Re: Week 1 CFB Notions
[quoteWhat do you think of the value of USC -8 @ Arkansas?
[/ QUOTE ]
USC's defense should be a lot better this year, and imo it will be the strength of their team. They have the best LB core in the country and have been tinkering with some 3-4 schemes to go along with their conventional 4-3. Carroll has recently said this is the fastest team he has had at USC. Their secondary, while still the weakest link on their D, supposedly is looking better.
The main question mark with them, is how their offense will perform with Booty at qb and whoever starts at rb. They should have a really good oline, but I've been reading that their offense has been getting blown up vs. the defense when they've been scrimmaging thus far. Apparently Booty hasn't looked very good and Sanchez has looked even worse.
Now this could be because USC's front 7 is nasty and the defense is usually ahead of the offense early on, but it's a risky proposition laying 8.5 when your qb is starting his first game in a hostile environment, and it's not unlikely that he makes 2 or 3 big mistakes during the game.
On the other hand, Arkansas' stud rb McFadden will almost definitlely not play this game due to injury. And apparently their stud frosh qb Mustain is starting to seriously challenge for the starting job. Mustain may eventually be an all-american, but he's a true freshman and if he starts this game, I don't like his chances against USC's attacking defense.
Psychologically, Arkansas will definitely be seeking revenge after their embarassing loss last year. I don't know what the under is, but that might be the best play here.
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