Pac-12 Championship Game: #12 Stanford v. #10 USC
Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2017 4:50 pm
Since the thread on the Autzen board is mainly concerned one's pick to win, I thought there could be this one to get into the game in more detail, comments during the game, etc.
I have to think USC will win, unless they have a key injury disadvantage I'm not aware of. It's not so much that USC thoroughly dominated Stanford when they met early in the season, as I think the Cardinal is much better now than it was then; it's more that bye week advantage that USC has. I'm pretty sure it's never happened before that either divisional winner had a bye just before the Pac-12 CCG like USC has this time. And because it's on a Friday, Stanford also has a short week to prepare to boot.
Both teams are playing well. I'd love to see Stanford win a tight one, as I'm thinking that could still keep both teams slightly ahead of UW, whose ranking I want to be as low as possible so it doesn't make a NY6 bowl. But I'd be surprised and very impressed if Stanford were able to pull this off.
I have to think USC will win, unless they have a key injury disadvantage I'm not aware of. It's not so much that USC thoroughly dominated Stanford when they met early in the season, as I think the Cardinal is much better now than it was then; it's more that bye week advantage that USC has. I'm pretty sure it's never happened before that either divisional winner had a bye just before the Pac-12 CCG like USC has this time. And because it's on a Friday, Stanford also has a short week to prepare to boot.
Both teams are playing well. I'd love to see Stanford win a tight one, as I'm thinking that could still keep both teams slightly ahead of UW, whose ranking I want to be as low as possible so it doesn't make a NY6 bowl. But I'd be surprised and very impressed if Stanford were able to pull this off.