Recently, I've been hearing a lot of people say that this year's USC football team could beat this year's San Francisco 49ers. It doesn't only include your Monday morning armchair quarterbacks. I've heard it on ESPN and they sound dead serious about it. I just don't see how this is possible. I know USC is really good and better than most of us thought but I still think the 49ers would win. The 49ers are bad but are they really that bad? What do you all think?
I'm wondering if you guys think that there are any college teams in football or basketball that could beat the worst NFL/NBA team. This reminds me of some debate that occured during the 2000-01 Illini basketball season. We were ranked in the top 5 for most of the year and ended up earning a #1 seed in the NCAA tournament. There was some talk over whether they could beat the Bulls that year. This was the rookie season of the Baby Bulls (Eddie Curry and Tyson Chandler) where they jumped to the NBA from high school. I believe the average age of the Bulls wasn't much higher than the upperclassmen led Illini. I and most people still thought the Bulls would have demolished that Illini team that year.
Funny you should bring this topic up. As I was watching USC demolish OU, the thought crossed my mind that these kids were really good and looked a darn sight better than some pro teams I had watched this year. Of course, one has to consider the quality of the competition: a highly skilled opponent can make a team look pretty pathetic. Considering that professional players are only the best of the best college players, that the pro's are more physically mature and more highly trained and developed, that the quality of their competition is superior week in and week out, and that the sophistication of their offensive and defensive schemes are greater, I would expect even the lowliest pro team to defeat the very best college team 9 out of 10 times, at least.
Funny you should bring this topic up. As I was watching USC demolish OU, the thought crossed my mind that these kids were really good and looked a darn sight better than some pro teams I had watched this year. Of course, one has to consider the quality of the competition: a highly skilled opponent can make a team look pretty pathetic. Considering that professional players are only the best of the best college players, that the pro's are more physically mature and more highly trained and developed, that the quality of their competition is superior week in and week out, and that the sophistication of their offensive and defensive schemes are greater, I would expect even the lowliest pro team to defeat the very best college team 9 out of 10 times, at least.
You're dead on there with the football comparison. Pro football teams are all too big, too strong, and too highly trainedto lose to a college team. USC isn't always going to play at the level the played at against Oklahoma but the 49'ers (sad as they may be) can still win any given Sunday in the NFL. The 1 in 10 odds seem about right.
Basketball might be another story. A highly skilled college team with a couple of NBA draft choices playing for them would beat the worst NBA team more often than in the football scenario. Less players means more chance of one player taking over the game. JMO
I have to agree with Valeogut and leaguegolf here, in football at least the best college team may beat the worst pro team once in a while, but nowhere near consistently...almost every player in the NFL was once a star on their college team, and add in the experience factor, and they'd have no chance. In college hoops I think the same holds true, although there have been some college teams in recent years who've been filled with talent and could have given their respective worst teams in the NBA some good games most of the time, but I still think they would have lost 8 times at least out of 10.
The one and only original 1992 Dream Team was actually defeated by a group of college all stars in preparation for the Olympics. It was only a 20 minutes scrimmage but here's a link:
That was quite the college all-star team! Granted, it's likely the Dream Team took the scrimmage lightly but still, that's an impressive win. Thanks for sharing that info Paul.
I'd go even further than you guys. I don't think the best college team would ever beat the worst NFL team, except under the most extreme circumstances, like all of their QB's are injured early & can't go. It could happen in the NBA though, if the college team got hot & the pro team had an off shooting night. There I'd go with a 1 or 2 in 10 shot.
Normally, I wouldn't even bring the subject up because I don't actually believe the Trojans could beat the 49ers. It's just that the "experts" on ESPN didn't have an ounce of sarcasm when they said it so I wanted to know what others thought.
Normally, I wouldn't even bring the subject up because I don't actually believe the Trojans could beat the 49ers. It's just that the "experts" on ESPN didn't have an ounce of sarcasm when they said it so I wanted to know what others thought.
That was a good use of quotes victory .. "experts". I can't believe some of the things I hear coming out of the mouths some of these so-called experts. There are so many of them now... I think they just throw stuff like that out there to stir the pot. Were any of these guys ex-NFL players? If so they should be ashamed of themselves.
LG I remember that summer game & I think that the all-stars even won one once and a while, but that's a whole different set of circumstances, IMO.
LG I remember that summer game & I think that the all-stars even won one once and a while, but that's a whole different set of circumstances, IMO.
Yep, a college all-star team is a bit different from a regular college team, and with the increased talent they might have a slightly better chance to defeat their professional opponents. Although I think that their increased talent would be offset by their lack of familiarity with each other and a lack of team cohesion, resulting in a a similar proportion of victories as a regular college team.
Thats silly how the "experts" think this. Pro football players would clean house with any college football program. Look at Ken Dorsey in SF. He gets owned by the pros, but he was dominant in college. Same with a bunch of other players who were "busts". The skill level of the pros is so much higher, i dont see how anyone can make this claim.
USC looks good because they play other college teams. 49ers look terrible cuz they play other pro teams. I'd like to see Reggie Bush and Lindell White do what they did to a Defense like Baltimore.
January 8th, 2005, 06:00 AM
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