Duck and Cover, Oregon: This Is USC’s National Championship Game

Three straight weeks, a National Championship contender has tasted its first defeat.  There are many reasons to believe that this number could reach four by the end of the weekend.

Alabama, Ohio State and Oklahoma have all fallen from the ranks of the unbeaten over each of the last three weeks – and while the Oregon Ducks may not own the #1 ranking in the BCS, this is the top-ranked team in both the AP and USA Today Polls.  This team could be the next to falter on the road, as the previous three did.

LaMichael James and the Ducks have been explosive on offense

Many critics may be quick to point that the NCAA sanctions have extracted a lot of motivation out of the 2010 USC Trojans.  At times, this point does appear to be true.

But USC still finds itself sitting at 5-2 – and ranked 23^rd in the AP Poll after an impressive 48-14 win over Cal last weekend.  The Trojans’ only two losses (to Stanford and Washington) have been by a combined three points.

The Oregon Ducks have steamrolled its opponents with tons of speed and a fast-paced offense.  But while the Ducks have worn teams down – and in many cases, completely outran them – this will not be the case at USC on Saturday.

The Trojans have just as much talent and speed on offense as the Ducks do.  In fact, these two teams are arguably the fastest outside of the SEC conference.

USC QB Matt Barkley has been lights out so far in 2010

Entering this week, Oregon was ranked 1^st in scoring offense (55.1 ppg), 3^rd in rushing offense (311 ypg), 33^rd in passing offense (258.1 ypg) and 1^st in the FBS in total offense (569.1 ypg).

Pretty potent, but USC is not far behind.  The Trojans are ranked 14^th in scoring offense (37.4 ppg), 18^th in rushing offense (213 ypg), 22^nd in passing offense (281.0 ypg) and 7^th in the FBS in total offense (494.0 ypg).

With Matt Barkley playing lights out (20 TD, 4 INT in 2010) – and a series of talented athletes on both sides of the ball – the Trojans have what it takes to stick with the Ducks all night long.

Four motivational factors could help push the game further towards Lane Kiffin’s favor.

1)     This is USC’s National Championship

KP suggests that Layla Kiffin should not be the only trophy present at The Coliseum Saturday night

At least, it should be pitched that way.  With the sanctions keeping USC from a bowl game, Lane Kiffin should be promoting this game as the big one.  This is USC’s “Natty” for 2010.  The coaching staff should even mock up a trophy that the players could hoist if the Trojans win.  That way, there would be two trophies in the stadium that day, including Lane’s wife.

2)     Revenge for last year’s 47-20 beatdown at Autzen Stadium

Last year’s loss was ugly.  USC’s defense was exposed.  This season, it’s former NFL defensive mastermind Monte Kiffin leading the Trojans defense.  So far, it hasn’t gone well, as USC ranks 87^th in total defense.  That’s actually quite surprising considering Monte’s track record.  The key will be the Trojans – and its 39^th ranked rush defense – attempting to limit the damage on Heisman candidate LaMichael James and the Ducks running game.

3)     It’s Homecoming for Southern California

Homecoming games always bring a little extra excitement, a little more tailgating and a little more cheering by the time the game starts.  That goes double for a night game, which this one is.

4)     Oregon is the first top-ranked team to visit USC in over 20 years

The Ducks are the first #1 team to visit the Coliseum since 1988.  During a year where there’s no prize at the end of the road, a victory over a top-ranked team can provide a supplemental gift to a trying season.

Expect the Oregon offense to show up and give Monte Kiffin fits.  Just do not expect this game to be a laugher.  In fact, Monte Kiffin and the USC defense will be the key to this game.  Expect Monte – with all his NFL experience – to push his Trojans to simulate the way Oregon runs its hurry-up spread offense.  With the athletic talent that the Trojans have, this group shouldn’t tire as others did, especially if the offense continues to do its part.

The USC Trojans have plenty of weapons and should have plenty of motivation heading into Saturday night.  So duck and cover, Oregon – this could be a long and trying evening.  This is USC’s National Championship.

* Also posted to my Bleacher Report page

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