Stanford Poses a Big Concern for USC

If today’s events hold true to form next Saturday, USC is likely to suffer its third loss of this season. Stanford laid 51 points on Oregon, the No. 8 team in the nation, in driving to a 51-42 upset victory. Meanwhile, USC’s lethargic offense, which could only manage 20 points in a 47-20 loss at Oregon last week, regressed even further in the Arizona desert tonight. Pete Carroll’s erratic offense scored only one touchdown in posting a 14-9 win against a mediocre Sun Devil team. Matt Barkley, the quarterback that Pete Carroll hailed as the most advanced true freshman quarterback he has ever coached at USC, looked like…well…a true freshman or perhaps just a high school senior. A high school senior with happy feet, jitterbugging back and forth, unable to plant. Could it be the Trojans will be underdogs at home next week against the Cardinal? It’s very possible. The Trojan defense, which was adequate tonight against a team without a dominant running back or passer, had been decimated in the ... (link)