The USC Trojans got here into this season with very excessive expectations, and that’s saying a lot contemplating their a historic program whose followers anticipate nothing quick of a Pac-12 title and a top-10 postseason end yearly. The additions of head coach Lincoln Riley and quarterback Caleb Williams had Southern California foaming on the mouth, anticipating a potential playoff look, which might be USC’s first ever and the Pac-12’s first since Washington in 2017.
The Trojans have gotten off to a scorching begin, going 6-0 to start the yr. However, their opponents haven’t precisely been world-beaters. In reality, Utah would be the first ranked opponent they’ve performed this yr. Despite that, the Trojans nearly misplaced to Oregon State, the identical Oregon State that would barely deal with Fresno State on the street and promptly bought stomped by Utah 42-16 a week after nearly beating USC.
The Trojans are proper to be scared. They had been shedding in that Oregon State sport all the best way up till the fourth quarter. The Beavers rank 54th within the nation in yards allowed per sport and are permitting 27.2 factors per sport this yr. USC racked up a grand complete of three factors by way of three quarters!
Now, it’s not honest to guage USC off of only one sport. Williams accomplished solely 44.4 p.c of his passes that sport, however he’s been finishing 64.5 p.c of his passes on the season. Clearly, the complete Trojan offense was simply in a funk that day. Well, Williams didn’t look too sharp final week at dwelling towards Washington State both. He accomplished 15-of-29 passes for 188 yards and two scores, however he was saved by an unimaginable second half defensive exhibiting from his teammates and 28 carries for Travis Dye. I perceive that Dye’s success enabled Williams to simply sit again and benefit from the journey, however when he was pressured to throw, he seemed lackluster, and that received’t reduce it towards Utah.
It’s been a development all season, AP voters’ hubris is blinding them from who the perfect groups truly are. I’m not saying Utah deserves to be top 10. Hell, they’ve misplaced two video games already, however each had been comparatively shut, each had been on the street, and each had been towards Power 5 colleges that aren’t ranked within the Top 20. USC has performed one faculty, Washington State, that has obtained AP votes. Up till a few weeks in the past, Pitt was nonetheless ranked above Kansas regardless of having a worse report towards worse opponents.
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Much like Pitt, the Trojans haven’t earned the excellence that their top-10 ranking would point out. They’ve cowered behind weak packages, hoping they might prepare for his or her matchup with the Utes. I don’t belief them. Utah is a higher crew. Up till a week in the past, they’d held each one of their opponents below 30 (below 20 should you exclude Florida). They’ve scored 25 or more factors in each sport. Against higher competitors, the Utes have the sting over USC in completion proportion, opponent completion proportion, dashing yards per sport, opponent dashing yards per sport, and are very shut behind in stats like yards per rush and complete yards per play.
Arguably USC’s largest energy defensively is their defensive position. The Trojans’ Tuli Tuipulotu is coming off a three-sack efficiency towards Washington State. However, Utah’s offensive line is presently permitting much less than a sack per sport. Perhaps Utah switch Carson Tabaracci may assist the Trojans expose Utah’s offense, however I’d be prepared to wager his information of Utah’s system received’t be a lot assist.
The Utes received’t simply win this sport. They will embarrass the Trojans’ offense. Williams solely has one interception on the yr. That modifications tonight. Utah will win this sport handedly, and they’re going to leapfrog the Trojans within the AP ballot.
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