Filed under: USC Football, Pac 10, Los Angeles
In what could only be described as “saving the best for last”, we conclude our Pac-10 team previews with the highly anticipated 2007 USC Trojans. A team for whom most offseason debate has centered around whether they’ll be “thoroughly dominant” or “all-time great.” A team whose biggest challenge seems to be not getting buried under the weight of ludicrously high expectations. Oh, and that schedule, which, despite the assertions of Les Miles, is yet again one of the toughest in the nation. Here’s how we break down the Trojans in ’07…
| WHY THEY’LL WIN |
 Considering Pete Carroll made his name on defense, it’s high time that he field a squad that’s actually more talked about for its D than it’s O.
With returning starters galore and an athletic, experienced linebacking corps of Rivers, Cushing and Maualuga (the latter two pictured, left) that surely gave Pac-10 offenses nightmares all offseason, the Trojans defense more loaded than the guests at a Matt Leinart birthday party. The ’07 Trojan defense is so loaded in fact, it’s managed the impressive feat of making people forget about the USC offense, which returns a Heisman hopeful quarterback and has a fleet of |
| WHY THEY’LL LOSE |
 As the Trojans experienced last season, upsets in college football can lurk around any corner, where you least expect them. (In case you forgot, the ’06 team lost not to their highly-touted opponents like Cal, Oregon, Notre Dame or Michigan, but to Oregon State and UCLA.)
With the offseason hype this year, not to mention last few seasons of Trojan dominance in the Pac-10, there’s a target on the Trojans backs that’s visible from space. Teams can go out and stink it up all season, and one win against USC will make the whole year a success. The Trojans are going to see a lot of teams working to bring their A-game, and will have little room for first half slumbers like last year in Corvallis. |
| HOW TO BEAT THEM |
 The Trojans’ weak link would have to be their receiving corps. With the departure of the reliable Steve Smith and the perennial matchup dilemma Dwayne Jarrett, the USC wideouts are easily the least-experienced cog in the wheel. Of course, those lesser-experienced guys are former high school All-Americans like Patrick Turner — but still, when compared with the rest of the Trojan attack, this is the best you’re going to do for a weak link.
Teams looking to make a serious play at beating SC will need to start by stifling the passing attack, then hope that their special teams and/or D can put some points on the board to help buoy their offense, who will undoubtedly have their hands full. |
| HOW TO LOSE TO THEM |
| Almost too many ways to count.
In addition to the stacked defense (who can not only shut you out, but could outscore you if you start making mistakes), the offense returns starters all over, including Heisman-hopeful John David Booty and a backfield that’s Mariana Trench deep. Similar to recent Trojan offensive attacks, you flinch against these guys, and they’ll put up 21 before you return from your bathroom break. |
| PROGNOSIS |
 For all the hoopla, there is the matter of that schedule alluded to in the intro — which includes road games at Nebraska, Notre Dame and Cal. If the Trojans are going to go end-to-end as the #1 team in the land and meet the extremely high expectations of their fans around the country, they’re going to have to earn it.
But, there is a reason why this team is a veritable consensus #1. Pete Carroll has put on a recruiting clinic over the past few seasons, weeding out those pesky sub-All-American guys from his roster, gradually upgrading at every position. Now, with a glut of experienced returning starters, and young manchildren backing up at virtually every position, the Trojans are raring to go. |
TrojanWire 
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