Why aren't we talking about USC?
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by Suckatsports
[1] No, not for the National Championship, but how about bringing their weak schedule into the limelight. That's right, I sad "USC" and "weak schedule" together. Pete Carroll went on with idiot Colin Cowherd and tried very had not to mention Ohio State's road to the MNC paved with easy wins. I have all the respect for him as a coach, and throughout his tenure at USC, their motto has been that they would play anyone, anywhere, and usually win. They kicked Auburn's ass, wiped the floor with Arkansas twice, and beat the snot out of Virginia Tech, but their schedule this year leaves much to be desired.
Strength of Schedule isn't an exact science, but it's surprising how many completely different answers you'll find from the exact same data. Based on Jeff Sagarin's, CBS Sportsline's, and GBE Ratings, USC's SOS is 32, 75, and 93 respectively. That's right, a 59 point different between the lowest and the highest, so how about we pull the average, at just about 67, I think most of us agree that it's not very good. Looking at their schedule, they played and beat only one team ranked in the final polls, Arizona State (11 BCS, 12 AP, 11, USA Today). And with this scheduled they managed two losses, one inexcusable at home to Stanford. Where's the outcry?
Looking closely, though, they were really a victim of circumstance. They scheduled a perennial power in Nebraska that just ended up being completely atrocious - but they destroyed them on the road. They lost to a Dennis Dixon led Oregon team, before they fell off the map. They made up ground whipping up on equally bad competition that was already in decline, however: OSU, Cal, ASU, UCLA.
The truth is, they scheduled a plenty tough schedule, including a team that 5 years ago looked like they were going places, and were going to be a challenge for out of conference (Nebraska). Other than that, they played a cake Idaho just like everyone else, and a regular Pac 10 schedule that just so happened to be down this year after Cal ate itself alive, Dennis Dixon got hurt, and Dorrell stayed at UCLA. So, a decent schedule on the outset of the year, or even 5 years ago turned into a garbage one at the end of the year.
Let me know if you've heard this story before. A team schedules one regularly good out of conference foe that sucks when they play them, leaving them with a laughable out of conference plate. Their conference, though to be at least average turns into complete garbage slowly throughout the year. Yup, that lovely OSU. I'm not defending the Buckeyes schedule, because it is obviously bad (60, 44, 67; avg: 57), but they seem to take a brunt of the abuse even though other teams contending seems to skate. USC (avg: 67) and WVU (avg: 46).
Jeff Sagarin rating [USA Today]
CBS Sporstline Poll [CBS Sportsline]
GBE Ratings [GBE] Final Rankings, USC Schedule [ESPN]
This post is cross-published from We Suck at Sports.
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