Olin Buchanan: Oregon 45, USC 35. So much attention is paid to Oregon's high-scoring offense that it's easy to overlook that USC has scored at least 31 points in five consecutive games. QB Matt Barkley will keep the Trojans in the game against Oregon's suspect pass defense. But in an offensive shootout, no team has more ammo than Oregon. Tom Dienhart: Oregon 45, USC 38. USC's only chance is to keep the ball away from Oregon's hyper-speed offense with a strong ground game. It won't work. This will turn into a track meet, with both teams racing up and down the field. The Trojans have a good offense. (Is anyone noticing how great a season Matt Barkley is having?) But no one can trade punches with the super-charged Ducks offense. David Fox: Oregon 38, USC 24. USC may have the best offense the Ducks have seen, but Oregon's defense isn't as bad as the detractors want you to believe. If the Ducks are going to be upset, Arizona or Oregon State has a better chance of pulling it. Mike Huguenin: Oregon 41, USC 31. USC is going to have success throwing the ball; Matt Barkley is having a great season and you can expect him to throw two or three TD passes. USC should have some success on the ground, too. But it won't be enough to out-gun Oregon. USC's defense has issues, and the Ducks will take advantage. Steve Megargee: Oregon 41, USC 31. It wouldn't surprise me if USC's potent passing attack helps the Trojans take the early lead, but I don't think USC's defense is good enough to contain Oregon. This game could follow a similar script to Oregon's come-from-behind victories over Tennessee and Stanford, but I expect USC to make sure the final score is much closer than in those contests. per rivals
Well, that's to be expected when you're #1 in all the human polls and #2 in the BCS. "Experts" almost always go with the "safe" pick.
