MMBSD: The King is Dead

As always Back Seat Driving on the Weekend of Sports

College Football
It doesn't happen every day where you see a perenial dynasty simply destroyed. However it happened to USC. Since 2002 USC has won a share of the Pac 10 every year. Since 2002 they have finished in the top 5 in the various polls every year. Yes, since Vince Young beat them they seem to have slipped into a pattern of inexplicable losses but that doesn't change the fact that there simply has been no team consistently as good as USC year after year. However this past Saturday Oregon gave USC the worst loss its ever had in the Pete Carroll era . It wasn't fluky plays or bad turnovers, they were just dominated in every facet of the game in rolling to a 27 point win. There were a number of unique circumstances this year (new coordinators, 9 new defensive starters, freshman QB) so its unclear if this a permanent step down or an aberation but its safe to say the reign of USC over the Pac 10 is over..for at least this year.

The dominating win also poses an interesting question of what to do about Oregon. On the one hand they were thoroughly out classed the first game of the season by Boise State. On the other hand the team that destroyed USC isn't the same team that lost to Boise. On the one hand Boise State is still undefeated. On the other is any team hotter than Oregon? College football seems to discount peaking at the right time as each game as mini-elimination games or slices of some absolute reality so it's doubtful that the powers that be will leap frog Oregon into BCS Championship.


NFL

Another early season game and another big win for Brett Favre. For what feels like years Favre seems to have plotted to get to Minnesota to get revenge on Ted Thompson for releasing him. With the season sweep on Green Bay Minnesota seems to be in the drivers seat for a high seed in the playoffs. Of course not too long ago Green Bay finished 13-3 behind a virtuso regular season performance by Favre before Favre crapped out in the playoffs. Favre haters everywhere will have to somehow console themselves with that thought as the regular season seems to belong Favre.

In another big game the Baltimore Ravens rebounded to crush Denver. It's hard to make to many generalities but I think this was an important game for the Ravens. Losers of 3 straight there had to be some growing panic in the Rat-Bird land with games at Cinci and Indy over the next 3 weeks. However Baltimore righted the ship at least for now while puncturing the growing aura around the Donkeys.

NBA
Well one week into the basketball season and there's a few things propping up. Boston's defense looks suffocating, Orlando's offense looks unstoppable, DeJuan Blair is playing great, and oh yeah Houston is doing decently. On a happy note Delonte West returned the Cavs. One can only hope that he consistently contribute this season, both as its a sign that he's stabilized his illness but also its obvious the Cavs desperately need him. On today's random fact after 1 week if I was to vote for a rookie of the year...its Ty Lawson. Check out his stats. He might be a big reason why Denver won't fade from the West title hunt.....