University Southern California Trojans
No. 23 USC Football Goes To Arizona State
September 18, 2011 | Football
Sept. 18, 2011
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 Live Audio | Gameday Central | |
| Depth Chart | Media Guide | Statistics |
| TV: ESPN | Radio: 710 ESPN Radio | |
No. 23 USC closes out September play with its first road game of 2011 (after opening the season with 3 home victories), facing an Arizona State squad that many pre-season prognosticators said would challenger Troy for the top spot in the Pac-12 South Division. The Trojans have won their last 11 over the Sun Devils, including the past 5 trips to Tempe. Arizona State is the only "State" school on Troy's 2011 schedule. USC, one of only 3 undefeated teams in the Pac-12 (and the only one in the South Division), posted its first breathe-easy win of 2011 with a 3-touchdown victory over Syracuse last weekend.
The Trojan offense continues to make strides behind the mature play of QB Matt Barkley (9 TDs and just 1 interception in 2011 as he has moved into fifth place on USC's career passing and total offense lists), the spectacular pass catching of WR Robert Woods (he leads the nation in receptions with 11 per game) and the power running of TB Marc Tyler, plus some coming-of-age performances of younger players like WR Marqise Lee, TEs Xavier Grimble and Randall Telfer and TB Curtis McNeal. Barkley has been sacked just twice, thanks to a line led by pre-season All-American OT Matt Kalil.
USC's defense, unlike last season, has shown the ability to close out opponents, whether the game is close or not. There's a nice mix of veteran defenders like S T.J. McDonald (a pre-season All-American), CB Nickell Robey, DE Nick Perry, LB Chris Galippo and DT DaJohn Harris and promising youngsters such as LBs Hayes Pullard and Dion Bailey and CB Torin Harris. Troy's special teams continue to be special (USC already has blocked 2 kicks and has yet to allow a punt return on 11 punts).
It's the Pac-12 opener for Arizona State, which lost a tight one at Illinois last Saturday. ASU head coach Dennis Erickson has guided 3 different Pac-10 schools against USC, but he is just 1-8 against the Trojans. The Sun Devil offense--in the Top 25 nationally in passing offense and total offense--is guided by talented 6-8 QB Brock Osweiller, the tallest FBS quarterback. He likes to throw to a trio of dangerous WRs in Aaron Pflugrad, Gerell Robinson and Jamal Miles. LB Vontaze Burfict, the Pac-12's sack leader, is the Sun Devils' standout defender. The game will be shown live nationally on ESPN.
