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Picking a champion easy as U-S-C.

Article Excerpt
Byline: Curtis Anderson The Register-Guard

Seldom has there been such consensus.

Not only was USC a unanimous pick in a preseason media poll to win its fifth consecutive outright Pac-10 title this season, but with the exception of a few pockets of dissent in Louisiana and West Virginia, the Trojans are seemingly cloaked with an aura of invincibility nationwide.

In fact, given its recent string of success, several observers are willing to take USC against the entire field this year when it comes to predicting which team will walk off with the BCS national title.

Who am I to argue?

While California and UCLA are highly regarded squads with championship aspirations, a spot in the Rose Bowl, as the Trojans skip off to the BCS title game, is a more likely best-case scenario for either of those two teams.

And then it gets crowded.

Oregon, Oregon State, Arizona State and Arizona are all striving to reach the upper tier of the Pac-10 this year, which leaves Washington State, Washington and Stanford battling over the scraps.

Here's one reporter's take as the season begins:

1, USC

A Heisman Trophy candidate at quarterback in John David Booty, a deep stable of fleet and talented tailbacks, 10 returning starters on what might be the best defense in the country, and everybody's favorite head coach in Pete Carroll.

Need we go on?

OK. Some wideouts need to step up, and the road slate is daunting - at Nebraska, Notre Dame, California and Arizona State - but the Trojans (11-2 overall, 7-2 Pac-10 in 2006) are likely to be favored in every game they play this...

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