Pac-12 predictions for the start of full conference play

If there are reservations about USC’s ability to turn things around despite what it did previous year, it’s not because the Trojans lost to Alabama and Stanford, it is how they did. The game is the second consecutive road tilt for the Trojans and their third game away from the Coliseum of the season in four weeks.

USC opened its season with a blowout loss to number one ranked Alabama and is coming off a seventeen point loss to Stanford to fall to a 1-2 record for the season so far. The Trojans have been outscored 61 – 86. It helps that the athletic redshirt freshman can use his feet to also help escape the rush. The problem for them has been the amount of time they spend on the field, because of the offense’s inability to get a first down.

With the 2016-17 basketball season fast approaching, the Pac-12 Conference has released its women’s conference schedule.

USC’s Sam Darnold threw for 253 yards and ran for a touchdown in his first career start after replacing Sam Browne.

Other key league matchups on the Pac-12 Network include a clash between perennial favorite Stanford at defending co-Pac-12 Champion ARIZONA STATE on December 30, and a New Year’s celebration tilt between national semifinalists Washington at OSU for the only meeting between the teams this season.

Utah started the season with two home games with teams from the State of Utah.

HT: The best thing that USC did in playing Utah State was just that – playing Utah State.

ABOUT UTAH (3-0, 0-0): The Utes delivered 10 sacks against San Jose and look to get after Darnold against one of the most experienced offensive lines in the country.

USC is off to its worst start since 2001, also the last time they finished below.500 in the month of September, a fate they hope to avoid. Cody Barton leads the Utes with 22 tackles, Hunter Dimick has three sacks and Sunia Tauteoli has two interceptions. Williams, who threw for 270 yards in the win, threw his team deep into USC territory, but a bit of luck allowed the Utes to cut into the lead. The Utes, which cracked the rankings this week for the first time this season, have a somewhat familiar look: An inconsistent offense and an aggressive defense. Tim Patrick and Raelon Singleton have combined for 383 receiving yards and four touchdowns while Tyrone Smith has five receptions.

OUR PREDICTION: Perhaps the change at quarterback will jumpstart a USC offense that hasn’t clicked since the season got underway.

Series history: USC leads the all-time series 10-4, including a 42-24 victory previous year. Nonconference play comes to a close with a journey to UC Irvine on December 21 before the holiday break, which offers a chance to refocus on the competitive Pac-12 Conference push ahead. Every single play on the opening drive for Utah was a run play and it resulted in the Utes taking an early 7-0 lead.

The Cardinal hosts the Longhorns on Monday, Nov. 14 at 5 p.m.in a nationally-televised game on ESPN2 that is part of ESPN’s ninth annual College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon.

The average score in the 14 all-time meetings between the two teams is Utah 12.9 – USC 26.5.

How Utah does against USC will offer a measuring stick for whether or not the Utes can challenge for a Pac-12 South title. “We know we didn’t come out with the win, and that’s really what I remember”.

Expect a big win for the Utes, and a nice cover to cash your tickets headed to the massive Saturday slate on deck.