Month: November 2006 (Page 6 of 29)

USC 44, Notre Dame 24
This rivalry will never amount to Michigan-Ohio State, but nevertheless, fans that tuned into this contest saw some fireworks. USC just had way too much firepower for the Irish defense. It seemed that whenever Notre Dame needed a stop on defense, it never came. Losing safety Chinedum Ndukwe to a knee injury certainly hurt the Irish in trying to defend a tremendous effort given by Dwayne Jarrett (7 rec. 133 yards, 3 TDs). But John David Booty (266 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs) looked calm and in control all night (more so than Hesiman hopeful Brady Quinn), so I don’t think Ndukwe’s injury was the difference maker. The USC wide out duo is just too much to deal with for most opponents. If the Trojans beat UCLA next weekend, what a match up it will be between USC’s receivers vs. Ohio State’s secondary.

While I’m on the subject, I’m warming up to an USC-Ohio State national championship. I don’t think either defense would completely shut down the opposing offense and we might see sixty points, but it would certainly be entertaining. The way the Trojans dismantled Notre Dame Saturday night, it doesn’t bode too well for a Florida team that barely escaped a win over Florida State. I know it was a rivalry game, but USC completely thrashed the No. 6 team in the country, while UF squeaked by an unranked FSU program that was playing with a quarterback in Drew Weatherford that seemed to barely try. It also doesn’t help that Florida plays Arkansas in the SEC Championship game next week after the Razorbacks just fell to LSU at home. Beating a one-loss Razorback team would have obviously held more water than if Florida knocks off Arkansas now.

If USC doesn’t fall asleep like it did against Oregon State next week, count me in for one who believes the Trojans deserve an outright chance at the Buckeyes come January 8th.

Even with Darren McFadden performing like a one-man wrecking crew, Arkansas won’t be playing for a national title in ’06. The Razorbacks were defeated by SEC rival LSU 31-26 Friday, which dropped AU to two losses and virtually out of national championship contention. McFadden rushed for 182 yards, was 2 for 2 passing for 33 yards and scored twice. However, the AU defense couldn’t stop JaMarcus Russell (14 of 22 for 210 yards and two TDs) or Trenton Hilton early in the fourth quarter. After an 80-yard McFadden touchdown run that brought the Razorbacks within eight, Hilton returned the ensuing kickoff 92 yards to put the Tigers up for good.

What the Arkansas loss means to the BCS has a resounding effect on the Notre Dame-USC game Saturday. A win over the Irish might be enough for USC to knock Florida out of contention, even if the Gators beat the Razorbacks in the SEC Championship game. A loss by the Trojans, and Florida might be able to set a date with Ohio State if the Gators beat Arkansas. To further complicate things, Michigan still has a shot if both USC and Florida fall. I doubt a one-loss Notre Dame leapfrogs a one-loss Wolverines team after Michigan dismantled the Irish earlier in the season. But hey, this is the BCS, where anything can happen.