As an old man fan, I am of course hoping for a bounce back game. I could actually see a similar game to 2019 where some random deep ball TDs get us a lead and we hang on for the win.
Realistically, based on what we saw at ND, the game is more likely to bog down with Utah coming away with an ugly win of their own.
I gotta go with Utah 23 SC 16.
While I like Caleb Williams a lot, the noise around him can't be helping the locker room. Toss in the Notre Dame meltdown and it is very possible Riley has lost this team emotionally.
I hate the National media drama around the program right now. It also can't be helping recruiting. A loss to Utah will then lead to at least 2 other losses and I can't imagine the negativity around the program then.
For crissake, let's see the offensive line step up and let Caleb do his thing this week. I would take a sloppy win like 2019. We will still get crushed by Wahsington and Oregon but beating Utah would be nice after last year.
I only worry that the O-line will be just average or better. Last year, in the 5 quarters Caleb Williams was playing with 2 legs against Utah, SC tore them up. Both games were headed for blowouts early. The game in Salt Lake turned when SC intercepted a pass up 14-0 and the play was called back for a bullshit roughing the passer penalty. In Vegas, it was the hamstring.
That said, Williams needs at least a couple seconds of protection in the pocket, and I'm not terribly confident the line is capable of that against a good front right now.
I'm going for broke. I think the SC run game gets rich while the Utah d sets up to stop the pass. Then once they adjust to stop the run Caleb goes off. We shoot our wad on this game, barely escape Cal, then potentially lose 2 of the next 3, ending the season 9-3, and go to a mid tier bowl Xmas day kinda thing. Despite that Caleb does enough to win the Heisman.
Utah can't score USC can USC 35-17
With no Cam Rising and now TE Thomas Yassmin out for the season SC should have no problem.
USC will beat Utah and it won't be close. They are a great defense against a statue QB, but Caleb will shimmy and shake like James Brown all over them, Trojans by 21+.
This game will tell us the most about CLR. sc
Have some faith in your team, man! I stand by my prediction of 31-13 for the Men of Troy vs the Two Utes (as spoken by Vincent Gambini).
Granted, I predicted Oregon to lose at Washington last week. But not because I thought they weren't the better team, but because UW had the better QB and was at home with a circus surrounding the event.
You've got the vastly superior QB in this one, plus at home PLUS coming after a major let-down.
USC comes up big this Saturday. Book it, Dano!
USC will squeak out a win but the kids will notice how pathetic the energy is in the coliseum. They will notice the fear, inexperience and skinny jeans layered on top of their "coaches" and it will be another reminder that they are not part of a big time football program.
We win this game. Utah is a different team on the road. Whittingham struggles in games like this, not Lanning type brain lock struggles but struggles just the same. 35-27 or something like that.
USC by 7-10. I think the Utah offense is too one dimensional and even the usc d can slow it down. I think at home then usc o will find ways to real down the Utah d. Still won't be prolific.
I see usc from 27-37. And Utah between 17-24