The Year of the Trojan - jmik58's Blog

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jmik58's Blog

The Year of the Trojan Stuck

Posted on July 3, 2012 at 10:09 AM.

(8)

The USC Trojans will win the 2012 national championship.

Say that to yourself a few times and the sentence starts to grow a question mark at the end.

An SEC team has claimed the past six championships, so it may seem ludicrous to claim the crystal ball will land elsewhere anytime soon. But the talent and returning experience of USC -- mixed with a schedule where the Trojans should be favored in every game -- provide a blueprint similar to Alabama, the champions of the 2011 season.

To prepare for the college football season I always create a number of computer rankings that incorporate multiple factors. Each set looks at different aspects I believe to be crucial to predicting teams with national championship potential. Talent, returning starters, key position experience, and schedule strength/structure are some of the more basic factors I review.

My raints in 2011 screamed an Alabama national championship and even predicted Oklahoma State as a top-three school, and the same formulas for this year have the Trojans tabbed as the best team in the land. But it's not that USC is slotted at the top that has me predicting a USC title in 2012, it's how far in front of everyone else they appear to be.

I'll delve more into my rankings in future articles as we start to cover previews and predictions for the 2012 college football season, but the following are some of the key areas where USC stands out this year.

Talent-wise, it's difficult to find a team with more skill across the board on both sides of the ball. Out of twenty-two projected starters for USC in 2012, twenty-one of them were rated within the top fifty of Phil Steele's recruiting ratings -- sixteen of them are top-twenty recruits. But they haven't stopped there.

The Trojans return 2nd team PAC-12 quarterback Matt Barkley (the Heisman favorite), and All-American receivers Robert Woods Jr. and Marqise Lee. Throw in tight end Randall Telfer (2nd team freshman All-American), center Khaled Holmes (2nd team PAC-12), and 2nd team freshman All-American Marcus Martin; and it's easy to see why the squad could have the most dominant offense in the nation.

On the defensive side of the ball, defensive end Wes Horton Sr. (2nd team PAC-12) anchors the box with 2nd team freshman All-American linebacker Hayes Pullard and PAC-12 freshman player of the year Dion Bailey (SLB). Add in key secondary figures in safety TJ McDonald (1st team PAC-12) and corner Nickell Robey (1st team PAC-12), and it's difficult to find a weakness on the Trojans defense.

Not only is USC talented, but they also return nearly every key piece from an exceptional 10-2 campaign in 2011. Nine offensive starters on offense and seven on defense to be exact. On the offensive side, one wide receiver spot and an offensive line position are all that must be filled. Sophomore receiver George Farmer (#1 rated WR recruit) and offensive tackle Aundrey Walker (#17 rated OT recruit) are expected to be the next men in -- hardly a drop-off.

Defensively the biggest question in regard to experience is on the defensive line, but talent once again sets the tone. A linebacker corps filled with potential NFL talent combined with a secondary with much the same, and it's likely going to be a tough year for offenses to pick an area to attack.

Talent and experience are certainly important, but who you actually play and where has a large part to do with the equation as well. This may be the factor that helps push USC into the area of a sure-thing championship contender. While contests at Stanford, Utah, Washington, and UCLA will be no cake-walk; the toughest matchups look to be at home against Notre Dame and Oregon, giving the Trojans the edge in every contest in my eyes.

But the largest factor that helps USC stand out is one that escapes the element of measurement.

The Reggie Bush scandal that vacated the 2004 BCS national championship devastated the Trojan faithful and put a damper on the past few seasons for the football squad. A major cut in scholarships and a ban from conference championship and bowl games should have been enough to devastate the future of USC football.

But something quite different happened. The turmoil that surrounded the program galvanized the squad and many key players chose to stick it out and grow together through the adversity. The team bonding and sense of purpose has left the 2012 USC Trojans with an unrivaled hunger.

The Trojans have the type of focus that should prevent a major lapse in a regular season that shows little forgiveness. In a sport that prides itself on the importance of the regular season, USC hopes to stand out by never taking a single contest for granted -- something the past few years of hardship has prepared them for.

USC's Men of Troy won't be satisfied with anything less than a championship in 2012. They've been building towards it and believing for three years.

The question this year may not be which SEC team takes home the title, but which SEC wants to watch USC carry the trophy back to Los Angeles.

What are USC's chances at a national championship this year?

Justin Mikels is a staff writer for Operation Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @long_snapper.

Comments

# 1 JBkiLLa25 @ Jul 3

If the Trojans don't win it all this year it's bc they beat themselves. The only scare is Oregon and they have them at home. Robert Woods is a monster WR and I don't think there is a single CB that can stop him. Don't like USC but its there championship to lose.

# 2 fsufan4423 @ Jul 3

TN fans would hate Kiffin even more if that's possible

# 3 Jadakiss88 @ Jul 3

I remember the days when people only thought OSU or USC were going to win the National Title and get a Heisman Trophy Candidate....well OSU always lost to a Top 5 opponent and USC would lose to a bottom feeder conference opponent. Naw...it's not that Trojan's year just another year of speculation and hope from people that don't think an SEC team can win it all.

# 4 slingblade73 @ Jul 3

Bama/LSU winner will woodshed USC.

# 5 jmik58 @ Jul 3

@netronomybandon I read recently that USC hasn't scheduled an FCS opponent in several yeras. They definitely earn aren't taking the easy route with their schedule. Good info by the way on the SEC mathups of late.

# 6 14straight @ Jul 4

@jmik58 USC has never scheduled an FCS opponent.

# 7 Elgin2311 @ Jul 4

Good read! I would also add we return a 1,000 yard rusher in curtis mcneal, and in addition to telfair there is grimble. Most important is that they return alot of young players that were able to get reps last season, like lamar dawson mlb, and big george uko dt. Add to that about 10 highly rated reshirt freashman along with super freshman agohlor Ath, starr Lb, ruffin LB and williams de its not only gonna be a great year for the usc family, we have a very bright future ahead. Fight on!