Lane Kiffin Out at USC

Can't believe it took this long.

Packers Pick USC's Perry for Defense

Nick Perry will be joining a former USC teammate in Green Bay.  That former teammate would be on Clay Matthews.

Perry got to know Matthews as a freshman at USC and is looking forward to the reunion.


The Packers made a move to boost their pass rush in Thursday’s first round of the NFL draft, taking Perry with the No. 28 overall pick. At 6-2 and 271 pounds, Perry will play outside linebacker in the Packers’ 3-4 scheme. That could make him a complement to fellow former Trojan Matthews, something the team has lacked in recent seasons.

Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers said being able to get pass rush pressure from both sides is critical.

“It means a great deal,” Capers said. “I think the basis of our defense starts with being able to threaten offenses from both sides. You see us do a lot of things with our inside linebackers and a lot of their success is based on the type of threat that you have, I think, from both sides of your defense.”

Perry had 21.5 career sacks in three seasons.  Half of that total next season in Green Bay would be a big help.

College Football Play of the Day for 10/22/11: USC

In one of college football's most storied rivalries, how about USC getting 9.5 points as they play Notre Dame.

USC is 5-1, but still a bit of an unknown to the public and those in Vegas.  Notre Dame is 4-2, with early season defeats to South Florida and Michigan.

Still, 9.5 is too many points.  USC is historically a preety good road team and are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 road games.

The Fighting Irish are 2-5-1 ATS in their last 8 games as a home favorite of 3.5-10.0.

I say take the points and the Trojans for a big win.

USC/Utah Finish Has Implications in Vegas

USC's 23-14 victory over Utah sent Las Vegas sports books into a frenzy Saturday night.

The game originally ended with USC winning, 17-14, so Utah ticket holders with the 8.5 points were paid.  But two hours after the game, the Pacific 12 Conference overruled game officials who had not allowed a last-second touchdown by USC's Torin Harris after a blocked field-goal attempt.

Contacted about the finish by The Times, a supervisor at the MGM Mirage Sports Book said, "That cost us huge. We needed USC to cover the 8½ and when they didn't allow that touchdown, that killed us."

That was around 10 p.m.

Informed the score had been officially changed, the supervisor said: "I haven't got that information.

"Wait. We're just getting it now."

The switch, he said, made for a six-figure loss for his sports book.

"Now we lose double," he said, "because we'd already cashed out. We can't collect from people we already paid."

What happened?

Here is the Statement from Pac-12 Officiating Consultant Mike Pereira: “The new Unsportsmanlike Conduct rule is Rule 9, Section 2, Article 1. It states that Unsportsmanlike Conduct fouls by players are administered as either live ball or dead ball fouls depending on when they occur. The rule does not apply to substitutes. All Unsportsmanlike Conduct fouls by substitutes are enforced as dead ball fouls. Since the game was over, the penalty could not be enforced and the referee stated it was declined by rule. The officials did rule it a touchdown making the final score 23-14.”

Saturday Night College FB Play of the Day

UCLA

The Bruins are getting 6.5 points at home to their rival USC.  UCLA is an average team, but USC is nothing great either.  UCLA plays better in big games and I expect them to keep this one close.

This one important trend favors the Bruins.  They are 16-7 ATS in their last 23 games as a home dog.  This game cold be ugly, but go UCLA.