Craig James: " Texas, VTech and tOSU

[High Lonesome]

are the only teams capable of beating USC.

http://insider.espn.go.com/ncf/colum...aig&id=2172677


if you don't have insider then he basically says that these three teams are the only teams that have what it takes to beat SC.

He doesn't count the loss to Texas as anything more than a great game that came to the wire against the #2 team in the nation.

[lvbuckeye]

after watching a month's worth of football, i agree with him...

[methomps]

Texas
Weakness: Nothing in particular, unless Young can't throw when he's forced to

Glad to know Texas has no weaknesses.

[High Lonesome]

I would say special teams, but really can you find any real glarring weakensses? I don't see anything wrong with that statement. He should have said something though because the truth is that all of those teams are really well rounded

[Dryden]

...

I have to credit my ABC partner John Saunders, who said on Saturday that Virginia Tech is the second best team in the country. I shot back "No way, Texas is!" But I've since tried to absorb what John said and came up with this: USC is the best team and should be No. 1. And there are three other teams capable of winning the national championship.

One at a time please ...

USC

I was one of those guys who said in first few weeks that Oregon was a team with a legitimate shot at beating USC. I announced Oregon at Houston in early September and felt like the Ducks were a threat, especially at home. Yet this past Saturday morning, in filling out my in-house prediction sheet, I went with USC to win big. When it's all said and done, who can score enough points to keep up with Matt Leinart and friends? The Trojans' offense just demolished the spirit of Oregon and will do the same to most of their opponents. It's frustrating as a player to stand on the sidelines and watch your defense give up another big play to the opponent. USC foes find themselves standing almost in awe of the potency of Leinart and company.

Ultimate strength: Offense -- It's suffocating and demoralizing
Weakness: Defense -- But coaching will overcome the lack of experienced players

Texas

I put Texas at No. 2 based on its really impressive win in Columbus, Ohio, over the Buckeyes. UT looks like a different team this year. In what respect? UT showed a lot of poise and bounce-back in Columbus, something it hasn't had in big tilts of late. The Longhorns' defense is the real deal, maybe not so much in terms of individual stars as much as a unit that plays together. The Horns defensive line is huge and wears down the offensive line late in the game. And the ability for the unit to rotate fresh players in was a plus, too. Vince Young is an extremely talented player who now has back-to-back big time come-from-behind wins under his belt (Rose Bowl and Ohio State). That confidence will propel his team through the tough conference games when Texas seems to falter a time or two. Example: Last year at Kansas.

Ultimate strength: Defense -- It held the ship together in Columbus
Weakness: Nothing in particular, unless Young can't throw when he's forced to

Virginia Tech

When the season started, I was one of those who doubted VT. Not its defense, but Marcus Vick. I'm still not sure Vick can carry this team. But I'm also not sure he'll ever have to. The Hokies have stifled their opponents. Team speed and power is evident when you watch them play. And we've all watched for years how the special teams makes plays, too. VT might be the most balanced team in the country. All three units look good. But it's the defense and special teams that get my vote. Speaking of votes, here's how I have changed my stance on Tech: My preseason vote had it at nine, then eight, then six, to four and now at three.

Ultimate strength: Defense -- It's loaded with speed
Weakness: Still not sure Vick can carry team if needed

Ohio State

Yes, they've lost a game. But it was to the No. 2 team in the country and it was a last-minute loss. The Buckeyes offense couldn't convert enough opportunities into touchdowns. Great kicker -- but six is better than three. OSU was rotating quarterbacks in that contest, but I do not believe that caused the Buckeyes to lose that game. Yet, now that they've settled on Troy Smith, this "team" might be getting better. And when it comes to defense, whew! Speed, speed and more speed. And their linebackers will find those carrying leather. Although the Big Ten is down, the Buckeyes aren't.

Ultimate strength: Defense -- sound familiar?
Weakness: Like Texas, can OSU throw it if it has to?

[lvbuckeye]

the only weakness i saw in Texas was kickoff coverage, but then again, Ohio State has one of the best return units in the country, if not THE best...

i want to see how Matt Leinart responds when he gets consistently hit... how many times has he been sacked in his career? like 15? hit him and put him on his back 20 times in one game, a la Dorsey in the Fiesta and he'll stop looking so sharp... same goes with Reggie Bush, but that is a different animal alltogether... it's a LOT harder to put a hit on him, because he's so damn elusive...

SC got a TON of calls against Oregon, especially Bush's last TD where he reversed field... i counted three blocks in the back on the TV screen alone... i was shocked that a flag didn't come out... the refs need to CALL the game, and stop watching it...

[martinss01]

texas is weak on special teams and tOSU does not fully take advantage of its ability on offense. both these things are glaring weaknesses against great teams. however, both teams are very capable of beating sc. i don't know much about vt so ill keep my mouth shut on that one.

[lvbuckeye]

Originally Posted by martinss01

tOSU does not fully take advantage of its ability on offense.

530 yards of offense might disagree with you... of course the question looms as to whether that was an abberition or a portent of things to come...