7 Days Trojan fans. Only 7 more days until Traveler marches into the Coliseum, Conquest booms out over the PA, and the sword is buried at the 50-yard line. Behind the fanfare and flyovers of a USC season opener, will be a driven and capable team ready to set the tone for a 12-week campaign towards a berth in the College Football Playoff. Don’t get visions of roses in your heads just yet though, USC will face a number of tests if they are to have a chance to play for it all in January. Let’s take a look at the schedule week by week and I will make a prediction for the overall record at the end of the season
Game 1: USC v. Western Michigan
USC opens up with the Broncos in an afternoon matchup at the Coliseum. USC is currently a 28 point favorite but don’t sleep too hard on the Western Michigan as they went undefeated last year albeit against a week schedule. I see USC making some errors in this game, but coming away with a solid victory.
Game 2: USC v. Stanford
The Trojans take on the Cardinal, and their awful band, in an evening game at home in week 2. Stanford lost a major weapon in McCaffrey, but they are an extremely well coached team. They can hold their own with any program out there and present a real challenge to us early in the year. I think USC plays this down to the wire but comes up just short and loses late in the fourth. Our young players/staff may get exposed and beaten by an experienced team.
Game 3: USC v. Texas
USC will win this game, in convincing fashion. I imagine Helton will have some January 2006 game film on repeat in the Mckay Center all week as he rallies the squad for this game. Tom Herman will have something to prove as he takes over the Longhorn program and we should expect to get the best version of Texas he can put on the field. It’s one of those pride games, where anything could happen, but I expect USC to hit their stride and take this one.
Game 4: USC @ Cal
After enjoying the warm confines of Southern California, USC packs its bag for a trip to the East Bay in week 4. Cal was picked to finish last in the north and if we play a clean game we shouldn’t have any issue coming home with a road win.
Game 5: USC @ Washington State
I don’t know why, but I’ve had this game circled on the schedule for some time now. I believe playing a night game in the Pacific Northwest is a tough task for any team, and the Cougars will surely get up for a shot at USC. The Friday game means a short week and second road game for SC which worries me. If the weather is inclement, USC will stick to the ground game and escape with a win.
Game 6: USC v. Oregon State
Sorry Beaver fans, not much to write about here. USC returns home and defeats the Beavers with ease as our younger players now feel very comfortable in the system and Oregon State does not present too much of a challenge.
Game 7: USC v. Utah
The Utes make a return trip to USC this year and will come in with confidence. Utah, much like USC, has had a high level of recruiting and their O-Line/D-Line is very strong year to year. USC will scrap a bit in this one, but come away with the win.
Game 8: USC @ Notre Dame
The Trojans head out to South Bend for a traditional late October matchup with the Irish. This game will be a big challenge, especially if it’s a cold weather setting. Much like Stanford, I think USC plays 3 great quarters but comes up short on the road.
Game 9: USC @ Arizona State
USC will have to stay healthy as the effects of 8 straight games will be noticeable at this point in the year. Aside from that, there isn’t too much stopping USC from getting a win in the desert.
Game 10: USC v. Arizona
After a dismal year last year, the Wildcats will have something to prove when they get their shot at SC. Picked to finish last in the South division, Arizona will put their best team on the field and try to play spoiler against us. I think our talent gets it done for us and we win.
Game 11: USC @ Colorado
We take to the altitude and crisp air of November football in Boulder, CO for the team’s final regular season trip. On paper, this is a win for us. But on the field, low oxygen and 10 straight weeks of hard football may show in our execution. I think Sam Darnold takes over this game and gets us back to sea level with a win.
Game 12: USC v. UCLA
In the regular season finale, and a week earlier than most years, USC will suit up against the Bruins. USC leads the all-time series 48-31-7 and looks to keep the Victory Bell on our side of town for another year. Barring any injury, we are capable of winning this game.
In conclusion, I predict the 2017 Trojans finish 10-2. I think we’ll have great games, and some that will frustrate us and reveal that we’re a team guided by a second-year coach and quarterback. In the end, we will be just on the outside looking in for a playoff berth and finish the year between #5-#8. Now, on the flip side of that, if we avoid big mistakes and stay healthy for the long haul, there is nothing saying we can’t finish with 1 loss and be right in there in the top 4. It promises to be an exciting year, and if you can’t tell, I’m ready for it to be here.
FIGHT ON
The Late Game 