SPORTS ILLUSTRATED PICKS CAL TO BEAT USC

SI.com's Crystal Ball
(Edited to include only pertinent parts)

BCS Predictions
Mandel:
Rose: USC vs. Ohio State
Orange: Virginia Tech vs. Tennessee
Sugar: Florida vs. Louisville
Fiesta: Texas vs. Iowa

Schecter:
Rose: USC vs. Michigan
Orange: Louisville vs. Virginia Tech
Sugar: Miami vs. LSU
Fiesta: Texas vs. Florida

Winn:
Rose: USC vs. Louisville
Orange: Virginia Tech vs. Ohio State
Sugar: LSU vs. Miami
Fiesta: Texas vs. Cal

McCartney:
Rose: USC vs. Ohio State
Orange: Virginia Tech vs. Louisville
Sugar: Florida vs. Iowa
Fiesta: Tennessee vs. Texas

Next Household Name

Mandel: Cody Hodges, QB, Texas Tech. He's a fifth-year senior in Mike Leach's offense, which almost guarantees a 5,000-yard season, and with early-season games against Florida International, Sam Houston State and Indiana State, he could very well spring for 700 on one of them.

Schecter: Marshawn Lynch, RB, Cal. Yes, the Bears will miss 2,000-yard rusher J.J. Arrington, but Lynch (8.8 yards per carry last season) has the talent and breakaway ability to make Cal fans say, "J.J. who?"

Winn: Ramonce Taylor, RB/SE, Texas. Looking for the next Reggie Bush? 'Horns fans have a budding Ramonce (sorry, couldn't resist) with this sophomore tailback, who averaged 10 yards per carry on the 28 handoffs he received as a freshman, and in his first real action on special teams -- in the Rose Bowl -- returned seven kickoffs for 201 yards. Selvin Young was named the 'Horns' starting RB, and while Taylor is listed as a split end, he'll see action all over the field in '05.

McCartney: Lynch. He's like last year's starter, J.J. Arrington, only faster. As the Bears' workhorse in '05, Lynch has 2,000-yard potential.


If USC is going to lose a regular-season game, which one will it be?
Mandel: Sept. 24 at Oregon. It's always best to catch the Trojans early. Autzen Stadium will be rocking, and the Ducks' new spread offense could put USC's still-rebuildng defense to the test.

Schecter: Nov. 12 at Cal. The Bears were the last team to beat the Trojans two years ago in Berkley and should have won in L.A. last year. Expect this one to be hard-fought to the end.

Winn: Oct. 1 at Arizona State. This isn't the Trojans' most daunting game -- that would be Cal in November -- but they seem to become an unstoppable force late in the season. The time to beat USC is in the first third of its schedule, and this date with the Sun Devils is the second of early back-to-back road games (after a trip to Oregon on Sept. 24).

McCartney: Nov. 12 at Cal. This is the one the Trojans have struggled with in their title runs. They won by six last year and lost in triple overtime in '03, the last time they played in Berkeley. The Golden Bears have big shoes to fill at key spots, but they'll be clicking this late in the season.