USC’s Bowl Hopes, ESPN’s Cafeteria

Colin, I bow to your college football acumen and ask for your expertise in helping me make some money. I have to pick ONE team from each of these conferences (B10, B12, BE, SEC, P10, ACC) and one any D1 team who will most frequently COVER this year. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Paul, Chicago

It’s almost impossible to give you one because the lines haven’t been set. Generally USC doesn’t cover PAC-10 games when they are over a 20 point favorite. Expect Illinois to put up some points in the Big Ten. But until I see actual lines, there’s no way to really answer that accurately.
I was just wondering how you think the Washington Huskies are going to do in Football this year with a new coaching staff? How many games do you think they will win? How long do you think it will take for them to get back to the teams they had in the 90’s? Josh, Seattle

They simply live in a geographically isolated and cold location, so it’s an uphill battle. In order for the Huskies to rebuild, they need to get top Southern California high school talent and USC isn’t letting the good stuff leave anymore. They can climb back to eight or nine win territory with a good coach and top quarterback play. I’m not sure this group of coaches is it, I’m in a wait and see mode. It would have been nice if Sark got there two years ago when Jake Locker was a freshman. This year, I see a 2-10, 3-9 team. They just do not have enough offensive talent to compete.
What BCS Bowl do you see USC getting into this year, and what do you think of their freshman QB Matt Barkley? Shawn, Fresno

Fiesta or Rose Bowl seems likely. Their offensive line should open up nice holes for a stable of solid running backs. That will allow for whoever is their quarterback to take less chances and find themselves in short yardage passing downs. The Trojans secondary is also good, allowing Pete Carroll to take more chances with his young LB group. Expect some losses, the schedule is tough but 11-1 seems about right, 10-2 at worst. They just have so much talent.
Colin, were you born with you over-inflated sense of self-importance or did you develop it at some point later in life? Rick, Philadelphia

With success, comes ego. With fairly effortless success, comes even more. Generally only guys with low self esteem worry about others guy’s egos. That said, I think I was born with it.

Everybody on the radio or TV at ESPN always brings up the cafeteria. What makes it so special? Is it the real deal? Steve, Dallas

First of all, ESPN as a company is the ‘real deal’. There isn’t much they do second class. The café is cool because you can run into anybody at any given point and they offer a good variety of food. But that’s just how it is around here. It’s a first-class organization. Regardless of what the blogs and other emerging media claim, ESPN is on top of the sports media mountain.