are picturing Arkansas as a great team this year, and I think they'll end up being an average team just like every other year.

 

[milohimself]

Yeah, it is a tough stretch, for sure.

However: W @ Oregon in 2005 by 32 points
W @ ND by 3
W @ Cal by 25
W v. UCLA by 47

Oregon, Cal, and UCLA probably didn't catch up to USC's talent or coaching to make up for the respective point losses AT HOME last season.

ND is the only team of those 4, IMO, whose talent has caught up by the points, if that makes sense. And in 2006, the game is at USC. Tough games for sure, and ND should be a toss up again, but I predict USC to come out on top. Good game to discuss though.

Notre Dame is getting a little too much run by the media. Journalists are all too eager to see the Domers rise again. The offense will be pretty durn good all around, but I ask you this: Where is the defense? Hm? I think ND gets another BCS bowl. But given who they play, and the needed improvement... Not quite there, yet.

 

[milohimself]

The problem is that I don't even think that USC needs to have gelled as a team to beat Arkansas in the first game of the season. If you line up USC's players and compare them to Arkansas' players, USC has an edge in talent at the overwhelming majority of positions. As I said before, I just don't think that Arkansas has the horses to beat USC. I think that many people around here are picturing Arkansas as a great team this year, and I think they'll end up being there normal, average team.

There ya go. In games where the talent differential is that overwhelming for one team, the team on top has to come out completely unmotivated for the upset to take place. USC just hasn't done that in years. Not once.