So comparing NFL stats to College stats is your first MAJOR flaw. Like massive. the NFL has a LOT more parity. They are pros. Most run very similar schemes or at least not near the exotic ones found across college. There is nothing even remotely close to parity within college football. It just won't work for you.
USC has struggled. That's why pretty much no one would forecast a blowout win by the Trojans in this game. They have not reached full stride yet. Not only has no one argued against that, but that has already been said by me in this very thread. However, last year they struggled early and then went on a tear and destroyed a lot of good teams. They have been through a lot of injuries and have a very big piece of their offense coming back this week. Jones is a RB I really don't think WSU can stop. Cal didn't even have to try because he didn't play. He's a big big part of their offense. This is one reason why any sort of comparison between Cal and WSU isn't going to be fair.
Both teams are going to have a lot on the line. Neither has more emotion as something measurable before the game. Those tend to work themselves out in the first half as it is.
That's what champions do. It's not how slow you start, it's how strong you finish and the great teams overcome adversity and win whether they played solidly enough for 4 quarters to really deserve it or not.
USC has not looked like the #5 team thus far. I doubt even their fans would argue against that. The rankings this early are way too reliant on preseason opinions instead of game facts. And they kind of have to be. That's also why you don't get any college playoff rankings until much later, after they are somewhat more relevant.
I heard something similar last night on the news. Sounds about right.
Naw, I gave him a bit of a shove and he handled it ok. Just doesn't see things the same way the rest of us do.
