As a Baton Rouge native who went to college at Southern Miss (got a scholarship, otherwise I would've gone to LSU), I gotta like our chances at TCU. USM had a slow start this season with a terrible offense. They remained unbeaten in CUSA but dropped games to the OOC opponents, California, Alabama, and Nebraska. However, in the last 3 games the offense has been on fire. Quarterback Dustin Almond has adjusted his game and looks alot more comfortable than early in the season, when he unexpectedly won the starting QB job from Mickey D'Angelo in the third game of the season. I would compare it to the situation LSU had last season where it took a few games for Randall to get over the shellshock and find some sort of rhythm. The running game has improved behind a gelling young offensive line. The receivers are very good as long as Almond can get them the ball. On the defensive side you have an outstanding squad with several first and second round NFL prospects. Everyone should know the name Rod Davis by now, probably the most talented Linebacker in college football, and Etric Pruitt is a shutdown DB. The rest of the defense are all very heavy hitters and they like to run with multiple looks and blitzes made famous by former USM defensive coaches John Thompson (yeah, the LSU DC for about a week) and his protege Dave Wommack. If Southern Miss had TCU's soft OOC schedule they might be the ones high in the BCS, but unfortunately coach Jeff Bowers always like to test his teams by very difficult OOC schedules (in the last few years Alabama every season, Nebraska, Texas AM when they were good, Pitt, Ok. St., Tennessee, LSU, etc...). Basically that means that the older players on the squad are used to playing top tier teams, and usually give them a hell of a fight. A Southern Miss victory will definately help LSU in those wacky computer polls, where TCU is ranked above LSU. So on Thursday night I hope the Purple and Gold will be tuning into the Black and Gold and watch the expose' of one of the most overrated teams in recent college history (Auburn excluded). I see a huge defensive battle, with field position and turnover being the key to this game. In the end the strength of the Southern Miss defense will win that battle. It will be a very low scoring game, with field goals being the deciding factor. If Southern Miss wins this one, TCU will be out of the BCS, and will play in the GMAC bowl, while Southern Miss would win a trip to Memphis for the Liberty Bowl. A conference championship game on a Thursday night.... sounds better than a rerun of Friends. In overtime, Southern Miss 13 TCU 10 Geaux Tigers! Lesse Le Bon Temp Roulle!
Southern Miss always plays tough football. The reason they dont go 10-0 or 9-1 liek some of these mid-majors is that Southern Miss will play anyone. TCU's schedule has been BAD!
Damn right, I have had that one circled for a couple weeks. I really thought Louisville would do it, though.
