Picking the Pac: Week 3 of the Pac-12 slate has some interesting matchups with BYU-Oregon as the showcase.
With the season moving right along just like Fozzie Bear and Kermit the Frog in the Studebaker, there are going to be more differences of opinions as the matchups become more even.
The BYU-Oregon contest is the marquee game in the Conference of Champions this week, and, as expected, the staff of the College Wire sites are split on who they think will come out on top.
The most intriguing game might be the Pac-12 after dark game when current Football Championship Subdivision national champion North Dakota State heads to Tucson to take on Arizona. Several writers think the Bison are going to pull off the “upset.” But would it really be an upset?
Here is how we did last week and through two weeks of games.
Zac Neel, 9-2 (20-3)
Don Smalley, 10-1 (19-4) Andy Patton, 7-4 (18-5)
Matt Zemek, 8-3 (20-3) Matt Wadleigh, 10-1 (19-4) Don James, 8-3 (18-5)
Jack Carlough, 10-1 (20-3) Tony Cosolo, 9-2 (18-5)
Lincoln Riley has years of experience. Dan Lanning has shown promise but is 0-0 as a head coach. Advantage USC, for now…
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The two west coast college football powerhouses suddenly found themselves without a head coach in December. One was underperforming and had to make the change (USC) while the other was forced to make a change (Oregon) because the head coach left for the beaches of Miami.
Circumstances were different, but both USC and Oregon were in similar boats. When it came time to make a decision on how to go about a course correction, the two schools went about it in very different ways.
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USC went for the so-called sure thing by hiring an experienced coach who has won at the biggest levels college football has to offer in Lincoln Riley.
Oregon went for the successful, but inexperienced, hot-shot defensive coordinator in Dan Lanning who is proving over and over again that he is a master recruiter.
When it comes to recruiting, both Riley and Lanning seem to be on equal footing, although early on, their plans are hardly the same. Where the advantage goes to USC, however, is that Riley has proven himself as an in-game head coach. According to Matt Zemek, the managing editor of USA Today’s Trojans Wire, that advantage is significant.
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“Where Riley separates himself from Lanning, though, is on the field,” Zemek said. “Riley has turned one quarterback after another into an NFL prospect. Player development was abysmal under Clay Helton, but it is and has been superb among offensive skill players for Lincoln Riley at Oklahoma. USC now gets that Riley bump, and it’s going to be substantial. Riley as a play-caller is also excellent. He has proven how good he is over five full seasons at Oklahoma.”
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However, Lanning played a huge part in helping the Georgia Bulldogs win the national championship over Alabama. While he’s shown his prowess as a coordinator, Lanning is an inexperienced head coach who was smart to hire experienced assistants that have been around the block. Defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi has college and NFL experience on his resume and associate head coach Adrian Klemm just came from the Pittsburgh Steelers and is a Super Bowl champion as a player.
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But nothing beats in-game experience, and Lanning is about to be thrown in the deep end of the pool as the Ducks open the 2022 season with Georgia of all teams. Everyone will find out if Lanning can swim. USC will definitely be looking on with an interested eye.
“Could Dan Lanning turn out to be a defensive genius on par with Riley? Sure he could, but he hasn’t been a head coach yet,” Zemek said. “Riley has five years of proven results. Lanning will get to change the conventional wisdom here. He will get his chance to alter the calculus on this topic. Right now, though, Riley has a reliable track record, and Lanning is just starting out. That’s not a criticism of Lanning, merely a reflection of where these coaches are in their developmental arcs.”
Lanning will get a chance to skew that developmental arc in Oregon’s favor in about seven months.
BetMGM has released odds for the upcoming season and who will win the Pac-12 title.
USC is the favorite to win the conference championship at +250.
Oddsmakers like USC’s very manageable schedule, in which the Trojans avoided both Oregon and Washington.
Kedon Slovis is primed for a big year, in which case the Trojans have to be optimistic about their ability to win the Pac-12
BetMGM has released odds for the upcoming season and who will win the Pac-12 title.
USC is the favorite to win the conference championship at +250.
Oddsmakers like USC’s very manageable schedule, in which the Trojans avoided both Oregon and Washington.
Kedon Slovis is primed for a big year, in which case the Trojans have to be optimistic about their ability to win the Pac-12
Here are some of the NBA comparisons people are saying about USC big man Onyeka Okongwu.
Undersized centers who are defensive-minded and good finishers around the rim include John Collins and Brandon Clarke.
Clippers F Montrezl Harrell is another comparison for his wingspan, shot-blocking ability, and athleticism.
The last comparison is the no doubt ceiling for Okongwu, the highest 1% that he could possibly become: Ben Wallace
Here are some of the NBA comparisons people are saying about USC big man Onyeka Okongwu.
