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Cardinal to Watch: Sophomore RB Christian McCaffreyWhile the top line of the Stanford depth chart is littered with seniors, the young tailback serves as the Cardinal's offensive engine. The "Wild Caff" is extremely versatile, averaging 136 rush yards and 3.1 catches per game. He is also a dynamic contributor on special teams as the Pac-12's top kick returner. Back in September, the Heisman candidate ran for 115 yards on 26 carries and caught three balls for 37 yards.
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3 Keys
Looking in the Mirror
In looking at USC's transformation under head coach Clay Helton, Stanford will see itself in the finished product. The Trojans' renewed focus on dominating the line of scrimmage to control the running game on both sides of the ball is also the foundation for everything the Cardinal has accomplished in the Jim Harbaugh/David Shaw era. With both teams sharing similar goals, the battle over time of possession, third down efficiency and rushing yards should determine the winner.
Hulk Hogan
In the first match-up this season, USC struggled to consistently pressure Kevin Hogan, and when the Trojans did, they often failed to get him to the ground. As a result, he carved up USC's defense to the tune of 18/23 passing for 279 yards and 2 TDs without an interception. However, the Trojans' front-seven has been on a tear recently, recording 19 sacks over the last four games. Stanford has too many offensive weapons to eliminate all of them, so USC must attack the distributor to deny the supply line.
Culmination or Coronation?
All season long, USC's focus has been on winning the Pac-12 South. The Trojans accomplished that goal, and in the process, helped Clay Helton make a convincing argument to take over the program. Considering the turbulence and turmoil along the way, many teams would be satisfied, but now USC has the opportunity to be conference champions and play in a Rose Bowl, two things that have not happened since 2008. While Stanford is a formidable opponent, the Trojans know they can hang with the Cardinal, having beaten them each of the last two years. The opportunity is there to be seized.
