fred flintstone

Both....but forced to choose.....a close loss to Georgia followed by a decisive win over Utah.......puts the Ducks in the playoffs......assuming the rest are W.

USC will be improved no doubt (how could anyone not be a better coach than Helton)........but over the years the preseason folks have tended to rate USC significantly better than their results. Wait and see.....

Jon.......why not be optimistic.......I am not trying to lock Lanning into a bad season.....if Oregon goes 10-2......that is a good season. I just don't see anyone on their schedule except Georgia that represents a better than even chance of beating them. Utah will be at home......and I suspect the offense will be totally different.....and don't under estimate Nix......it's going to be night and day with the skill positions loaded. Aside from them....Oregon should be a solid favorite in every game. Of course new systems take time to adopt......but the talent difference is appreciable. Every tougher game is at home. I also think Tosh is a measurable improvement with defensive coaching. Injuries can change things......so all bets off if a few key injuries develop.

Lanning is a smart coach that knew exactly what he was getting when he decided to coach the Ducks.......lesser talent and he would not have signed. I suspect a playoff slot......11-1 or 12-0. The talent is there.....accept it.......and for the first time since Kelly......the coaching that can get the most from it is also there. Just my opinion.

As I've tried to communicate......of course a winner will attract attention and more attendees.......but some of the old Trojan family that would have attended a game against Hawaii while a wife was having a child is long gone.......they built the new stadium addition to please the wine and cheese crowd, who largely buy up tickets to entertain business friends but have a lesser attachment to the program, while giving up 16000 seats......that was no miscalculation........USC has tried to become more an international west coast Ivy and hence has a student body that has quite a few folks that are more soccer oriented or non sport oriented.......its admin while still interested in a sport that provides a nice budget is more interested in the US News academic rating. If as a recruit you want to have the whole experience.....best to steer toward Tuscaloosa, Athens or Eugene. This is not to say that USC will not excel in football......just saying that the old days are gone. Filling up the colly with two pro teams, the ruins and all the other stuff to do......some marginal fans may tune in if it's a top 10 program.....if not......not so much.

Riley will get USC going again......but it will be a year or two......

Considering that neither team has made the national stage in a long time........please don't settle on beating USC.......focus on beating Georgia/Alabama. If you focus on USC you'll be settling for what it takes to beat a program that has not been to the playoffs........ever....... and last won a NC in 2004. I have grandchildren in college that were born the year the last time SC won the big time.

Mario did exactly what needed to be done at Oregon......changed the roster from a ton of 3 stars with a couple 4 mixed in to........mostly 4 star with a couple 5 star and 3 star mixed in. He is owed his due from Oregon fans. Helton at USC did the opposite........received a team mostly 4/5 star with a 3 star being rare and changed it to mostly 4 star with quite a few 3 star mixed in. Oregon has the best raw talent in the Pac 12 without doubt. For Lanning its a great opportunity......and since Oregon could use some help on the defensive lines.......as a defensive guru.......he is a perfect hire......IMO. Can't wait for the season!

Great video!

If you review most of these rating mags at season end (except for the top 3-4) their accuracy is akin to throwing darts from 100 feet.

Wrathis......I'm a fan of college football in general. I attended USC and Illinois but lived just a few miles from Oregon for many years. Got to be a fan of all three programs.....it was easy because they all had good runs at one point or another. As for the hate on the Trojans.....you ain't seen nothing if you have not been on a Trojan site when they describe Oregon. I will not repeat the junk. Its all in fun as far as I'm concerned. Just want the kids to have a good experience, make some friends, stay healthy, get a few bucks(in today's game its easier) and execute well. My best day is a USC vs Oregon game in which they both play well..........as for who I would root for........the better team. I want a Pac 12 team to get to the big show every year. Lately that has been Oregon. There are going to be some great games the next few years as SC finally has a coach that has banned the ice cream truck at practice. IMO.......Both USC and Oregon have recently improved their chances......Helton was a overall huckster and Cristobal was a great recruiter but a miserable game coach.

Aside from some comments about how USC has improved its OL and offense...... Speaking as a person that has watched every game they have played for 40 years, Their OL still is substandard. By the way I've watched every Oregon game for 20 years. Now back to it. Very little to do with Riley.......you don't flip an OL in four months. USC fans are so upset because they know of the need and it frustrates them to have missed on Conerly when he could have just about walked in underweight and started anyway. USC is loaded with linemen on OL that move like they have lead weights around their ankles. They will pick up some major help next year but that is a long time away. Will their offense be better based on some young talent that will make mistakes,,,,,,yes,,,,,,,but great......lol. Their DL also has problems that have yet to be addressed. Riley has created some great frosting......but the cake is still in the oven.

Yep.

I am a fan of both programs......and they are both great programs......but..... IMO Oregon hired an excellent head coach and an excellent staff to go with him USC hired a good head coach with an average staff So.....after the initial hoopla wears off IMO Oregon might continue its progress toward a NC or being in the hunt USC, while making great progress at becoming an Ivy League academic institution, and winning the south more often, might struggle on the national stage. Push come to shove USC admin is more interested in other things

Very nice pickup.......and in spite of it all a very good year for the OL.

The USC OL is a mess........and Riley has not brought in anyone so far that changes it much. As for Oregon.....a weakness on the DL exists......whether it is fatal is yet to be seen.

IMO....that is what Lanning thinks. One of the reasons he went after an experienced QB with some very good stats his last year.

USC is improving.......but.......to date during the Riley era they have yet to land a lineman on either front that would be considered elite. Next year all this talk of their dominance is nonsense. They will be substantially improved and probably will not be losing to the likes of Oregon State much.

Not so much hate.....as envy. Oregon has great facilities, a world class coaching staff, better than average weather, access to the ocean and mountains and one of the richest men on earth as a supporter. What does Utah have?

Oregon has improved its coaching 2x.......imo

USC will be better...but.....they have not recruited quality lineman for the DL or OL yet. I suspect some are coming but even if they do, it will take a few years to get everything up to speed. Oregon's roster for next year is still superior.......and I also think Riley is not quite a totally rounded coach......Cristobal had his weaknesses.....so does Riley..... to be seen if he learns and becomes a defensive minded coach.

Now I know why my wife, who loves me dearly, calls me her little dummy.

IMO Oregon is all about whether Brown is mentally in the game.......lately he has not shown the buy in. Also, Baylor has its coaching staff. So, unfortunately having to go with a team with a great coach and good staff.

Utah......Utah lost before they got their QB situation fixed. Ohio St will be the typical Big 10 team on vacation. Utah traveled to LA to beat USC this year. Utah is significantly underrated.

Reality.....coaching, admin, universities, broadcasters, companies have been making billions on the backs of poor kids. Now the kids are starting to cash in and some rich overpaid coach complains. The game of 1960 is over. Just like major league baseball changed when the Flood decision occurred. If you want to clean up the mess......require every university to share 25% of every dollar they receive as revenue with the players in the form of food, books, supplies, transportation, clothes, health care, an annuity to start life with, a fund to help kids that become disabled from the sport, family assistance etc etc. Some might not like it......but somehow these same dudes think it's OK to pay a coach 12 million per year to coach kids and pay admin folks millions to sell tickets etc etc.