Could the USC Trojans beat the Houston Texans?

[Nitemare]

USC would spot them a 28 point half-time lead, but would be unable to come back against them

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Actually the fight would be quite close but I think any NFL team would win. IT wouldn't be a dominant victory though.

I think a lot of arguments you guys are using are like "Oh look at Alex Smith, he sucks now, or Aaron Rodgers..." But the fact is we're talking Trojans vs NFL meaning Leinart and Bush stick with their teams still. The reason why many NCAAF players can't shine like they once did is not cuz they suck, but because the rythm of the game is slightly different and they're around different teammates.

I mean look at Leinart, he's still going to throw awesome passes and Bush is still going to run like crazy. Look at when Cal had #4 defense in the nation last year and in that thriller game, Bush was still on fire... I know that NFL teams are a lot better, but there's no way you're going to completely shut down SC's offense.

 

[konichiwa]

Originally posted by: DLeRium
Actually the fight would be quite close but I think any NFL team would win. IT wouldn't be a dominant victory though.

I think a lot of arguments you guys are using are like "Oh look at Alex Smith, he sucks now, or Aaron Rodgers..." But the fact is we're talking Trojans vs NFL meaning Leinart and Bush stick with their teams still. The reason why many NCAAF players can't shine like they once did is not cuz they suck, but because the rythm of the game is slightly different and they're around different teammates.

I mean look at Leinart, he's still going to throw awesome passes and Bush is still going to run like crazy. Look at when Cal had #4 defense in the nation last year and in that thriller game, Bush was still on fire... I know that NFL teams are a lot better, but there's no way you're going to completely shut down SC's offense.

1 word for you my friend: Line. The USC line would be ABSOLUTELY DOMINATED on both sides of the ball. Without a line, you have no shot at winning a football game and the USC line would be completely overmatched. COMPLETELY.

 

[DevilsAdvocate]

Originally posted by: BrokenVisage
The best college football team could NEVER beat the worst NFL team, plain and simple.

I used to say that... I voted yes. These guys suck.

<-- Texans season ticket holder.

 

[Ready]

No college offensive line can stand up against an a NFL front 4. This is probably the worst matchup on the field.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Originally posted by: Ready
No college offensive line can stand up against an a NFL front 4. This is probably the worst matchup on the field.

What are you looking at? Avg weight? That actually is a huge factor, but look at UCLA vs Cal or Washington vs. Cal. Offensive lines, Cal has on paper a lot better people.... Well.. Go figure.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Originally posted by: happybelly

Originally posted by: Gibsons

Originally posted by: Excelsior

Originally posted by: BrokenVisage
The best college football team could NEVER beat the worst NFL team, plain and simple.

edit: the worst players in the NFL were mostly in the top 1% of college players, and have since probably gotten bigger and better from their NFL experience.

Yep. What would be a little more interesting is an All-Star college team vs. the worst NFL team. I think the NFL team would still win, but it would be somewhat interesting I think.

There used to be a College All Star vs. an NFL team up until the mid 70's. They didn't play the worst NFL teams though. In fact, the last game was against the Steelers.

But the College teams won quite a few games, particularly in the early years. But they didn't always get the best college players, because of fear of injury.

But the answer to the question is, yes, a college all-star team could easily beat Houston.

All the people saying that it is impossible are simply wrong.

Could SoCal beat them? Maybe. I'd give some of the 90's FSU teams a better chance, though....they were better than USC is now.

But a college all-star team....there are enough good players in college that you could field several all-star teams that could beat the worst NFL teams.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Originally posted by: Ready
No college offensive line can stand up against an a NFL front 4. This is probably the worst matchup on the field.

Horsecrap. The best college teams regularly have at least two of their defensive linemen and several offensive linemen go to the NFL.

The scrubs at Houston aren't much, if any better than top college guys.

Then again, the Houston DL isn't a real front four.

 

[95SS]

Originally posted by: DLeRium

Originally posted by: Ready
No college offensive line can stand up against an a NFL front 4. This is probably the worst matchup on the field.

