This is as good an early-season prime-time matchup as you will see. Patrick Turner and Chauncey Washington should play for the Trojans. USC scored their first three drives against Idaho and then kind of went on cruise control. The defense was awesome. Nebraska struggled with penalties against Wake, and Wake moved the ball real well on the ground in the second half. Keller has played USC before, when he was at Arizona State, and torched them for close to 350 yards passing. Thoughts?

I think USC will roll in this game. I wasn't terribly impressed with Nebraska against Wake Forest. I do think USC can play better, but from what I saw they should easily have enough to beat Nebraska.

 

I think Nebraska will have a really difficult time moving the ball and putting points up against the SC defense. Their only chance is to force some TO's and get some easy points...if that doesn't happen, USC shouldn't have to sweat this one out.

 

Trojans - 30

Cornhuskers - 13

USC... I'm hoping for an upset though.

Hearsay, to be fair, Wake only moved the ball on their "jet sweep" type of play to their split end. They weren't able to do anything with their backs.

 

I'm hoping that Nebraska was simply looking forward to this game and didn't give Wake their full attention.

 

I'll say this, there is no way that USC is going to go into Lincoln and mop the floor with the Huskers. Not happening.

 

 

I'll go with USC by 4 -- something around 28- 24.

 

Nebraska will not get rolled up by 14+, that I can assure you. Their defense is good enough to slow down Booty and Co. Not stop, mind you, but slow down.

For the record, I think Nebraska has a better chance in this game than UK does in the UL game.

 

If Sam Keller can play like he should and not the First-Class moron he played like in W-Salem, it would help a lot. Swift, Nunn, and Purify are a really nice set of Wide-outs. Not to mention, Lucky is a stud. That, and Q Castille, the freshman from Texas, is a beast.

 

Memorial Stadium is going to be coming un-hinged.

USC by 10...

I frankly don't think USC's offense is very good. Booty is a good quarterback, but I've never thought he fires darts when he is pressured in the pocket and he of course cannot run. USC's offensive line is not as good as the one they have had for several years. Jarrett and Smith are gone, and Turner and some of the other wideouts do not show highlight reel talent. The backfield is by committee and is average at best. I do like Chauncey Washington, but he has trouble fumbling.

 

On the other hand, I think USC has the best linebackers, hands-down, in the country, in Cushing, Maualuga, and Rivers. They also have a great secondary, and 2 or 3 NFL players on the defensive line.

 

I think this will end up being close, like 24-21 USC.

I really think USC will win it, but I'm pulling for the Huskers.

 

Anyone think that even a close win by USC will let LSU pass them in the polls?

I really think USC will win it, but I'm pulling for the Huskers.

 

Anyone think that even a close win by USC will let LSU pass them in the polls?

 

I don't. Since it's a road game, I don't think the Trojans will be docked any no matter what the final score is. Plus, I think the voters will probably take into consideration that LSU's blowout of VaTech was likely against a hugely overrated team.

I think the Husker D matches up better with the USC offense then they did with Wake. This trojan offense isnt as good as it was last year and doesnt have WR's that will dominate NU's DB's like they did last year. I think they can keep them under 21 points.

 

Thing is tho that USC is even better on defense. They have studs at each position and quality depth with speed galore. No way to go east and west against them, your best bet is to attack them head on and take what they give you.

 

Keys to the game for Nebraska:

 

-Convert on 3rd down (they were abysmal agaisnt WFU last week)

-Win the turnover and special teams battle

-Dont give up the big play (make them earn the points they get)

 

If they can do that I feel very good about there chances of winning.

USC by double digits.

Based on what I've seen from Nebraska this year.....USC wins by 14.

 

With Keller at QB Nebraska will get lucky to get to double-digits IMO.

I think USC does have some big time receivers...they just haven't got to play until this year (and some of them are freshmen) so we haven't heard of them. So, just because you haven't heard of them yet, doesn't mean they aren't there.

 

Fred Davis at TE and Patrick Turner at WR are probably their most well known and established pass catchers. Both were 5-star receiver prospects coming out of high school...Davis actually had a faster 40 time than Turner coming into college. Turner is a prototype USC receiver at 6'5" and 220 pounds.

 

WR - Vidal Hazelton, 6'3", 210 lb, Soph - 5-star recruit

WR - Ronald Johnson, 6'1", 190 lb, Fr - 5-star recruit

WR - David Ausberry, 6'4", 225 lb, Fr - 4-star recruit

WR - Brandon Carswell, 6'2", 175 lb, Fr - 4-star recruit

WR - Travon Patterson, 5'10", 175 lb, Soph - 3-star recruit, 4.4 40 yard dash coming out of high school

 

Not to mention the stable of running backs they have. With all the pieces, RB, O-line, QB and TE...I guarantee you that Booty finds a go to guy and a few good, if not great, receiving options from what he's got to choose from.

 

Nebraska is catching them at the best time though, before they develop a good chemistry on offense. I still don't think they have enough to compete in this game. I don't think Nebraska will be able to mount much offense or sustain drives. I don't expect them to score much. They can probably slow the Trojan offense to some degree, but over the course of the game, USC will hit a few plays and put some points up. I expect Nebraskas defense to wear down as the game progresses because its offense won't be able to keep them off the field.

 

30-13

USC - 31

Nebraska - 17

 

I really hope Nebraska can win this game though.

USC 42 Nebraska 17