Husky Stadium in Seattle at 4:30 p.m. PT on FOX
Husky to Watch: Sophomore QB Jake BrowningUW is loaded with playmakers on both sides of the ball, but Browning is the head of the snake. The highly efficient true sophomore has thrown 34 touchdown passes to only 3 interceptions. He ranks first in the nation in passer rating and second in total QBR. Despite the impressive statistics, the Huskies are not an air raid offense, ranking 11th in the Pac-12 in pass attempts. But when his number is called, Browning has delivered on time and on target.
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3 Keys
Start Fast
The Trojans will have to brave a sold-out Husky Stadium, arguably the toughest atmosphere in the Pac-12. The home crowd in Seattle has been known to affect the game. The Huskies have outscored opponents 233-53 in their building this fall. The defense thrives off the noise, sacking visiting quarterbacks 20 times to only 7 on the road. USC has not pulled off a road win against a Top 5 opponent since 2011 at No. 4 Oregon. On that night, the Trojans quieted a ravenous stadium by leading at halftime, 21-7, and then held on late. The same formula is needed on Saturday.
Dominate
The Huskies do not have many weaknesses. They lead the Pac-12 in scoring offense and scoring defense. The UW offense is perfectly balanced, averaging 268.4 pass yards and 231.0 rush yards per game. Defensively, Washington has the second best pass defense in the league, but opponents have found some joy on the ground. Arizona racked up 308 rush yards in an overtime loss, while Utah powered its way to 213 yards on the ground in a seven-point loss. USC RB Ronald Jones II has run for 394 yards and 5 TD over the last two games, so the Trojans have a hot hand to ride. If Jones and the USC offensive line can grind the Huskies down, USC will be in position to make the winning plays in the fourth quarter.
Finish Strong
If it does come down to the final minutes, the Trojans' discipline will be tested. Penalties and turnovers lose games, especially on the road. UW leads the Pac-12 with a +15 turnover margin and only gets flagged for a league-low 44.8 penalty yards per game. Conversely, USC has one more giveaway than takeaway on the season and tends to shoot itself in the foot with 71.6 penalty yards per contest. However, the Trojans have improved every game in 2016, and they are determined to show that they can play a clean game when it matters most. This is that game.
