Seeing as how USC has not had a test yet this year, who thinks they will be able to beat a good Michigan team?
NCAA Division I-A Head to Head Team vs. Team Southern Cal Michigan Offensive Stats Total offensive touchdowns 49 53 Points 506 446 Total yards 5408 5487 Passing attempts 407 430 Passing completions 250 257 Completion pct 61.4 59.8 Passing yards 3449 3249 Passing yards/attempt 8.5 7.6 Passing yards/completion 13.8 12.6 Passing TD's 30 25 Passing points 180 150 Interceptions thrown 9 9 Rushing attempts 430 500 Rushing yards 1959 2238 Rushing TD's 19 28 Rushing yards/attempt 4.6 4.5 Rushing points 114 168 Fumbles 19 20 Fumbles lost 12 9 Sacks allowed 19.0 15.0 Sacked yards 100 113 Punting average 47.4 37.1 Total return yards 89 0 Total penalties 57 62 Penalty yards 517 507 Time of posession 349:01 385:48 Defensive Stats Total yards allowed 4053 3453 Total points allowed 225 191 Passing attempts allowed 521 375 Passing completions allowed 285 197 Completion percentage 54.7 52.5 Passing yards allowed 3320 2005 Passing Yards/Attempt allowed 6.4 5.3 Passing Yards/completion allowed 11.6 10.2 Passing td's allowed 15 5 Passing pts allowed 90 30 Opponent interceptions thrown 21 14 Rushing attempts allowed 387 409 Rushing yards allowed 733 1448 Rushing yards/attempt allowed 1.9 3.5 Rushing TD's allowed 7 14 Rushing pts allowed 42 84 Fumbles caused 32 14 Fumbles recovered 20 6 Sacks recorded 43.0 28.0 Sacked yards recorded 327 184 Punting average 37.9 42.5 Return yards allowed 49 0 Opponent total penalties 93 71 Penalty yards 788 623 Opponent time of possession 370:59 334:12 Southern Cal ties Michigan, 25-25 in stats, but we all know stats don't win games and that Michigan has been battle tested. If Michigan can get their running game going it's over. Michigan's key will be to control the clock, bring pressure on the QB (who didn't know that), and play physical with the receivers (bump them at the line and fight for the ball). BTW where was "The weak bunch II". I didn't see them Sat. and I sure didn't see a "three headed monster". What I did see is SC scoring on the post to a slow non-physical secondary as they have most of the session. I say Michigan by 10, if Chris Perry gets his run on then by 18
The only thing that worries me about Michigan is that there bad loss came to Oregon on the road (a Pac-10 team). But then again, USC didn't even have to face Oregon.
I think USC is for real. They could blow UM out. OTOH, it could be a tight game and if it is, I think UM might pull that out. You can bet that UM will be studying the Ore.State game film. OSU hung almost 600 yards on USC. Take away the turnovers by OSU and it is conceivable that OSU wins that game. I think it is a great matchup, and man, we really need UM to win that game to have a shot at a consensus #1, probably.
If Michigan runs the ball, they will win. SC's biggest test, other than Cal, was Wash St. They were up and down all year, but throw the ball all over the place. SC killed them. Michigan can go into the Rose with almost no pressure and take control of the game from the start if they just run the damn ball. SC is good, but I just feel they are a little over ranked. They should certainly be in the Sugar against us since they won the PAC 10, but their conference just doesn't rank with the Big 12 or SEC.
