Favorites: USC and Oregon
A wide-open conference race means there is no dominant team, and that’s the case again this year in the Pac-12. Five teams will set the pace — Oregon (+ 250), Washington (+ 360), USC (+ 380), Arizona State (+ 450) and Utah (+ 600), according to the DraftKings odds board — with UCLA chasing as a 12-1 long shot. USC is the obvious favorite in the South, and the North is a coin flip between Oregon and Washington.
Trojans quarterback Kedon Slovis is the conference’s top Heisman Trophy candidate (28-1 at DraftKings) after totaling 47 touchdown passes in two seasons.
USC coach Clay Helton has underachieved with an 18-13 record the last three seasons, and he was lucky to go 5-1 last year, when Slovis led improbable comebacks to beat Arizona State, Arizona and UCLA.
USC: Almost everything about USC looks good on paper: The roster is loaded with talent, led by veteran quarterback Kedon Slovis, and the schedule is hospitable (seven home games and no games against North favorites Oregon and Washington).
But the Trojans are too often paper tigers for coach Clay Helton, who is 18-13 straight up and 13-18 ATS the last three seasons. USC was lucky to finish 5-1 last season, when improbable comebacks were required to beat Arizona State, Arizona and UCLA.
Slovis has thrown 47 touchdown passes in two seasons and is the conference’s top Heisman Trophy candidate (28-1 odds at DraftKings), yet his arm strength is a concern after he suffered a separated shoulder in last year’s Pac-12 title game. Drake London could be the league’s top wide receiver, and Texas transfer Keaontay Ingram is primed to take over as the team’s go-to running back. The Trojans will flash plenty of firepower in offensive coordinator Graham Harrell’s wide-open attack. Aside from edge rusher Drake Jackson, a top NFL prospect, there are question marks all over the defensive depth chart.
Home games against Stanford, Utah and UCLA are probably tougher than they appear, and Arizona State, California and Notre Dame will be tough spots on the road.
Helton is a poor game manager who had the luck factor on his side last year, so it wouldn’t be surprising if USC finishes 8-4 and Helton remains on the hot seat.
Pick: Under 8.5
latimes.com
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Down goes ASU and Herm Edwards: Buh-bye Sun Devils.
With the official decommit of 4-star DB Alfonzo Allen, ASU’s 2022 recruiting class is now down to five (#86 in the country) commits, literally the fewest among Power conference schools.
This is good for USC. No way can Helton afford to lose this game to the Sun Devils in Tempe on Nov. 6. He’ll be fried for losing to a program on the skids.
Max Nikias hired Clay Helton to babysit the football team in keeping them out of trouble. He didn’t care about anything else concerning USC football. That Helton was able to sweet talk his way around Swann & now Folt just proves Nikias got it right finding a real beauty who is able to win just enough to satisfy those bosses. Those bosses care less what CFB across the Country thinks of USC football because; Swann got his (the AD job), Folt got hers (a presidency) & Bohn got his (a better AD job. And for the rest of us? Screw… Read more »
The Athletic’s (Dane Brugler) Top 50 NFL Draft prospects for 2022 (Kedon Slovis somehow not included): 9. Drake Jackson, Edge, USC (6-4, 255) A long, loose-jointed pass rusher, Jackson has the ankle flexion to run the hoop and the lateral suddenness to win in small areas. His get-off is average and he is still raw in areas, but his ability to vary his rush speed, including a finishing burst to the quarterback, translates to pocket disruption. Jackson also showed his versatility as a stand-up linebacker last season, spot-dropping and showing off his range. 29. *Drake London, WR, USC (6-5, 212)… Read more »
This Article is really appropriate this morning. Last night, Mater Dei traveled to about 35 miles south of my Texas home and destroyed the #1 HS team in TX 45-3. Mater Dei has a great running back, who led all rushers. This kid is headed to Oklahoma. Why? Oklahoma and SC both run the Air Raid. Why OK over SC? Obviously I do not know, but to speculate, this article has the answer – SC is a paper tiger under Clay and GH while OK is the real deal. GH is still learning the Air Raid O (he has not… Read more »
RJJ Oklahoma doesn’t have Clay Helton as the face of its program. That causes more harm than good. It also has a developed running program that works.
