Monday, May 9, 2016

2016-2017 Pac-12 Football Team Previews and Record Predictions: USC Trojans

          This week, I will preview UCLA's crosstown rival, the USC Trojans. They will lose star quarterback Cody Kessler, running back Tre Madden, center Max Tuerk, fullback Soma Vainuku, defensive ends Greg Townsend Jr. and Claude Pelon, linebackers Su'a Cravens and Anthony Sarao, cornerback Kevon Seymour, and defensive tackle Antwaun Woods. The Trojans will bring back cornerbacks Iman Marshall and Adoree' Jackson, defensive tackle Rasheem Green, linebacker Cameron Smith, safety Chris Hawkins, running backs Ronald Jones and Justin Davis, tight ends Tyler Petite and Taylor McNamara, and wide receivers Darreus Rogers and Juju Smith-Schuster. The Trojans' starting quarterback will be future-junior quarterback Max Browne. Last season, Browne saw action against Arkansas State (3 completions on 5 attempts, 66 yards), Idaho (4-6, 43 yards), and Arizona state (1-1, 4 yds.)
          USC has the toughest schedule in the Pac-12, and arguably, the toughest schedule in the country. They also open the season against Alabama, who won last season's national championship and will be this preseason's #1 team. Alabama will probably crush USC, 48-17. This will be the first time USC has lost their season opener since 1997. They will host and survive Utah State 31-28 in their home opener.
          Now at 1-1, the Trojans face yet another tough game, this time against the #2 team in the country, Stanford. Stanford will win 44-28. After this, SC will travel to Utah. Utah does have some holes to fill on both sides of the ball, which may propel the Trojans to a 35-28 win. They come back home to take on Arizona State, who will repeat what they did two years ago. The Sun Devils will beat the Trojans on a Hail Mary, 41-38.
          By now, USC will be in quite the pickle by their bye week. After that, they will beat Colorado 42-27.The Trojans were in a 3-3 situation last season as well. They will have another shootout against Arizona the following week, but Arizona will win it 44-41 in overtime. They will lose to Cal 31-27, Oregon 52-38, beat Washington 42-31, lose to UCLA 45-35, and finally, fall to Notre Dame 38-14.
          Sorry, Trojans. I'm trying to avoid as much bias as possible, but I'm predicting that USC will go 4-8. This will be the first time since 2000 that USC will fail to reach bowl eligibility. This will also be the first time since 2011 that the Trojans will miss a bowl game. In 2011, the Trojans succumbed to the Reggie Bush scandal and underwent NCAA sanctions, which banned them from postseason appearances. They were lifted from this ban in 2012. Next week, I will preview the Utah Utes.

No comments:

Post a Comment