USC has not played at Pullman since 2010 but is this a perfect game following so many tough road games this season? Or is it a trap game?
Here’s my preview of the game.
USC has not played at Pullman since 2010 but is this a perfect game following so many tough road games this season? Or is it a trap game?
Here’s my preview of the game.
OK, it’s time to pick the score for tomorrow’s game. The spread is around nine points and the Gold Sheet expects a close call. But Steve Sarkisian’s beaten up on Fresno State and Colorado already. Is Washington State as bad as those teams?
I suspect Connor Halliday will put some points up to make things interesting but this is where you get to pick the score.
Every week USC coaches talks about getting more carries for sophomore tailback Justin Davis but it does not always happen. This is important because if Davis does not spell Javorius Allen, then Allen could be worn down near the end of the game.
Davis received a season-low four carries against Utah and also experienced problems fumbling in recent games.
“I wish we were giving (Davis) the ball a little bit more, and that’s as much me as anybody else,” Steve Sarkisian said. “I just think we need to manage that a little better and trust Justin. He’s a good player, a good runner.”
The venerable betting publication, the Gold Sheet, picks USC to defeat Washington State, 34-31.“Cougars terribly unbalanced, but Trojans have taken some hits at CB,” the Gold Sheet says.
USC-bound Ricky Town of St. Bonaventure experienced a tough night against Westlake tonight. Town completed three of six passes for zero yards in the first half and finished with 92 yards passing. Westlake won, 45-28 after leading 31-7 at halftime.
Since we are making comparisons, USC went 10-4 last year. Let’s take away the Hawaii game and say 9-4. That means this year’s team will need to win four of the next five games including the bowl game to match it.
Did anyone think this year’s team was supposed to be worse than last year? No one had an idea about the quarterback last year. Or that Marqise Lee would be hurt most of the season? I blame it all on Josh Shaw.
USC defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox talks about what defenses he runs and why he did not blitz on Utah’s final possesio
I mentioned earlier how Pete Carroll’s first had some similar traits to Steve Sarkisian’s with close losses. But there were also differences.
Excerpt: “In 2001, three of those first five games were to top 12-ranked teams. USC lost 10-6 to No. 12 Kansas State. This year, the Trojans lost to teams unranked at the time of the game (Boston College, Arizona State) and No.19 Utah.
“And maybe the biggest difference is the feeling the cupboard was bare at USC in 2001. This USC team is coming off a 10-win season and was ranked in the top 15 in nearly every preseason poll.”
Do Pete Carroll and Steve Sarkisian have something in common?
In 2001, three of Pete Carroll’s losses in the first five games were to top 12-ranked teams. USC also lost 10-6 to No. 12 Kansas State.
This year, the Trojans lost to teams unranked at the time of the game (Boston College, Arizona State) and No.19 Utah.