The band Unwritten Law had a pretty good song a few years back, called "Seein' Red", the words to which perfectly capture this moment:

"Seein' Red,
Don't think you'll have to see my face again,
Don't have much time for sympathy,
Cause it never happened to me
Feelin' Blue now
Think you bit off more than you could chew
Now it's time to make a choice
And all I wanna hear is your voice"                           

After grabbing some lunch, I came back to my office to hear this song on the radio. I immediately thought of the USC-Texas Rose Bowl BCS Championship Game. And I immediately thought about all the ridiculous attention it's getting. Yes, it's the National Championship of College Football, but we don't even give the Super Bowl this much hype--or type.

I may not be an "expert" but I can't help but see Trojan red all over tonight's game. 

After reading, watching and listening to everyone's opinion--from ESPN's College Game Day guys, Fox Sports.com, ESPN Radio, Sports Illustrated and ESPN the Magazine--I'm left with more predictions and reasons as to why this is going to be the "Greatest Football Game of All-Time". We used to hand that out pretty lightly, but now it's just absurd.

Pretty soon a USC win will seem like a Trojan horse. 

Didn't everyone call last year's Oklahoma-USC BCS Orange Bowl game the best ever before kickoff?

You know what I've yet to hear throughout this past month? Who picked Oklahoma last year--because it seems like no one did.

I think we should do all that we historically can to document and validate the selections of all those above mentioned outlets. No, not so we can rub it in their face that they were wrong, but so that in December we can remind them they're no better at picking winners than we are. Maybe they'll stop beating us over the head with it.

I've closed my eyes and ears for over a month because I believe USC will win the National Championship. I haven't written much about it, other than in my BCS Bowl predictions last week (where I gave the other BCS Bowls equal space), because I find this all a little funny. Are we so eager to make up for last year's debacle of a title game that we're ready to put ourselves in the Big XII boat again? Is it an upset when every major outlet starts predicting Texas?

Seriously, look at this, currently the headliner on the SI website:  Trendy? Yeah...

The ESPN.com writers are fairly split on the matter and the front of this very site, Fox Sports.com is hyping this as the greatest game ever--and that currently most don't have the foresight to see it.

I haven't seen anything yet.

For all I know, this could easily be 55-19. I can't drink the Texas Kool-Aid as easy as others. Mack Brown isn't all the sudden the Next Great Coach--as of today he's still the guy I think wouldn't know who to play if Chance Mock had eligibility left.

Vince Young is now being compared to Michael Vick, with the arm of Joe Montana. The same Vince Young who last year threw 12 TD and 11 INT, his longest pass just 49 yards. I know he was only a sophomore last year--"look how far he's come, how great he is" they say.  

I'm looking at his competition, his stats--and think Notre Dame's Brady Quinn is a better quarterback. Compare their stats and not their wins, for just a honest moment. Who would you want leading your NFL team in the future?

I'm not saying Vince Young isn't a good football player, but what we do is we take a man, a team, a game and talk them into the stratosphere. Then we bring them down when they don't meet those expectations.

Vince, you want real advice about turning pro? Ask Matt Leinart after the game what he would do if he had another chance. The 2004 Heisman Trophy winner went from The Guy that everyone wanted to be, to That Guy.

Was: Leinart came back for the football, for USC, for his friends! 
Is: Leinart's taking Ballroom Dancing, cheating on his girlfriend and binge drinking!

Was: He's a sure-fire #1 or #2 pick in the NFL Draft!
Is: Who wants him! He's got a weak arm! He's no good!

All Leinart did in 2005 differently than in 2004 was throw for more yards, more yards per play, less sacks and a higher QB Rating. But the perception is he's a wash-out, a has-been. Vince Young and Texas are the New Hotness!

It's trendy to hate the champs, I should know, I used to do it when the Yankees were winning all their World Series titles. But there's something about respecting and hating a team versus hating on and belittling a team.

Texas complained about lack of respect and got it. USC earned it, kept it for about half a season,and then lost it, for whatever the reason. Maybe their ego is big and growing by the minute. Wouldn't yours?

Now USC has only won a single BCS title and an AP Title.  We're looking for anyway to ignore what's surrounding us. You want greatness, instant history and incredible players? We've had it, but we're already looking for the team to beat them.

Suddenly, Texas has the best cover corners in the nation. The offensive line is like a Hollywood Party--you're not getting in. Quick! Name the Texas running backs and receivers!

Unless you're a Longhorn fan, you probably can't. Why is that? We hear about LenDale White, Steve Smith, even John David Booty, the back-up QB for USC. What we hear about Texas is about how they've got the attack to rival the Trojan's. But where is it? If it's so amazing, why don't we know about them?

Why is the Big XII as a conference being given so much credit? USC dealt with Oregon and UCLA, two respectable, top 20 teams. Where was Colorado and Oklahoma at the end of the year? And I'll say this: if Troy Smith was playing against Texas like he did against Notre Dame (or was given the minutes to) maybe Texas doesn't win that game. My point is you can't compare the ND loss to Ohio State, the ND close loss to USC and the Texas win at Ohio State. Different points in the season, different circumstances, different everything. 

Pete Carroll may know what he's doing

Pete Carroll may have failed in the NFL, but he sure seems to know what he's doing in College. 3 Heisman Winners and two National Championships (the AP does count from '03 folks) says he does.

Here's a final thought: at this point Carroll's like the guy at the craps table who just keeps rolling out winners. Do you sit back, like so many are and say it's not real, it's based on luck or that he'll fail if we can just steal his lucky rabbit's foot? Or do you get in on the action, enjoy it and try to take some of his winnings home?

The guy watched his team convert a 4th and Forever at Notre Dame in October, against his NFL replacement's offensive coordinator and against the green jersey's. With a smile on his face.

I'm running up to the table, putting down my money and buying Carroll a drink. I'll do it with my ND hat on.

Like Vince Vaughn says in Anchorman: "Deep down, with every inch of me, I hate you Ron Burgundy....but dang it, I respect you." That's me: I don't like Pete Carroll, but I do respect him.

For the second time, I'll put my pick in print, just so I can be reminded of it later: USC 45, Texas 31.