Undersized centers who are defensive-minded and good finishers around the rim include John Collins and Brandon Clarke.
Clippers F Montrezl Harrell is another comparison for his wingspan, shot-blocking ability, and athleticism.
The last comparison is the no doubt ceiling for Okongwu, the highest 1% that he could possibly become: Ben Wallace
Here are some of the NBA comparisons people are saying about USC big man Onyeka Okongwu.
Undersized centers who are defensive-minded and good finishers around the rim include John Collins and Brandon Clarke.
Clippers F Montrezl Harrell is another comparison for his wingspan, shot-blocking ability, and athleticism.
The last comparison is the no doubt ceiling for Okongwu, the highest 1% that he could possibly become: Ben Wallace
Here are some of the NBA comparisons people are saying about USC big man Onyeka Okongwu.
Undersized centers who are defensive-minded and good finishers around the rim include John Collins and Brandon Clarke.
Clippers F Montrezl Harrell is another comparison for his wingspan, shot-blocking ability, and athleticism.
The last comparison is the no doubt ceiling for Okongwu, the highest 1% that he could possibly become: Ben Wallace
Todd McShay has just released his post-free agency mock draft at ESPN and it has Austin Jackson at No. 33 and Michael Pittman at No. 34.
Jackson can handle speed off the edge, which will help Burrow settle in with his new offense, Todd McShay.
Pittman can flash in the vertical game, find pockets in coverage and adjust his body in motion to make the catch, Todd McShay.
This is all speculation, but part of the intrigue of these mock drafts lies in the exploration of which teams would be good or bad for USC prospects
Todd McShay has just released his post-free agency mock draft at ESPN and it has Austin Jackson at No. 33 and Michael Pittman at No. 34.
Jackson can handle speed off the edge, which will help Burrow settle in with his new offense, Todd McShay.
Pittman can flash in the vertical game, find pockets in coverage and adjust his body in motion to make the catch, Todd McShay.
This is all speculation, but part of the intrigue of these mock drafts lies in the exploration of which teams would be good or bad for USC prospects
Todd McShay has just released his post-free agency mock draft at ESPN and it has Austin Jackson at No. 33 and Michael Pittman at No. 34.
Jackson can handle speed off the edge, which will help Burrow settle in with his new offense, Todd McShay.
Pittman can flash in the vertical game, find pockets in coverage and adjust his body in motion to make the catch, Todd McShay.
This is all speculation, but part of the intrigue of these mock drafts lies in the exploration of which teams would be good or bad for USC prospects
Todd McShay has just released his post-free agency mock draft at ESPN and it has Austin Jackson at No. 33 and Michael Pittman at No. 34.
Jackson can handle speed off the edge, which will help Burrow settle in with his new offense, Todd McShay.
Pittman can flash in the vertical game, find pockets in coverage and adjust his body in motion to make the catch, Todd McShay.
This is all speculation, but part of the intrigue of these mock drafts lies in the exploration of which teams would be good or bad for USC prospects
The USA TODAY Sports Network Rookie Wire’s most recent NBA Draft Big Board has Onyeka Okongwu as the No. 2 NBA Draft prospect Okongwu lead the team with 438 points on the year, averaging 16.2 per game Okongwu is beaten out in this prediction only by LaMelo Ball
The USA TODAY Sports Network Rookie Wire’s most recent NBA Draft Big Board has Onyeka Okongwu as the No. 2 NBA Draft prospect Okongwu lead the team with 438 points on the year, averaging 16.2 per game Okongwu is beaten out in this prediction only by LaMelo Ball
The USA TODAY Sports Network Rookie Wire’s most recent NBA Draft Big Board has Onyeka Okongwu as the No. 2 NBA Draft prospect Okongwu lead the team with 438 points on the year, averaging 16.2 per game Okongwu is beaten out in this prediction only by LaMelo Ball
The USA TODAY Sports Network Rookie Wire’s most recent NBA Draft Big Board has Onyeka Okongwu as the No. 2 NBA Draft prospect Okongwu lead the team with 438 points on the year, averaging 16.2 per game Okongwu is beaten out in this prediction only by LaMelo Ball
Former Trojan DeMar DeRozan’s jersey was retired during halftime of USC’s matchup against the Washington Huskies DeRozan played just one season (2008-2009) in USC averaging 13.9 points as a freshman and led USC to win the 2009 Pac-10 championship DeMar DeRozan
Former Trojan DeMar DeRozan’s jersey was retired during halftime of USC’s matchup against the Washington Huskies DeRozan played just one season (2008-2009) in USC averaging 13.9 points as a freshman and led USC to win the 2009 Pac-10 championship DeMar DeRozan
