With the 2008 college football season only weeks away, odds makers are calling the USC Trojans the favorite to win the National Championship. Even though the Trojans have lost 7 starters to the first two rounds of the NFL draft they are coming in at a 3/1 favorite to take home the BCS Championship.

Quarterback Mark Sanchez's time to shine in the Southern California sun has come. After serving as backup to John David Booty and Matt Leinart he is poised to lead the Trojan offense. USC fans think Sanchez possesses the best physical skills of any QB they have seen in years. That's high praise considering they have seen the likes of Carson Palmer and Matt Lienart lead their aerial attack in the not so distant past. Running back Joe McKnight is expected the carry the load for the Trojans ground attack.
 
On the other side of the ball the Trojans defense should be as menacing as ever. They are led be two time All-Pac-10 linebacker Rey Maualuga. Maualuga, last years Rose Bowl MVP, decided to give up a chance to go to the NFL a year early and return for his senior year. When asked why he came back, Maualuga said, "I don't want to be the same person I was last year. I am hoping to come back and learn from the best".

USC has won 11 games in each of the last six seasons, and has arguably been college football's best program over that span. Even with key personnel loses on both side of the ball, year after year coach Pete Carroll has been able to consistently insert replacements that continue to dominate. This year should be no different. In fact, some are saying that the Trojans have had their best recruiting class in years, so they show no signs of slowing down any time soon.