Emerald Bowl: USC vs. Boston College

Emerald Bowl

Robert Guliano on Why Boston College will win: Because the Catholic’s are due to beat USC sometime. The Trojans have trounced Notre Dame throughout the decade, and the Eagles could turn the tides with a triumph just days before we enter a new one. There is no better year to try to knock off USC either. Freshman Matt Barkley swept onto the college football scene with his sunshine blond hair and laid back SoCal demeanor in a comeback win over Ohio State. However, things went awry quickly from there. Barkley conveniently forgot to keep impressing people, star safety Taylor Mays reduced his impact on games, and their convoy of running backs failed to take the offense to new levels. I simply don’t see how a spoiled USC team can take the Emerald Bowl seriously after countless trips to the BCS. Boston College might roll in this one.

Boston College Players to Watch:

3. QB Dave Shinskie- The 25-year old freshman will have to face an athletic secondary that includes NFL prospect Taylor Mays.

2. LB Mark Herzlich- Last year’s All American linebacker was diagnosed with cancer in May and cancer-free by September. He should be found roaming the sidelines hungry for his return in 2010.

1. The Virgin Mary- Twenty-five years after Doug Flutie’s “Hail Mary,” the “mother of grace” may be called on again for some Emerald Bowl magic.

Brandon Hickey on why USC will win: Hahahahahahahhahahahahahahhahahahahaha. USC is in the Emerald Bowl. Hahahahhaa. We probably should have seen this coming though. Matt Barkley starts out great against Ohio State, and then lays a perpetual egg the rest of the year. Stafon Johnson drops a weightlifting bar on his neck and almost dies. Losses to Washington, Stanford, and Arizona cripple their chance at a good bowl game. The last time they were in a non-BCS bowl game was 2001 in the Las Vegas bowl where they lost to Utah. Even Pete Carroll can’t make this a fun game for his players. Suddenly, he is not as hip as everyone thought he was.

3. Boosters-Boosters pretty much run the athletic programs at USC. They got money to blow, and they give it to poor college athletes. Look for $50s flying around Pac Bell Park/SBC Park/AT&T Park/The House that Victor Conte Built.

2. RB Joe McKnight-A distant cousin of R&B crooner Brian McKnight, Joe is the star of the Trojan squad. One could say he is the Brad Pitt of the team, if the team was the actual Trojan Army and this was the movie Troy.

1. Pete Carroll-Pete Carroll is so hip, he shops at American Eagle. Pete Carroll is so hip, his best friends are Snoop Dogg and Will Ferrell. Pete Carroll is so hip, he uses Twitter (well, maybe that’s not so hip).

THE COMPROMISE: As usual Pete Carroll plays it cool in a bowl win close to home, Trojans 34-17.