University Southern California Trojans
2019 Holiday Bowl: USC vs. Iowa
December 26, 2019 | Football, USC Ripsit Blog, Features
USC's offense vs. Iowa's defense is a match-up of strength on strength.
No. 22 USC Trojans (8-4) vs. No. 16 Iowa Hawkeyes (9-3)
SDCCU Stadium in San Diego at 5 p.m. PT on FS1
Hawkeye to Watch: Junior DE A.J. Epenesa
Epenesa is one of the elite pass rushers in the nation, totaling 9 sacks and 13 tackles-for-loss on the season. He is representative of a defense that will give the Trojans' fits, especially up front. The Hawkeyes want to play a close, low-possession game, so the key could be negative plays and turnovers forced by their pass rushers. Epenesa forced three fumbles this season and four last season, so the USC offensive line does not want him anywhere near Kedon Slovis.
3 Keys
Styles Make Fights
These two teams could not be anymore different. USC enters the Holiday Bowl riding one of the hottest offenses in the country. The Trojans averaged 37.3 points per game in the second half of the season and put 52 on UCLA last time out. Iowa has not given up more than 24 points in a game and ranks fifth nationally in scoring defense. The Hawkeyes simply cannot keep up in a high-scoring affair, while the Trojans won't like their chances in a wrestling match.
Bounce Back Performance
The Holiday Bowl presents an opportunity for the USC defense to redeem itself after a challenging final month with the exception of the Cal game. Iowa's offense does not profile well statistically, ranking 98th nationally in total offense, 99th in scoring offense and 96th in rushing offense. The Trojans return everyone defensively besides DE Christian Rector and LB John Houston Jr., so this game could be a springboard for 2020. If the USC defense can improve next season like the offense did this season, look out.
Remember the Orange Bowl
The Holiday Bowl is not the Orange Bowl, but maybe it can serve the same purpose for this program. In 2002, the Trojans got hot in the second half of the season en route to Miami, where they faced a stingy Iowa team coached by Kirk Ferentz. The Hawkeyes returned the opening kick for a touchdown and then took it on the chin from Pete Carroll's Trojans, 38-17. While the game marked the end of Carson Palmer's college career, it was the beginning of one of the great runs in college football history. That's a high bar, but with so much experience returning next season, an impressive Holiday Bowl victory over another stingy Iowa team coached by Ferentz could provide just the momentum this program needs to be elite again.
SDCCU Stadium in San Diego at 5 p.m. PT on FS1
Hawkeye to Watch: Junior DE A.J. EpenesaEpenesa is one of the elite pass rushers in the nation, totaling 9 sacks and 13 tackles-for-loss on the season. He is representative of a defense that will give the Trojans' fits, especially up front. The Hawkeyes want to play a close, low-possession game, so the key could be negative plays and turnovers forced by their pass rushers. Epenesa forced three fumbles this season and four last season, so the USC offensive line does not want him anywhere near Kedon Slovis.
3 Keys
Styles Make Fights
These two teams could not be anymore different. USC enters the Holiday Bowl riding one of the hottest offenses in the country. The Trojans averaged 37.3 points per game in the second half of the season and put 52 on UCLA last time out. Iowa has not given up more than 24 points in a game and ranks fifth nationally in scoring defense. The Hawkeyes simply cannot keep up in a high-scoring affair, while the Trojans won't like their chances in a wrestling match.
Bounce Back Performance
The Holiday Bowl presents an opportunity for the USC defense to redeem itself after a challenging final month with the exception of the Cal game. Iowa's offense does not profile well statistically, ranking 98th nationally in total offense, 99th in scoring offense and 96th in rushing offense. The Trojans return everyone defensively besides DE Christian Rector and LB John Houston Jr., so this game could be a springboard for 2020. If the USC defense can improve next season like the offense did this season, look out.
Remember the Orange Bowl
The Holiday Bowl is not the Orange Bowl, but maybe it can serve the same purpose for this program. In 2002, the Trojans got hot in the second half of the season en route to Miami, where they faced a stingy Iowa team coached by Kirk Ferentz. The Hawkeyes returned the opening kick for a touchdown and then took it on the chin from Pete Carroll's Trojans, 38-17. While the game marked the end of Carson Palmer's college career, it was the beginning of one of the great runs in college football history. That's a high bar, but with so much experience returning next season, an impressive Holiday Bowl victory over another stingy Iowa team coached by Ferentz could provide just the momentum this program needs to be elite again.
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