USC Morning Buzz: An Early Prediction On Big Oregon Game

SARAOI usually wait until Friday to offer this prediction but the Gold Sheet picks Oregon to defeat USC, 40-24, well above the 4-points the Ducks are giving by oddsmakers.

Excerpt: “The Trojans lost two valuable LBs last week and are only 3-7 their last 10 getting points.”

61 thoughts on “USC Morning Buzz: An Early Prediction On Big Oregon Game

    • Realistic expectations are in order….Maybe they’ll play, as Scott likes to say, “With nothing to lose”….

          • You’re probably right, but I find it rather amusing that most people, including Scott, feel the same way (judging Helton’s future based on these next two games), yet, when we hired Enfield after only a 2 game run of success in the NCAA tournament a few years ago, it was virtually considered blasphemous that we would deem him worthy as our head coach…..

          • In fact, I would personally prefer a coach with much more track record and NFL experience than Helton. However, I really don’t see how he would be shown the door after these two wins. I think it’d be realistically impossible, even though it could turn out to be a big mistake.

  1. I know my feeling’s not exactly logical, but I’m feeling comfortably positive about this game on Saturday. I don’t think Oregon is unbeatable as their record indicates. Fight on!!!

    • I’m hoping that they suffer from a physical and emotional “hangover” as many teams often do the week after playing Stanford…..

      • Interesting point that was valid last season, but not this one based on records after Stanford – great article about at another site that is not ran by the commentators

    • On the ducks Ri..ls site,there head writer broke down the match ups .
      Its his belief that they will have to beat us with the pass.He also believes
      Our offensive balance being strong,but they are much weaker pass defense.bottom line he thinks they win by a field goal in a shoot out.
      Home field advantage.

      • We don’t have much speed at LB… and our pass rush still stinks…..and we’re being out-physicalled at the line of scrimmage…Their speed will destroy us, unless we are able to capitalize on turnovers…and our offense can’t just settle for FG’s in the redzone….

      • May I present the other side of the coin, peter? We ONLY win if we play OUR best game to date (hard to do with so many third stringers in the lineup, but not impossible).

        • Well Michael i like to think that are 3rd stringers would be 2nd stringers on other teams. More than 1 player will need to step up and play a whole game. A up hill battle yes, odds against yes, but can be done by a whole team effort for a whole game.
          FIGHT ON

  2. Put the speed in on defense, and Kessler has to have the game of the year. Play action passes after establishing the run game.

    • Oregon will be running from sideline to sideline in hopes of wearing out our defense (like UCLA has the last 3 years), then run the read option up the middle with Freeman and Adams…maintaining the edge will be key, as it usually is

  3. If your going to hire Clay Helton permanently based on winning out the season, then these are the games he needs to win. Because squeaking by Colorado, Arizona and Cal is not impressive to me.

    • Fred, no matter how wrong it could be, I really think Helton will be hired as HC if he wins out the remaining two games. It might not be a dream hire, but a reality.

      • I won’t have a major problem with Clay Helton being named the permanent coach if he hires credible coordinators on both sides of the ball, and surrounds himself with top position coaches, especially on the offensive line.

        • Well, all this discussion would be a moot point if he doesn’t win out, so let’s see how the next two games unfold. It definitely will be suspenseful. I’ll tell you that! LOL!!!

    • Fred, Clay Helton is the best hire for HC, whether or not he wins the remaining games this season; (i) he has proved himself to be a very strong CEO/COO, (ii) he has proved himself to be very media savvy, (iii) he has proved himself to be letter perfect when dealing with alums, fans and the powers that be, (iv) the players LOVE him and will do anything for him, such as playing with a torn ACL, PCL or Meniscus, or five days following hand surgery, (v) he is totally a TROJAN, (vi) as HC he can retain or replace any of the current coaches, and (vii) it is always BETTER to have the man you know rather than the man you don’t know. With respect to you, I have read your posts on this subject for some time and I suggest that you have not taken into consideration any of the above points.

      • This is what I really like about Helton, quotes like this with a platoon leader’s edge;

        “We signed them, we brought them here, we’ve trained them and they’re ready to go,” Helton said. “Just like Deontay Burnett, you never know what he’s going to do until you put him out and there and let him play.”

  4. SC does need the backups to step up. The game could easily go the other way or be a back and forth scoring fest. Not a game you can predict. Of course not many of SC’s games this year have gone predictably.

  5. it will be a up hill battle, but it can be done, the O line needs to take the game over from the first snap to the end whistle never missing play.

  6. 3-7 their last 10 when getting points, but Helton is responsible for only one of those at ND

    SC wins a dog fight, 35-28

    • I WANT to believe, Yolo —but it’s hard with so many third string players starting. I’m pretty sure we could have beaten Oregon at full strength (first string center, middle linebacker, projected starting tight end, etc.) but we’re really depleted —and it almost appears as though Helton is looking past this game to UCLA by keeping some possible starters out till November 28th. But, if you’re right on this one, my bud, forget Fabiani’s. It’s homemade Ragu at the Guarino household—prepared by the 100% Italian “little woman” (uh, don’t tell her I called her that when you get here).

      • Wow! Mahalo! That is quite a kind gesture, my lady and I may take you up on that! We live upcountry, and are going to LA next week, but possibly when we return!

        Confidence and fortitude are key in football victories, largely without regard to skill level as seen in so many cases where the underdog comes out victorious, or if a team can fight from behind for a win – this is where Helton comes in as a head coach and where guys like Sark failed – I believe in this chemistry, I think the good results will continue and more people will be like “realtrojan” will be comfortable going into games knowing our team will rise to the occassion – I do too

          • Bowl eligibility means Fabianis, so that’s already a done deal – bowling at Fabs! (funny thing is, I have not been there, heard good things though, and online menu looks great!)

          • It’s not like Grandma used to make, Yolo —but it’s damn good. (We need to make arrangements to monopolize their television….actually, to monopolize their entire restaurant)!

          • Sounds great – word of warning to Fabiani’s; I can get quite hostile if the tv is not quite loud enough or if, God forbid, somebody attempts to turn the channel during a Trojan football game!

  7. I think USC plays Oregon pretty close. But I do think that score of 40-24 is what you can expect UCLA to beat USC by.

  8. Sadly, I just don’t see a 3-man rushing front scheme that USC is using, to prevent Oregon from scoring at will. This is where Clancy Pendergast was really good at shutting down Oregon’s offensive. But Clancy wasn’t good enough in favor of that defensive genius we have now. All we can hope for is Helton somehow managing to keep this game close by matching Oregon with touchdowns to where there is a chance at the end of the game. Oregon however will be full of confidence after beating Stanford and at home.

    • I liked Clancey, but he never faced Oregon. It was Monte who shut them down in 2011. It was also Monte who got torched by Oregon in 2012.

      • You are correct Saul, Clancey didn’t face Oregon while at USC. But if you remember, he did 2/3 times while at Cal and gave Oregon fits. The games wound up like 10 to 7 or 17 to 10 due to Cal didn’t have much of an offense then. That is why Kiffin brought Pendergast in to replace Monte.

  9. I think we can only predict one thing – The game will start in the early afternoon and be over by 4ish. Other than that, let’s go for it!!

  10. Best case scenario: we win out
    almost-best case yet more likely and very tolerable scenario: we lose to ducks, ucla beats utah, we beat ucla, still go to Santa Clara. I would take that in a heartbeat.

  11. Oregon runs the ball out of so many formations, and USC is weak against the run, so unless the Trojan linebackers step up their game, SC might have a problem .

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