Why USC-UCLA Is the Most Overrated Rivalry

The USC-UCLA rivalry is the most overrated in college football. There is a rivalry. There is some emotion. There is some dislike.

But, c'mon. It's in L.A.

There are the sellout crowds at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and the Rose Bowl. There's the delight the Bruins took in ending the Trojans' national championship hopes in 2006 with a 13-9 upset. There's the 1967 game, in which the No. 4 Trojans and their Heisman Trophy candidate, tailback O.J. Simpson, defeated the No. 1 Bruins and their Heisman Trophy winner, quarterback Gary Beban, 21-20. The game turned on Simpson's 64-yard, gravity-defying touchdown sprint in the fourth quarter. Dan Jenkins, the best college football writer since Grantland Rice, has that '67 game on his short list of all-time greats.

But, c'mon. It's still in L.A.

These people don't know how to hate a college football opponent. The weather's too nice. There's too much else to do. College football is just not important enough.

-- Excerpt from Ivan Maisel's new book, "The Maisel Report: College Football's Most Overrated & Underrated." Click here to read more on USC-UCLA. Click here to see the Maisel Report website and read more excerpts. Click here to buy the book.

Comments

[Toney]

Maisel doesn't even gets his facts right.

In 2005, in the week leading up to the USC-UCLA game, USC students tarred, feathered, and painted the brand new Bruin bear statue in bruin walk.

[Cliff Wrang]

Maisel is weak. Only in our city of Angels is two high profile college football teams, only 15 minutes apart. Everyday is a rivalry with USC/UCLA. And yes, the weather is great here.

[x]

GO BRUINS!!!