What are you looking at? Avg weight? That actually is a huge factor, but look at UCLA vs Cal or Washington vs. Cal. Offensive lines, Cal has on paper a lot better people.... Well.. Go figure.

How about ability? A good college line might have one, maybe two, future NFL prospects. A starting NFL line is made entirely of players who are the absolute best at what they do. ANY college line (even on an "all star team", as was posted) would be destroyed in short order against an NFL line. The college players are simply not strong enough to compete as a whole.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Originally posted by: konichiwa

Originally posted by: DLeRium
Actually the fight would be quite close but I think any NFL team would win. IT wouldn't be a dominant victory though.

I think a lot of arguments you guys are using are like "Oh look at Alex Smith, he sucks now, or Aaron Rodgers..." But the fact is we're talking Trojans vs NFL meaning Leinart and Bush stick with their teams still. The reason why many NCAAF players can't shine like they once did is not cuz they suck, but because the rythm of the game is slightly different and they're around different teammates.

I mean look at Leinart, he's still going to throw awesome passes and Bush is still going to run like crazy. Look at when Cal had #4 defense in the nation last year and in that thriller game, Bush was still on fire... I know that NFL teams are a lot better, but there's no way you're going to completely shut down SC's offense.

1 word for you my friend: Line. The USC line would be ABSOLUTELY DOMINATED on both sides of the ball. Without a line, you have no shot at winning a football game and the USC line would be completely overmatched. COMPLETELY.

Totally wrong. Houston's DL sucks, and most of USC's OL will probably play in the NFL.
Same for USC's DL.
Now there's no way USC could hang with the Steelers or the Patriots, but Houston? Yep.

 

[slvrsol]

There are definitely some players on the Trojans that are already better than the Texans. The whole Trojan offense will be in the NFL and probably be better than the Texans.. especially if you count Andre Johnson as injured. Then if you bring in coaching, USC easily has better coaches. Yah Texans would probably win, but would they win 50 out of 50 games? I seriously doubt it.. so yes they could beat the Texans. Look at BBall.. Team USA had like 10 times more talent than anyone else and they lost.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Originally posted by: 95SS
How about ability? A good college line might have one, maybe two, future NFL prospects. A starting NFL line is made entirely of players who are the absolute best at what they do. ANY college line (even on an "all star team", as was posted) would be destroyed in short order against an NFL line. The college players are simply not strong enough to compete as a whole.

Yeah, right....that's why college linemen regularly go to the NFL and either start or make the 2-deep their first year.

We're talking college vs. the worst of the NFL....not a college team vs. the Patriots.

Houston has several rookies or very young guys on their OL. I'd like to see them block FSU's DL.

Much less an all-star college line up.

If you could pick an all-star college team, and let them actually practice together for long enough to actually BE a team, they'd be favored by double digits over Houston.

 

[Pacfanweb]

FWIW, here are the scores of the last few games between the College All Stars and the NFL Champs:
1971 Colts 24 All Stars 17
1972 Cowboys 20 All Stars 7
1973 Dolphins 14 All Stars 3 (remember, these were the undefeated Dolphins)
1974 No game, NFL strike
1975 Steelers 21 All Stars 14
1976 Game was suspended with the Steelers leading 24-0

So this was college players vs. the Super Bowl champs, not the worst team in the league. And the college boys were competitive.
So I don't think that it is a stretch to say a top college team today could beat an NFL bottom-dweller.

Edit: And remember, these college teams were graduated seniors only, not a real, cream-of-the-crop, bona-fide, All Star team. And they still performed respectably against teams that were reigning Super Bowl champs.

 

[kalster]

Originally posted by: MrsBugi

Originally posted by: BrokenVisage
The best college football team could NEVER beat the worst NFL team, plain and simple.

As big of a Trojan fan as I am, I have to agree.

 

[Leper Messiah]

If USC brings their best game and the Texans bring their worst, maybe.

