If there ever was a game that had Game of the Year potential, it's this one. Two unbeatens late in the season is always a gem to watch. Two unbeatens late in the season from the same conference, now that's a blockbuster. With Arizona and USC as the top two scorers in the NDL, expect the endzones to get a lot of attention in this matchup.
Coaching Profiles
PacksyD
NDL Seasons: 11
Overall Record: 114-51 (69%)
Bowl Record: 3-7
Conference Titles: 4
National Titles: 0
walker017
NDL Seasons: 9
Overall Record: 136-20 (87%)
Bowl Record: 6-2
Conference Titles: 6
National Titles: 1
What to Watch For
Coach PacksyD returns to the Coliseum for the first time since he led the Trojans to a 10-2 record and Holiday Bowl victory in Season 18. An 11-year vet, Packsy has won four conference titles and has twice come within one game of making the big dance. This game seems to be the last remaining roadblock for the Wildcats in reaching a title game for the first time in school (and coach) history. Arizona ranks first in the league in scoring, averaging 45 points per game. The Wildcats focus their offense on QB Nic Foles, who has already thrown for over a whopping 3000 yards and 29 touchdowns this season. Can we say Heisman frontrunner? Foles likes to sling the ball in all directions, and the coaching staff lets him do so as 86% of Arizona's offense comes through the air. The Trojans will need to figure out a way to put pressure on Foles to keep him from connecting with his many targets on the field.
Walker017. His name needs to be in a sentence all by itself because he is just THAT damn good. Since getting here in Season 11, Walker has dominated the opposition, amassing the best winning percentage in the history of the NDL (87%). Walker and the Trojans will be looking to make it to the title game for the second year in a row, where they lost a heartbreaker to Shel and LSU last season. USC is second in scoring only behind their opponent Arizona and also one of the top rushing teams in the country. Their ground game is led by RB C.J. Gable who averages over 100 yards per game and has already scored 17 touchdowns, 5 of those through the air. QB Matt Barkley has shown his poise as well, tossing up 27 touchdowns of his own and throwing for over 2300 yards. This balanced offense is what's made it so difficult for defenses to defend the past two seasons. Arizona will have to come with its "A" game if they want to keep up with the Trojans.
THE Untouchable Prediction:
What you have to respect in a mid-season matchup like this is the caliber of each of the coaches and their long history in a prestigious league. These are the types of games that we live to play for. Both these coaches can consider this game their Pac-10 championship as whoever wins will very likely go on to win the conference title, and most likely, make it to the national title game. I don't see either of these two teams losing another game this season. But although the Wildcats lead the league in scoring, they are also one of the worst in the league in points allowed, giving up a whopping 36 points per game. Defense wins championships and when the 2nd best offense meets the one of the worst defenses the results can be catastropic. Arizona will put up points in this one, but unfortunately, Packsy will fall one game short yet again in reaching the national title game.
ARIZONA 31
USC 41
-UnTouchable8
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