Saturday, November 12, 2005

Boston Globe: Cal upset of USC not in the cards

By Mark Blaudschun, Globe StaffCould it happen again? That is the question of the day in the Pac-10 as No. 1 Southern Cal takes its show on the road for the final time in the 2005 regular season.
After today's game at Cal, the Trojans, who have won 31 straight, probably won't be forced to get on a plane the rest of the season, and they may not even have to leave Southern California. The Trojans' final two games are at home against Fresno State and UCLA. And if coach Pete Carroll's team takes care of business as expected, USC's bowl game will be at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena -- an hour bus trip -- Jan. 4.
If there is going to be an upset, it could happen today. California was the last team to beat USC -- a 34-31 triple-overtime victory in 2003. USC won last season, 23-17, but the Bears were near the USC goal line at the end of the game. This year? Logic says Cal, which has lost three of its last four games, is not as good as last season, and USC, with Heisman contenders in quarterback Matt Leinart and running back Reggie Bush, may be better. USC has had enough of the BCS computers. It has had enough of the talk of not being No. 1 when no one has beaten the Trojans in two years. Even though this game is in Berkeley, it has had enough of Cal. More than enough. USC 48, California 24.

No comments: