2008 Las Vegas Sports Consultants Top 30 Latest Rankings

[HB Pony Dad]

2008 Las Vegas Sports Consultants Top 30

LVSC Rank Team Rating Previous Rank Notes

1 Southern Cal 113.8 1 Schedule sets up nicely.
2 Texas 112.2 2 Made major statement -- again
3 Oklahoma 111.4 4 Sooners take care of business against KU.
4 Florida 111.1 3 Host Kentucky off the bye.
5 Penn State 110.1 5 Big Ten Title on the line in Columbus.
6 Georgia 107.8 7 Bulldogs post solid win over Vandy.
7 Alabama 107.5 8 Survive and advance over Mississippi.
8 Texas Tech 106.6 9 Put rally cap on at Texas A&M.
9 Ohio State 106.5 10 Staring to come together.
10 Missouri 106.4 6 Reeling from back to back beatings.
11 Oklahoma State 105.5 13 No letdown off huge win.
12 LSU 105.3 12 Battle past Spurrier's boys.
13 Kansas 103.5 15 Hung tough for a while at Norman.
13 Texas Christian 103.5 16 College football's Rodney Dangerfield.
15 Brigham Young 103.4 11 Horned Frogs spoil BYU's BCS.
16 California 102.5 13 Struggled to keep pace with 'Cats.
17 Utah 102.3 17 Ram tough versus CSU.
18 Arizona 101.9 26 Offense came to play against Cal.
19 West Virginia 101.7 19 Host Auburn Thursday night.
20 Oregon 101.5 21 A date with the Sun Devils on deck.
20 Boston College 101.5 25 Eagles get big win over Holies.
22 Boise State 101.4 20 Another solid effort at home.
23 South Florida 101.2 23 Too much talent for Syracuse.
23 Tulsa 101.2 27 Put up 77 on UTEP.
25 South Carolina 101.0 18 Tigers a little too much to handle.
26 Oregon State 100.9 28 Beavers big over Washington.
27 Florida State 100.2 NR Post win over NC State.
28 Georgia Tech 100.1 NR Big win at Clemson.
29 Cincinnati 100.0 30 Visit UConn this week.
29 Pittsburgh 100.0 NR Panthers blast Midshipmen.

The next ten: Illinois, North Carolina, Virginia Tech, Michigan State, Iowa Wake Forest, Nebraska, Houston, Tennessee, Auburn.

Dropped out: Michigan State (22), Virginia Tech (23) & North Carolina (28).

http://www.vegasinsider.com/college-foo ... ory/768068

[J.T.supporta]

get this WEAK [deleted] ranking thread out my face!

[HB Pony Dad]

get this WEAK [deleted] ranking thread out my face!

I don't make 'em just report them!

Show the Trojans a little loves TexaS!

[jkflamebo]

these are the real rankings. everything is absolute sh** compared to this

[J.T.supporta]

get this WEAK [deleted] ranking thread out my face!

I don't make 'em just report them!

Show the Trojans a little loves TexaS!

Vegas is showing them more than enough love

[HB Pony Dad]

The BCS candidates make their pitch

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/ ... ortCat=ncf

Needless to say this is my favorite...

USC (6) -- Ad opens with a black-and-white still photo of Bob Stoops scowling on the sidelines. Then a full-screen graphic is played over the picture showing the following scores: West Virginia 48, Oklahoma 28; Boise State 43, Oklahoma 42; LSU 21, Oklahoma 14; and, highlighted, USC 55, Oklahoma 19. Ominous voice-over: "They call him 'Big-Game Bob,' but the results in recent BCS bowls have been amazingly small. Can he be trusted to take a team back there again, or would it simply be more of the same? Somehow, this erratic leader's team is the highest-ranked one-loss team in the BCS standings, and that's dangerous for all Americans." Cut to footage of USC trampling Ohio State, then to Pete Carroll walking with Snoop Dogg on Venice Beach: "If you're sending a one-loss team to Miami, remember my record. I'm 5-1 in BCS bowls. The Trojans won't deliver a dud like some other teams have in recent years. We're the true big-game team. Fight on."

[lwjr]

It is a shame USC is not in a tough conference. I think Highland Park could beat Washington State.

