University Southern California Trojans
2018 Game 7: USC vs. Utah
October 19, 2018 | Football, USC Ripsit Blog, Features
The last two USC-Utah games have been decided by a combined 5 points.
USC Trojans (4-2, 3-1) at Utah Utes (4-2, 2-2)
Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City at 5 p.m. PT/6 p.m. MT on Pac-12 Networks
Ute to Watch: Junior QB Tyler Huntley
The Utes tend to go as their quarterback does. In Utah's two losses, Huntley is averaging a paltry 128 yards passing on 55% completions. Conversely, he has thrown for 241 yards per game at a 68% clip in its victories. Utah has taken its game to another level the last two weeks and unsurprisingly, Huntley has as well. In blowout wins over Stanford and Arizona, he has completed 78% of his passes and thrown three touchdowns to only one interception. He is a true dual-threat as well, running the ball 10+ times in every game with the exception of the season-opener.
Click here for more on the Utes.
3 Keys
Thin Air Attack
Utah's defensive stats provide a fairly obvious pathway forward. The Utes are second in the nation in run defense, while USC's rushing offense is 112th (out of 130). The Trojans want to establish a running game, especially on the road, but the evidence suggests that it is unlikely to happen this week. However, Utah's pass defense, which started the season in dominant form, has looked leaky of late, giving up 445 to Washington State, 381 to Stanford and 246 to Arizona. If given time, like last week against Colorado, JT Daniels and this receiving corps can make big plays down the field. USC leads the Pac-12 with 9 aerial strikes of 40+ yards.
Predators Wanted
The USC defense has to replace OLB Porter Gustin, and while his leadership and experience cannot be replicated in a week, his production must be. While Gustin has 7 of USC's 13 sacks this season, he had company in the Colorado backfield last week. The Trojans don't need 16 tackles-for-loss to win this game, but the aggressive nature that they showed against the Buffs makes for a winning formula in a matchup that always comes down to the line of scrimmage.
To The End
Rice-Eccles Stadium has been something of a house of horrors for USC since Utah joined the Pac-12. In 2012, the Trojans were down, 14-0, just 2:45 into the game before rallying to win, 38-28. The 2014 and 2016 games were nearly identical. USC had Utah on the ropes but failed to deliver the knockout blow, leaving the Utes time for a game-winning drive in each case. The 2018 Trojans have struggled with penalties (127th in the nation) and turnovers (119th in the nation in turnover margin), which has kept them from putting opponents away. USC needs to play four quarters of cleaner football to emerge from Salt Lake City with a stranglehold on the Pac-12 South.
Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City at 5 p.m. PT/6 p.m. MT on Pac-12 Networks
Ute to Watch: Junior QB Tyler HuntleyThe Utes tend to go as their quarterback does. In Utah's two losses, Huntley is averaging a paltry 128 yards passing on 55% completions. Conversely, he has thrown for 241 yards per game at a 68% clip in its victories. Utah has taken its game to another level the last two weeks and unsurprisingly, Huntley has as well. In blowout wins over Stanford and Arizona, he has completed 78% of his passes and thrown three touchdowns to only one interception. He is a true dual-threat as well, running the ball 10+ times in every game with the exception of the season-opener.
Click here for more on the Utes.
3 Keys
Thin Air Attack
Utah's defensive stats provide a fairly obvious pathway forward. The Utes are second in the nation in run defense, while USC's rushing offense is 112th (out of 130). The Trojans want to establish a running game, especially on the road, but the evidence suggests that it is unlikely to happen this week. However, Utah's pass defense, which started the season in dominant form, has looked leaky of late, giving up 445 to Washington State, 381 to Stanford and 246 to Arizona. If given time, like last week against Colorado, JT Daniels and this receiving corps can make big plays down the field. USC leads the Pac-12 with 9 aerial strikes of 40+ yards.
Predators Wanted
The USC defense has to replace OLB Porter Gustin, and while his leadership and experience cannot be replicated in a week, his production must be. While Gustin has 7 of USC's 13 sacks this season, he had company in the Colorado backfield last week. The Trojans don't need 16 tackles-for-loss to win this game, but the aggressive nature that they showed against the Buffs makes for a winning formula in a matchup that always comes down to the line of scrimmage.
To The End
Rice-Eccles Stadium has been something of a house of horrors for USC since Utah joined the Pac-12. In 2012, the Trojans were down, 14-0, just 2:45 into the game before rallying to win, 38-28. The 2014 and 2016 games were nearly identical. USC had Utah on the ropes but failed to deliver the knockout blow, leaving the Utes time for a game-winning drive in each case. The 2018 Trojans have struggled with penalties (127th in the nation) and turnovers (119th in the nation in turnover margin), which has kept them from putting opponents away. USC needs to play four quarters of cleaner football to emerge from Salt Lake City with a stranglehold on the Pac-12 South.
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