Fight On!

It's official. The 2012 college football season is upon us. It should shape up to be a thrilling season, especially for my USC Trojans. I think, based on everything, they will break the SEC streak and walk away with the national championship this year, but we gotta play the games first. However, here are 3 reasons why I love their chances:

1. The Machine (aka the offense)

I think calling the USC offense a machine sounds about right. Where do I begin? I'll start with QB Matt Barkley. I don't need to explain too much about him, you already know a lot. The preseason favorite for the Heisman usually doesn't end up winning it, but I like his chances, especially when you consider he plays with 2 elite receivers in Robert Woods and Marqise Lee, who combined for 184 receptions (111 for Woods, 73 for Lee), 2,435 receiving yards (1,292 for Woods, 1,143 for Lee), and 26 touchdowns (15 for Woods, 11 for Lee) last year. To add to returning starter Curtis McNeal, who rushed for 1005 yards and 6 touchdowns on 145 carries, Penn State transfer Silas Redd joins the backfield, adding to an already potent offense.

2. Key Players

USC's defense may not be considered the best in the country, but it can get the job done. Especially key to this defense will be returning senior safety T.J. McDonald, who, like Barkley, skipped a chance to go to the NFL to get one final shot at a national championship. Another key on D will be sophomore linebacker Hayes Pullard, who established himself as a defensive playmaker last year, becoming the first freshman to lead the Trojans in tackles in a season in 58 years. Ed Orgeron, who was Pete Carroll's defensive coordinator during the Trojans' championship seasons in 2003-04, is back in the defensive coordinator spot for the 3rd year of his second stint at USC. To me, this is important as Ed has championship and big game experience as a defensive coordinator. Despite losing lineman Devon Kennard and corner Isiah Wiley and a lack of depth, the Trojans D should be primed.

3. Determination

The third reason to me is determination. Matt Barkley and T.J. McDonald set the tone when they gave Trojan fans everywhere an early Christmas present last December by announcing they would in fact return for their senior seasons with the USC Trojans. The reason was simple. After two years of bowl bans, the two of them wanted to make it clear that they had unfinished business (winning a national title), which, perhaps not coincidentally, became the motto of this year's team. It is one of the oldest themes in sports: a team that is out to avenge or has something left to prove is generally hard to beat. Do I think the Trojans can win it all? Hell yeah. Now, all that is left to do is play the games.

My Top 5 Games of the Year

1. Oregon (November 3 @ The Coliseum): The game of the year. A potential preview of the Pac-12 title game, and a chance for the Trojans to remind Oregon that they are the better team, and this game could and probably will have major national championship implications, especially if both are undefeated. 

2. Stanford (September 15 @ Stanford): This should be an interesting game, as the Trojans face Stanford without Andrew Luck as the Stanford starting QB for the first time in 4 years, but should be interesting to watch regardless.

3. UCLA (November 17 @ the Rose Bowl): The crosstown rivalry is always a game to watch regardless of what the records of the teams are. UCLA wants to prove something with new coach Jim Mora, but that's a tall order against the Trojans.

4. Notre Dame (November 24 @ The Coliseum): Always a fun game for college football fans, the Trojans have some unfinished business in this rivalry game. The last time these 2 played at the Coliseum in 2010, Matt Barkley missed the game due to injury and Notre Dame pulled out a victory against the Trojans for the first time since 2001 in the rain. You know Matt wants another shot. 

5. Utah (October 4 @ Salt Lake City): Thursday night road games have caused issues for the Trojans in recent years, but Matt Barkley has a chance to change that against the Utes, who are considered by some to be a dark horse in the Pac-12.

One last thing: To all the Trojan fans around the world, wherever you may be...FIGHT ON!!!