USC Needs to Win With Style

With Texas Tech getting squashed by the Sooners and dropping in all the polls, the teams behind them advanced a notch. So, idle USC moved up to #5 from #6.

However, in my poll, I actually dropped the Trojans to #7. Was that fair considering that they didn’t play? I feel it is.

Yesterday, Penn State and Utah, the two teams behind USC, dominated their ranked opponents, #17 Michigan State and #16 BYU respectively. Penn State won 49-18 while the Utes were 48-24 victors. No question about style at all.

USC, PSU and Utah have had a common opponent, Oregon State. Penn State annihilated Oregon State the week before the Beavers upset the Trojans, and Utah came from behind to beat the Beavers the week after USC’s lone loss.

Granted, Penn State and Utah played the Beavers at home while USC had to travel to Corvallis. Nevertheless, both the Oregon O-line and their ground game completely handled USC offensively and defensively throughout the first half. In the second half, their offense racked up key first downs on several second half possessions to chew up the clock and keep the USC offense off the field.

I’m not so sure that USC would beat the Beavers if they had to play the same Oregon State team today. I say the same Oregon State team because yesterday the Beavers had to play without their starting quarterback Lyle Moevao, and the Pac-10’s leading rusher, Jaquizz Rodgers.

Both Rodgers and Moevao suffered shoulder injuries. Still, the Beavers hung in against the Arizona Wildcats in Tucson and won on a last second field goal, 19-17.

Oregon State by sake of their victory over USC will be the Pac-10 champions and have a rematch against Penn State in the BCS Rose Bowl this January if they beat archrival Oregon in Corvallis next Saturday.

Technically, Oregon State and USC would be Pac-10 co-champions. But in all actuality, with a victory next week, the Beavers will have bragging rights.

That’s my other point with regard to ranking Penn State and Utah ahead of the Trojans. Both the Nittany Lions and the Utes are undisputed conference champions. USC is not, unless Oregon beats Oregon State.

However, both Penn State and Utah have finished their schedules while USC still has two more games to play. So, the Trojans have the opportunity to improve their BCS ranking.

Although Pete Carroll denies knowing how the BCS works, I believe he has some idea that style points count. After all, this is not the NFL where you have a 12-team playoff.

In fact, should Oregon State win out, the only thing that will insure USC a BCS bowl game as opposed to a post season game in December is style points.

This is especially true when playing unimpressive teams like the Irish and the Bruins. A narrow victory in either game is not much better than a loss.

An unimpressive last quarter win over either Notre Dame or UCLA, and the Trojans will not be playing this January. I guarantee it.

So, how does Carroll and his staff make sure the Trojans rack up style points?

For one thing they need to see that the O-line shows up for the first half. Not getting it together before halftime can be hazardous to USC’s health in the BCS standings.

The other thing to note, balance is not a category in the BCS computations. The computers as well as the coaches who vote look at the final scores, not at a 50-50 balance between rushing and passing plays.

What a 50-50 balance does is put pressure on a defense. But it also puts pressure on a quarterback who is still trying to find his game and isn’t Heisman quality yet like several of the quarterbacks on other highly-ranked teams.

In short, the Trojans need to put the final two games squarely on the shoulders of the O-line and the versatile cadre of running backs. Let the running game set up the passing game.

Balance is important when it comes to checking accounts, diets and budgets. But as far as the BCS is concerned, balance just does not compute.

Strength of schedule and margin of victory are the two items that matter most in the rankings. However, Notre Dame and UCLA will have as much impact on strength of schedule as a diet soda at Charlie Wiess’ breakfast table.

Margin of victory on the other hand can impress both the coaches and the computers.

While defenses ultimately win games, they don’t do it with style. And if there’s one thing USC needs now, it’s style. That means a strong offensive showing.

A tenacious defense and explosive special teams can give the offense a short field. But the offense must convert.

And when you are fighting for a BCS birth and maybe even a shot at the title, field goals just won’t do.

David Buehler may just be the most consistent place kicker in all of college football, but padding his stats will do little to gain a BCS birth. Instead, the Trojans must reach pay dirt early and often.

So, it is up to offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian to design a game plan that can do just that. He needs to take the pressure off quarterback Mark Sanchez and put the game in the hands of the Trojans talented running backs.

Rely on the Trojans five-star O-line to handle the big guys up front. Pound the ball. Force the defensive backs to play in close to stop the run. That will open up the passing lanes for Sanchez and his receivers.

The Trojans don’t need to match the number of running plays with passing plays. The only thing they need to match is the point spread, which will be huge in both of these games.

So, don’t sacrifice style for balance.

To paraphrase Vince Lombardi, when it comes to the BCS rankings, style isn’t everything…it’s the only thing.