[J.T.supporta]

It is a shame USC is not in a tough conference. I think Highland Park could beat Washington State.

hell, SMU would give WSu a run for their money

[jkflamebo]

imagine if wash st played ntsu....that's a nightmare

[03Mustang]

See, even Pete Carroll acknowledges the best-case scenario ranking for SC

[HB Pony Dad]

See, even Pete Carroll acknowledges the best-case scenario ranking for SC

USC will need to be very fortunate indeed to climb that high!

[tristatecoog]

Wow, Houston at #38.

I'd like to see Georgia beat Texas in the title game. SC vs. UT rematch would also be good.

[HB Pony Dad]

See, even Pete Carroll acknowledges the best-case scenario ranking for SC

USC will need to be very fortunate indeed to climb that high!

USC vs. Arizona

By Scouts, Inc
Insider

Friday, October 24, 2008

USC at Arizona Matchups
QB RB WR OL DL LB DB ST Coach Overall



USC offense vs. Arizona defense
There's no denying that USC is loaded at running back. C.J. Gable, Stafon Johnson and Broderick Green each rushed for more than 100 yards last week against Washington State, and none of them is even listed as the starter. That would be Joe McKnight, who missed last week with a turf toe injury and is questionable this week. If he can't go, Johnson and Gable should get the bulk of the work. Gable possesses great straight-line speed and vision, and Johnson is a powerful back capable of picking up tough yards between the tackles. Fortunately for the Trojans, they also have good depth along the offensive line because RG Zack Heberer has a turf toe injury and ROT Butch Lewis is battling an illness. Both are listed as questionable. Heberer's backup, Alex Parsons, and Lewis' backup, Nick Howell, have both done a good job of filling in, and that doesn't bode well for Arizona's undersized defensive front. At 280 pounds DT Kaniela Tuipulotu is the Wildcats' heaviest starting defensive lineman by 15 pounds. Look for the Trojans to control the line of scrimmage and consistently get bodies on an Arizona linebacker corps led by WLB Sterling Lewis.

As if figuring out ways to stop the Trojans' ground game weren't a big enough challenge for Arizona defensive coordinator Mark Stoops, he also has to find ways to slow down one of the nation's most talented quarterbacks in Mark Sanchez, who is playing with tremendous confidence and threw for five touchdowns in just one half last week. The good news for Stoops is that he fields a talented secondary and his defense is holding opponents to an average of just 151.6 passing yards per game. CB Devin Ross is a playmaker who can change directions quickly and breaks on the ball well. Opposite him, Marquis Hundley is a sound tackler who has the long arms to knock passes away even when he isn't in a great position to make a play on the ball. Meanwhile, safeties Nate Ness and Cam Nelson are steady in the middle. However, even this secondary will have a difficult time slowing down a versatile and deep USC receiving corps. The size of 6-foot-5, 220-pound Patrick Turner and 6-4, 235-pound David Ausberry is going to give the considerably smaller Ross and Hundley problems. In addition, Damian Williams and Ronald Johnson have excellent speed and track the ball fairly well. The Wildcats have to protect their secondary by forcing Sanchez to get rid of the ball quickly, and that won't be easy. The Trojans have done a good job of keeping Sanchez upright while Arizona has struggled to mount a consistent pass rush.

No. 5 USC vs. Arizona
USC vs. Arizona

When: Sat., Oct. 25, 10:15 p.m.
Where: Tucson, Ariz.
Preview: Trojans rolling into Tucson
Arizona Offense vs. USC Defense
RB Nic Grigsby fumbled on Arizona's first offensive play last week. Head coach Mike Stoops pulled him from the game, opening the door for true freshman Keola Antolin to make an impact. Antolin made the most of the opportunity by carrying the ball 21 times for 149 yards and three touchdowns. Grigsby is still expected to start despite his problems holding on to the football and the fact that the Trojans have forced seven fumbles this year. But Antolin is sure to get some touches in relief. He actually matches up better against a USC run defense that's giving up an average of just 83.7 yards per game. At 5-8, Antolin is two inches shorter than Grigsby, and his size makes it harder for linebackers to find him. The Trojans have had problems stopping quick, undersized backs -- remember, 5-7 Oregon State RB Jacquizz Rodgers rushed for 186 yards and two touchdowns against USC -- but nothing is going to come easy against the USC front seven. DT Fili Moala's quick first step makes him a disruptive force in the middle, and DE Kyle Moore has been a pillar on the edge with 5.5 tackles for loss. Behind the front four, 260-pound ILB Rey Maualuga and 255-pound SLB Brian Cushing are difference-makers who have rare speed for their size.

