So The University of Southern California whipped Notre Dame last weekend and is expected to do the same to UCLA this weekend, thereby cementing itself as the number 2 best football team in the country.

That would most likely give the Trojans a spot in the Bowl Championship Series National Championship game January 8th.

But should it?

The previous No. 2, Michigan, had beaten the Irish by 26 points early in the season…a margin a touchdown bigger than USC won by. And, they did it at South Bend. An argument supporting the Wolverines' right to play for the title.

The Trojans are 10-1 on the season. Their loss was to an unrated Oregon State team by 2 points. Michigan lost to the No. 1 team in the country, Ohio State by 3. Both losses were on the road.

In USC's favor, its schedule includes ten teams headed for post season bowls … Michigan's seven.

It seems to come down to, "What have you done for me lately?" As crunch time comes, when the voters cast their Top 25 ballots, they do so after having just watched USC play. Presuming the Trojans have won, they have left a greater impression than Michigan, sitting idle in the Midwest.

It's why the defense gets to go last in a trial.

One organization which would much rather have USC in the championship game in Glendale next year is ABC, which will carry the event.

The network suits would much rather have at least one entrant from a major coastal market than having two Midwest teams, from the same conference, who already have played each other this season.

Michigan or USC? We'll know in a couple of days.

How do you know when a team is done? When their whipped? When they have given up?

Coaches will tell you they know … when players are leaning over with their hands on their knees … or when they stand with their hands on their hips. They're tired. They're done.

A couple of experts in body language took a more scientific approach last week for an article in The New York Times.

Tonya Rieman, a public speaker based on Long Island (now there's a nice job) and Maxine Fiel, a writer and consultant based in Queens, say they don't know much about football. But they evaluated the Giants' loss to the Tennessee Titans in an NFL game. They used video tape provided by The Times to study the Giants as they blew a 21 point shutout of the Titans and lost

Reiman said that, even when they were in the lead, their body language showed a "defeatist attitude." She said that, to win, a team needs rapport among its members and that rapport is demonstrated with body language.

The story in The Times says both analysts pointed out Coach Tim Coughlin on the sidelines with his arms crossed … a defensive posture. Quarterback Eli Manning was seen biting his lower lip … a sign of regret.

Fiel said Manning shows an "introverted, locked up" attitude without a strong connection to the rest of the team.

Specifically, the story puts some responsibility on receiver Plaxico Burress for a 4th quarter interception. Burress failed to exert himself enough to make an attempt at the overthrow, thereby allowing the pick. Reiman said it showed a lack of effort and spirit.

Wonder what they could do with some tapes of The Browns.