UW @ USC (4:30 pm, ABC)
Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2023 11:57 pm
I believe UW will win this game, but I'll be following my usual instincts and root for them to lose. Now, I think I know the common objections to this in the current context: "No, we must suppress those normal Duck instincts and root for UW to win the rest of their scheduled games so that UW will be as highly rated as possible when -- assuming the Ducks do the same -- they meet in Las Vegas, giving the Ducks the best possible chance to make the CFP."
But I'm not buying that reasoning, at least not for this game. I think what we want is as many of this year's Duck opponents ranked as possible. If UW beats USC, quite possibly USC is out of the next CFP poll, and then assuming the Ducks beat them the next week at Autzen (which of course "must" happen from our perspective), the Trojans will almost assuredly be shut out of the final CFP poll, having at least four losses. But if USC can knock off UW Saturday evening, they'll likely rise in the poll about as much as UW would drop, essentially making it a wash as far as Ducks' opponents' rankings go. So then we'd likely have the opportunity to beat another fairly highly ranked USC team the next week, and it's quite possible USC would still remain ranked even with a loss to the Ducks and possibly in the final CFP poll.
Yes, I want UW to taste defeat as soon as possible.
But I'm not buying that reasoning, at least not for this game. I think what we want is as many of this year's Duck opponents ranked as possible. If UW beats USC, quite possibly USC is out of the next CFP poll, and then assuming the Ducks beat them the next week at Autzen (which of course "must" happen from our perspective), the Trojans will almost assuredly be shut out of the final CFP poll, having at least four losses. But if USC can knock off UW Saturday evening, they'll likely rise in the poll about as much as UW would drop, essentially making it a wash as far as Ducks' opponents' rankings go. So then we'd likely have the opportunity to beat another fairly highly ranked USC team the next week, and it's quite possible USC would still remain ranked even with a loss to the Ducks and possibly in the final CFP poll.
Yes, I want UW to taste defeat as soon as possible.