Wildcats QB Willie Tuitama has thrown for 1,691 yards and 15 touchdowns with just three interceptions. One of the biggest reasons for his success is a talented receiving corps led by WR Mike Thomas and TE Rob Gronkowski, who have combined for 10 touchdown receptions. Thomas is a crisp route-runner while the 6-6, 260-pound Gronkowski is fast enough to stretch the field. However, Tuitama and the rest of the offense face their toughest challenge to date. No FBS team is giving up fewer passing yards per game than USC, and cornerbacks Josh Pinkard and Cary Harris, along with safeties Kevin Ellison and Taylor Mays, all possess excellent size and speed. Both Cushing and Maualuga show great awareness in coverage and are fast enough to run with Gronkowski. Making his job that much harder, Tuitama faces a relentless Trojan pass rush, and the Wildcats have not done a great job of keeping him upright. DEs Moore, Clay Matthews and Everson Griffen have the initial quickness to turn the corner when they time the snap right, and Maualuga and Cushing show excellent closing speed when asked to blitz.

Special Teams
Key individual matchup
Arizona QB Willie Tuitama vs. USC SS Kevin Ellison

This matchup sets up as a classic cat-and-mouse game. Ellison does a sound job of disguising coverages before the snap, while Tuitama generally reads defenses well and makes good decisions. Tuitama must recognize when Ellison creeps up to the line of scrimmage in an effort to bolster the run defense and check out of the play if it's a run in his direction. Ellison is a physical run-stuffer who leads the team with 41 tackles. Additionally, Tuitama must continue to take what the defense gives him. Ellison shows sharp instincts and rarely gets caught out of position, so Tuitama can't assume he's going to jump up when Arizona runs play-action. Problem is, locating the open man is a lot easier said than done when working against a USC pass rush that should force him to get rid of the ball quickly.
Trojan PK David Buehler has been perfect on the year, connecting on all four of his field goal attempts and notching a long of 42 yards. He will also handle the kickoff duties and is averaging an impressive 66.5 yards per kickoff with 26 touchbacks in 44 attempts. PT Greg Woidneck is averaging just 38 yards per punt but has shown adequate accuracy by placing seven of his 21 punts inside the 20-yard line.

Stafon Johnson returns punts for USC, and he is averaging a solid 7.8 yards per return. Gable and Ronald Johnson handle the kickoff returns, and while Johnson has fared better, he's averaging just 19.8 yards per return. Arizona has covered kickoffs well but its punt coverage has been shaky. Wildcats K Jason Bondzio has been reliable, connecting on eight of nine field goal attempts with a respectable long of 49 yards. He will also kick off, and he's averaging a sound 65.9 yards per kickoff while recording 15 touchbacks in 51 attempts. Arizona P Keenyn Crier is averaging 43.2 yards per punt, and he's placed six of his 26 punts inside the 20. Thomas returns punts for Arizona and has an impressive 14.9 yards-per-return average, and he returned a punt 48 yards for a touchdown earlier this year. Antolin will handle the kickoff returns and he's averaging 23.5 yards per return. While the Trojans have done an excellent job of covering kickoffs, their punt coverage has been shaky at times.

Scouts' Edge
The Trojans have not allowed a point in 10 consecutive quarters, and the defense will lead them to their fourth consecutive win. USC's front four will control the line of scrimmage and let the talented linebackers fly to the ball, making it tough for Arizona to establish any kind of a running game. While Tuitama will make enough plays to keep the Wildcats in it early, the Trojans' pass rush will pressure him into making critical mistakes that open the door for USC to build a lead in the second half. In addition, the Trojans have the talent at running back to protect a lead by controlling the clock with an effective ground game.

Prediction: Trojans 35, Wildcats 17

[jtstang]

See, even Pete Carroll acknowledges the best-case scenario ranking for SC

Pony ears.

[HB Pony Dad]

LV Top Ten Ratings vs. Results:

USC (1) beats Arizona (18) 17-10
Texas (2) beats Oklahoma State (11) 28-24
Oklahoma (3) beats Kansas State (NR) 58-35
Florida (4) beats Kentucky (NR) 63-5
Penn St. (5) beats Ohio State (9) 13-6
Georgia (6) beats LSU (12) 52-38
Alabama (7) beats Tennessee (39) 29-9
Texas Tech (8) beats Kansas (13) 63-21
Missouri (10) beats Colorado (NR) 58-0

Not looking good for TT or Georgia next week...

Breaks my heart!