Beat the Beavers!

Even in what undeniably looks to be a down year for the Pac-10, Pete Carroll says it will be "ridiculously difficult" for USC to survive the conference's nine-game round-robin unscathed.

And he's right, in a sense: getting through any conference schedule undefeated is always very difficult and, if you can accomplish it, extremely praiseworthy, whether you play in the SEC or the Sun Belt. (Not to deny that it's harder in the SEC, of course. But it's never easy, anywhere.)

It's also worth noting that five of USC's nine conference games this year are on the road -- including tonight's tilt in Corvallis, against Oregon State. You might recall that USC's last trip to Beaver Reser Stadium was, er, not exactly fun. Hopefully tonight's game turns out a little better.

On a tangentially related note, have I mentioned that Becky, Loyette and I are going to the USC-ND game in November? Well, we are! We got tickets through a friend, and we're super excited. Woohoo! Believe it or not, this will be my first ever Irish-Trojan game at the Coliseum. I've been to two of 'em in South Bend (including, of course, the Greatest. Game. Ever.), but never in L.A., as I was always out of town, visiting family, during Thanksgiving Breaks in college.

Anyway... Fight on, Trojans!!! Beat the Beavers!!! Game time is 9:00 PM EDT, on ESPN.