ORE-GONE! Marcus Mariota and the high-powered Oregon offense will earn a convincing victory over Matt Barkley and the underachieving USC Trojans on Saturday. (Getty Images)
Our 75 spoilers are better than your 85 undefeated scholarship players. That’s what’s left for USC this season.
The program that audaciously boasted that in this, its last year of NCAA sanctions dating back to the Reggie Bush era, it would win the national championship — unfinished business as QB Matt Barkley said when he announced he was returning for his senior season — has been reduced to the role of spoiler.
Not even the best writers in Hollywood can spin this into a Men of Troy feel good ending.
The Trojans, having already suffered their annual loss to Stanford, got stunned at Arizona last week. They have two Pac-12 losses and their defense is closer to a Big 12 defense than an SEC defense. Much closer.
USC does have the best receiving tandem in the land, maybe in the history of college football. And Barkley is a superior quarterback although his play this season have left many questioning if he’s in the same class as Andrew Luck.
The Ducks are unbeaten and their offense scores quicker than Nike churns out new sneakers. The defense is the best Chip Kelly has had.
But Oregon has its sights beyond the Pac-12 title. While the Trojans rattled their saber the Ducks quietly went about the business of finding a quarterback to replace the departed Darron Thomas. Marcus Mariota has made the transition seamlessly.
Oregon, fourth in the BCS rankings, needs this game to close the gap, if not overtake Notre Dame and/or Kansas State. The Irish won’t benefit much from beating Pittsburgh. The Wildcats will get a little more of a boost by beating Oklahoma State.
This is Oregon’s week to make its statement, just as the Irish took advantage of their opportunity last week with a 30-13 smothering at Oklahoma.
If the BCS is a beauty contest, Oregon has reached the only part most red-blooded American males pay any attention to — the swimsuit competition.
One never knows what the Ducks will come out wearing but they’ll look good. And then they’ll win the talent portion of the competition with a convincing win at USC.
We’re taking the Ducks -8, hoping Kelly is smart enough to quadruple team Marqise Lee, the one player who can change the game.
Virginia Tech (-1 1/2 ) over MIAMI: The Hokies have long been the one program that never feared the ’Canes. What’s to fear this season?
Washington (+4) over CALIFORNIA: Key game for Steve Sarkisian. After knocking Oregon State from the ranks of the undefeated he needs to show his team won’t suffer the coaching nightmare letdown.
FLORIDA (-17) over Missouri: Angry Gators believe they beat themselves last week against Georgia. Terrified Tigers fear going on the road in the SEC.
IOWA STATE (+11) over Oklahoma: I am so proud to pick the Cyclones and coach Paul Rhodes, who already has an upset of Nebraska on his resumé.
MISSISSIPPI ST. (+6 1/2 ) over Texas A&M: Alabama made the Bulldogs sit. Alabama does that to most teams. The Aggies win behind Johnny Manziel but don’t cover.
Syracuse (+4 1/2) over CINCINNATI: The most impressive attribute Doug Marrone has instilled in the Orange is this: They don’t quit. Bearcats reeling from loss at Toledo.
WEST VIRGINIA (-6 1/2) over TCU: Mountaineers face the only solid defensive team in the Big 12. TCU also is the league’s worst offensive team since QB Casey Paschall left the team with substance abuse issues.
NOTRE DAME (-16 1/2) over Pittsburgh: Pitt is successful when it can run the ball. No one puts baby in the corner and no one runs on the Irish.
GEORGIA (-14) over Mississippi: Dawgs right back in the SEC East hunt.
TEXAS TECH (-7 1/2) over Texas: Red Raiders can score. Texas has a great logo and terrific mascot. Do you believe that’s the best we can offer up for Texas?
Nebraska (-1 1/2) over MICHIGAN STATE: Breaking our policy of picking Bo Pelini two weeks in a row. It paid off last week.
Alabama (-9 1/2) over LSU: We broke our policy of never betting against Nick Saban last week and it cost us. It’s a huge line considering how good LSU’s defense is. And the home field. But we would take the Tide if the game was being played in Les Miles’ backyard.
KANSAS STATE (-9 1/2) over Oklahoma State: The Wildcats are the Chinese water torture of college football. They drip, drip, drip on you until you break.
OREGON STATE (-4 1/2) over Arizona State: Beavers bounce back from the Washington upset.
BEST BETS: Florida, Notre Dame, Georgia.
LAST WEEK: 5-10 overall, 2-1 Best Bets