The Pac-12 announced Thursday it will not pursue expansion beyond its 12 members after exploring the idea… “Following consultation with our Presidents, Chancellors and Athletic Directors, the Pac-12 Conference has made the decision to not pursue expansion of our membership at this time,” a statement by the league said. “This decision was made following extensive internal discussion and analysis, and is based on the current competitive strength and cohesiveness of our 12 universities. It is also grounded in our confidence in our ability as a conference to best support our student-athletes and to grow and thrive both academically and athletically.” The… Read more »
I really like this new Commissioner. The Power 5 just went to the Power 4. The Big 12 was unable to find any partners for its product; he just is allowing it to happen. His strategy was to put together an alliance which assured the Pac 12 that it would be among the remaining four, at no cost to the Pac 12. This guy is really good! Night and day from Limousine Larry Scott.
If Clay doesn’t win the Pac-12 Title, Bohn will have no choice but to fire him.
Bohn had no choice two years ago but to fire him. And here we are.
I always love watching the pre-game shows starting off CFB every Saturday. Bob Stoops is replacing Urban Meyer on Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff, and this year the show has also attracted former BOISE ST and UW HC Chris Petersen as an analyst.
Petersen won’t be hitting the road with the rest of the crew (Reggie Bush, Matt Leinart, Brady Quinn, Rob Stone), when they travel. Instead, Petersen will remain in the studio all season.
saturdaydownsouth.com.
, These 5-year old same ol’ same ol’ criticisms of Helton are worn out. They were worn out, what, 5-years ago. But what is amazing is how some SC folks can hang on to a feeling of anger-grudge-disappointment-vitriolic, And for years and years. Is this good for your health, fellow Trojans? As the t.v. Sgt Friday said quite often, “Just the facts, ma’am.” — Helton lasting through 2021 are obviously happening now. Helton this year has what they call a ‘fair-to-middlin’ team, but one that will likely finish no worse than 6-6…. Helton can argue his overall record is almost… Read more »
John- after reading your analysis, I am convinced you know as much about College Football, as I do Premises Liability Law, which is NOTHING!.
Clay is a competent coach? Despite losing about 12-14 starters, USC will be much improved in 2022? 6-6 is OK?
There is nothing ” worn out” about criticizing a coach that has performed HIS job so poorly, and ONLY through dumb luck, has managed to hang on so long.
USC football will never be great with that utter fool as head coach.
Here’s all you need to know about premises liability: as long as Clay Helton is on the premises, he’s a liability. This is a jury instruction I would give in the case of USC Fans v Clay Helton.
I wonder if Mike Bohn truly believes that Clay Helton will be his head coach to open against LSU in 2024 at Allegiant Stadium in Vegas? You’ve got to just LOVE this game! Thank you Bohn and Ed O!
But do you love it as much if Clay The Cat Helton is still coaching the Trojans against the Purple and Gold that day?
I’ve always totally loved LSU’s helmets. Now it’s finally public!
I don’t think Ed O will be around then either.
Ed already got his national championship with one of the greatest CFB teams of all time. I’d say he’s already cashed in, significantly. Go Ed! Beat the Bruins. ✌
You are probably right
DA declines to file charges against USC receiver Bru McCoy Ryan Kartje (LAT) — USC receiver Bru McCoy won’t face criminal charges after the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office declined to file a case following his arrest last month on suspicion of felony intimate partner violence. The district attorney’s office cited insufficient evidence when asked about its decision but offered no further details. “We appreciate the careful consideration by both the district attorney’s office and LAPD,” Michael Goldstein, McCoy’s attorney, said in a statement to the Los Angeles Times. “We always trusted the process and the right decision was made.” Though… Read more »
This really becomes interesting now what the USC Title IX office will do, considering how bad they screwed up the last one.
Hopefully they care as much about due process as the LA DA. But I wouldn’t count on it. McCoy’s attorney should call Bormeister’s attorney.
Who would have ever thought?
Colin Cowherd — “Mark Sanchez in the last 15 years has more playoff wins than the Dallas Cowboys have in the last 25 years (three).”
This writer said what all of us already know- Clay Helton is as qualified to run a blueblood program as Gavin Newsom is to run the state. I just wish other media members would stop defending this inept buffoon. I keep hearing he is 45-23, so therefore he is a good coach.
We are know different, but does SJW Folt and the BOT care? They certainly don’t care about us.
SC will never be special in football until the stench of Gomer has been removed.