 

[Ready]

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb

Originally posted by: Ready
No college offensive line can stand up against an a NFL front 4. This is probably the worst matchup on the field.

Horsecrap. The best college teams regularly have at least two of their defensive linemen and several offensive linemen go to the NFL.

The scrubs at Houston aren't much, if any better than top college guys.

Then again, the Houston DL isn't a real front four.

There are 32 NFL teams
There are 119 Division 1-A teams. Thats a ratio of 1/4. Then the suppose college players stays in school for 4 years, and professional players average 8 years in the league. Thats another 1/2 ratio. That means the NFL only keeps the top 1/8 of college players(rough estimate). You add in the exp, str, and ability of a NFL team, there is no way the best college offensive line can come close to protecting their QB. USC won't be able to move the ball because their QB will spend the entire day gettting sacked.

 

[NeoV]

oh boy....another person who doesn't know jack about football...all 53 of you that voted yes fall into that category.

The best college teams regularly have 2 or 3 D linemen that go onto the NFL? That might be true for 3 or 4 teams....but some of those guys are only freshmen or sophmores....and if you think there is ONE freshman D lineman in the NCAA right now that can play against an NFL O-line, you are smoking crack.

I think it's possible that USC could score some points against the Texans - their 3-4 defense doesn't have a lot of D-Line studs....but their secondary would absolutely lock up USC's receivers, who aren't NFL ready...yet...White and Bush are good enough, particulary Bush, to create some plays on their own...however, no way at all they come close to winning...

The Texans would score on every drive....and probably wouldn't even need to pass for the first few series...by the time USC brings their 8th guy up in the box to at least have a chance of stopping the run, Andre Johnson, Gaffney, and Bradford are running down the field right by the USC secondary.

 

[pennylane]

No.

 

[latino666]

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
FWIW, here are the scores of the last few games between the College All Stars and the NFL Champs:
1971 Colts 24 All Stars 17
1972 Cowboys 20 All Stars 7
1973 Dolphins 14 All Stars 3 (remember, these were the undefeated Dolphins)
1974 No game, NFL strike
1975 Steelers 21 All Stars 14
1976 Game was suspended with the Steelers leading 24-0

So this was college players vs. the Super Bowl champs, not the worst team in the league. And the college boys were competitive.
So I don't think that it is a stretch to say a top college team today could beat an NFL bottom-dweller.

Edit: And remember, these college teams were graduated seniors only, not a real, cream-of-the-crop, bona-fide, All Star team. And they still performed respectably against teams that were reigning Super Bowl champs.

That was in the 70s. NFL caliber players today are bigger, stronger, and faster. IMHO USC would get whooped pretty bad.

 

[juiio]

Not to mention that it says "College All-Stars", and not one particular college.

And, of course, neither team would have been playing seriously, since they wouldn't want to get hurt in a meaningless exhibition.

 

[dnuggett]

Wow, USC gained some popularity overnight!!

 

[HardcoreRobot]

there is too big of a physical difference to overcome. doesnt matter how talented a college team is, they will never have the depth or training to compete with a professional one.

 

[Nitemare]

Originally posted by: dnuggett
Wow, USC gained some popularity overnight!!

ESPN staff must have woken up.

USC offense, FSU defense and VT special teams could probably beat the Texans better than 50% of the time

 

[CVSiN]

Originally posted by: dnuggett
What do you guys think? I'm going to reserve my opinion for now, but I do have an absolute opinion.



Normal 15min a quarter, halftime etc... Played with the college rules, not NFL rules.

I won't poll this question, but how would you set the line?

no i doubt they can even beat Texas.... Pac 10 are wussies..

 

[Feldenak]

Hell, I think Texas is going to beat the hell out of USC (provided they both finish out undefeated). USC vs. Houston? No contest. USC's defense is not particularly good. Look what ND did to them and it's fairly well accepted that ND doesn't have the talent they had in years past. Any team with a slightly better offense than ND has (little more speed) and USC loses that game.