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ON USC'S ABILITY TO MAINTAIN ITS #1 RANKING
USC hasn't lost a regular season non-conference game since 2002. That's an unbelievable run, especially when you consider that Pete Carroll is an aggressive scheduler8#212;this year's opponents include Nebraska and Notre Dame. It's something of a sports cliché, but Carroll always seems to have the team prepared for big games. If anything, he's had more trouble with inferior opponents, like UCLA last year.

ON THE STRENGTH OF THE TROJAN'S OFFENSE VS. ITS DEFENSE
The offense is the better unit, but the defense is quickly catching up. The defensive line has been great against the run this season, allowing only 64 yards per game. I thought the defense held USC back in 2005 and 2006—if the unit can be good, or even great, then Carroll has a monster team.

ON THE TALENT OF QUARTERBACK JOHN DAVID BOOTY
Booty isn't the uber-prospect like Matt Leinart or Carson Palmer, not that that's made him any less popular in Hollywood. You would call him competent—the guy football fans like to call a "game manager"—before you'd call him great. It will be interesting to see if USC finds itself in a game where has to win it with his arm.

ON THE TROJAN'S BIGGEST THREAT (Disclaimer: Curtis hails from the Lone Star State.)
Texas, I'm afraid, isn't up to snuff. LSU, Florida, and Oklahoma look like the likeliest candidates to be the other "half" of the BCS title game, with West Virginia on the outside. In the PAC-10, the Trojans have to play road games against Oregon and California—two very salty teams they can't take lightly.

ON CARROLL'S CHANCES OF BRINGING A THIRD NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TO USC THIS YEAR
Outstanding. To some extent, you could say that every season. But this year, I think they've got as much talent as anybody and no gaping weaknesses. They're so good they're almost getting boring. I have a vision of Carroll running around and pumping his fists in January.

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