I’ve come to the conclusion that much of the media likes to see USC football in down mode, both on the field and off the field. Mike Garrett would call them “jealous”, unfortunately like he publicly raved on about the NCAA. For instance, I have noticed that both the local and national media likes to pile on USC when the Trojans are having trouble. It even seems palpable. When UCLA football or basketball shows even a spark of being good, I have it in my mind that the media seems to like it. I could be totally off base here.… Read more »
I believe there is some truth to this as much of the football media is based in the East. We all know that they do not play real football on the West.
That stench will never leave.
Jon Wilner retweet of Ross Dellenger tweet: LSU and USC will meet to open the 2024 season on Labor Day weekend at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. One day after The Alliance” announcement, the Pac-12’s historic football power (USC) finalizes a deal to play an SEC team on ESPN/ABC in Vegas.
I really like the new Commissioner. First, with the Alliance, he shored up his conference. There will now be no defections to the B10 and SC cannot go independent. He did this at no cost. Next he sets a marquee match for the first year of the new media contract. My guess is he will give SC more money IF they upgrade the HC position. He cannot afford to have Clay running his prime property.
There’s been no indication that USC will ever fire a HFC because a Pac-12 commish tells them to, period. And if Caruso objects? No way. Would UCLA fire Chip Kelly because George Kliavkoff told them to? Would CAL fire Justin Wilcox upon Kliavkoff’s instruction in exchange for some money? Could Kliavkoff get David Shaw fired? I have big doubts about any such happenings. I don’t think Kliavkoff would ever even make any such demands.
It may not be Kliavkoff’s position to demand a coach be fired unless it is an off the field issue. But in this day and age there is so much more riding on programs being competitive. USC is the flagship football program of the PAC12 whether the rest of the conference wants to admit it or not. If I am Kliavkoff, I meet with Folt and Bohn and say do what you want but mediocre SC football is bad for every sport at SC and every school in the conference.
That’s exactly what I said and my precise point. It’s not Kliavkoff’s call to demand a Pac-12 HFC be fired because of his record.
For sure I agree with you but he has a great deal of influence.
It’ll be interesting to see how far Kliavkoff will settle into throwing his considerable weight around, or not. He’s always portrayed himself as the ultimate listener so far. It seems to have served him well. He came in at such a monumentally important time for college football, and history. He must feel like he absolutely won the lottery, having just started the Pac-12 job. My biggest point — We really all should be eternally grateful that it was Kliavkoff, and not our pariah/big spender Larry Scott, who was repping the Pac-12 when all hell recently broke loose in the fantastic… Read more »
Nobody cares if UCLA and Cal are mediocre in football. But the Pac12 needs USC, Washington and Oregon to be very good. A strong commissioner needs to tell it like it is to those presidents and ADs.
I would say that UCLA cares A LOT more about their football success than you think they do.
Based on what I just saw, I would not put anything past this guy. There are clearly ways to do it and ways not to.
I am in no way complimenting Larry Scott on his job performance as PAC-12 commissioner. However, he got no help from at least 10 administrations unwilling to hire better coaches, give them larger budgets to hire better staff to recruit better athletes to develop & perform. The same teams remain where they have mostly been in the pecking order of wins & losses. Fanbases across the conference haven’t grown enough to convince DirecTV to broadcast the PAC-12 network. I bet the ESPN and FOX ratings are not enough to brag about when showing PAC-12 games. This conference has got to… Read more »
Jamaica, Scott was a horrific leader. The same group that hired him ended up hiring George K. If the PAC would have had a competent leader, the goal for football would have never been parity and the PAC 12 network would never have been organized the way it was. I agree that having Pat Haden as AD at SC was a huge part of the problem. Pat was incompetent. No SC AD should have allowed Larry Scott to push parity in football (which is at core anti-SC). Look what this new Commissioner has accomplished in 3 months. It is remarkable.… Read more »
Well, at least they are reporting what we SC fans already know – Clay in inept and weak. This was a very gentle telling of the truth about Clay. How about he has failed at every goal he has set. Remember the power run game modeled after Stanford? How about him limiting penalties only to see them increase? The writer could have gone over SC being uncompetitive with quality programs and the yearly blow out losses. How about my favorite- Wait until November in 2018, only to have SC go 0-4.
I am not going to lie, I liked Helton when he first appeared on the scene. I thought he had been an offensive coordinator for okay coaches and was acquainted with the program, so he should be able lead the team. This feeling lasted about ten minutes into his first season and game management was at the top of the list. I cannot remember the number of times I started a complaint about this fraud with the words, “How could you.” My best impression of him is that he’s like the “doughnut spare tire” on modern cars. You know it’s… Read more »