USC and Colorado both face skepticism — but on different levels — heading into Big Noon Saturday
In Week 4 of the college football season, USC and Colorado both gave pundits and commentators plenty of reason to doubt them. USC was sloppy and unprepared in an ugly and at times nervous 42-28 win over Arizona State. Colorado got its doors blown off by Oregon, 42-6, in a game which was never remotely competitive.
How much did the Arizona State game change perceptions of USC, and how much did the Oregon game change perceptions of Colorado? How do commentators size up the matchup on Fox Big Noon Saturday in Boulder? Let’s give you a sampling of what various people are saying about this showcase game in Week 5 of the Pac-12 football season:
SKEPTICISM TOWARD ALEX GRINCH
On to USC and its more torchable defense.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) September 23, 2023
SKEPTICISM TOWARD LINCOLN RILEY
I do agree with this. A Lincoln Riley team isn’t known for defense. They did lose to Utah twice last year lol. Expect fireworks https://t.co/hV5JD9YcYt
— Jovani Ruiz (@ruiz_jovani) September 23, 2023
WE WILL FIND OUT
He is not wrong though 😂😂 https://t.co/VZbsrfCEaL
— Utes fan (@Utesfan4evers) September 24, 2023
MANY WILL AGREE
I see no lies tbh https://t.co/y7BAjq0XhP
— Clayton (Alpha B1G Fan) (@Clayton27_06) September 23, 2023
NOT ALWAYS THE BEST DECISION, BUT MAYBE HERE
I’m riding with Skip Bayless next week https://t.co/CA4ksiVrpg
— Way II Trill (@rotateforever) September 24, 2023
IT'S RARE, RIGHT?
Facts. I agree with Skip finally https://t.co/GZLAIcEh2r
— Camjnetwork (@camjnetwork) September 23, 2023
THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE
Everyone assuming USC will beat Colorado by a similar score is forgetting that USC has no defense. There's also not as much motivation involved, but I'm not sure that matters much.
— Cajun Vegas (@cajun_vegas) September 25, 2023
INFORMATION GATHERING
Colorado will look better against USC. Think I like the Buffs and the points this week.
Fresno State blanked Arizona State, a team that trailed the Trojans by 6 points over the weekend in the 4Q.
We'll know if USC's defense is Pac-12 title caliber or not in a few days.
— Brad Crawford (@BCrawford247) September 25, 2023
BOLD CALL
I’m predicting Colorado to upset USC. I think CO can get more defensive stops than USC. The score will 56-52. USCs defense is ungodly bad!!!
— Jeremy Guest (@jguest96) September 25, 2023
NOW THIS IS RIDICULOUS
Colorado blows out USC next week. I’m not worried.
— Joseph Lopez (@JLOPEZOMG) September 23, 2023
LET THE TAKES FLY, BABY!
I have a weird feeling Colorado may cook against this USC defense because there are some serious deficiencies here.
ASU is in an even worse position from a talent standpoint than CU is and managed to hang in with them. Buffs may challenge. Washington may score 100.
— Andrew G. Haubner (@A_G_Haubner) September 24, 2023
BUT IT WILL BE HARD
Watching USC vs Arizona St game. USC defense sucks. Colorado can beat them..
— Steelers 2-1 (@_Quis215_) September 24, 2023
DON SMALLEY OF DUCKS WIRE ON THE USC-ASU GAME
Did the Arizona State game change my view of USC?
After Colorado ran off with the mouth in pregame (before playing Oregon), I hope the Trojans blow them out. Before the ASU game, I thought that would be the case. Now I’m not so sure. I think USC will definitely win, but it won’t be a rout. USC should have crushed the Sun Devils and didn’t. That has to be alarming within that program. The talent differential between those two teams is massive, but the scoreboard didn’t show it.
ZACHARY NEEL OF DUCKS WIRE ON THE USC-ASU GAME
Did the USC-ASU game change my view of USC?
Yeah, I have more concerns about USC’s defense than I did a week ago. I want to see how they look against Colorado before I make any rash statements, though. That will give us a good comparison to Oregon.
MATT WADLEIGH OF TROJANS AND BUFFALOES WIRE
Did the USC-ASU game change my view of USC?
Not one bit except for the fact that, still, Alex Grinch should be shown the door. USC felt it was a cakewalk, and it should’ve been, but it wasn’t.
MATT ZEMEK OF TROJANS WIRE
Did the USC-ASU game change my view of USC?
Yes. I’m not giving up on USC, but the ASU game made me think that Alex Grinch is going to mess up multiple times later this season. I am downgrading my USC record prediction from 11-1 to 10-2. The difference between 11-1 and 10-2 often comes down to a handful of plays. Should anyone trust that USC’s defense will make that critical extra handful of plays? USC has to regain trust right now. If it absolutely dismantles Colorado, I will restore my 11-1 prediction. Right now, I’m noticeably less confident in the Trojans. A rational person would distrust Alex Grinch at this moment.
FURTHER READING
Keep a close eye on these 10 players when Colorado and USC meet on Saturday https://t.co/KgnGiWC61R
— ColoradoBuffaloesWire (@BuffaloesWire) September 28, 2023
MORE FROM BUFFALOES WIRE
Check out the top storylines to follow heading into another massive showdown this weekend for the #cubuffs https://t.co/mx3sjUcyfZ
— ColoradoBuffaloesWire (@BuffaloesWire) September 28, 2023
TROJANS WIRE YOUTUBE SHOW
#USC fans:
If you want a good discussion — and some strong, honest disagreements — surrounding the Trojans after the ASU game, you'll find that discussion HERE with @MarkRogersTV: https://t.co/Es3rdi33Ad
Join the USC YouTube channel as a member at the @VoiceOfCFB
— USC Trojans Wire (@TrojansWire) September 26, 2023
BUFFALOES WIRE JOINS TROJANS WIRE ON THE AIR
.@Jack_Carlough, the editor of @BuffaloesWire, joined @MarkRogersTV for our USC show at 28:30 in the video below, as we preview Big Noon Saturday vs. Colorado: https://t.co/Es3rdi33Ad
— USC Trojans Wire (@TrojansWire) September 26, 2023
