PREMIUM
Rogers' FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHT (USC/Utah)
(NCAAF) USC vs. Utah,
09/23/2016 5:00 PM, Score: 27 - 31
Point Spread: -3.00 | -106.00 Utah (Home)
Result: Win
Point Spread: -3.00 | -106.00 Utah (Home)
Result: Win
USC: The Trojans have opened 1-2, after beginning the season at No. 20 in the AP's preseason poll. Redshirt junior QB Max Browne waited three seasons behind Cody Kessler for his chance, but USC has stumbled badly against No. 1 Alabama and No. 7 Stanford. The Trojans were beaten 52-6 by the Tide (gained just 194 yards on 11 FDs) and scored just 10 points in a loss to the Cardinal. Browne has thrown for only 474 yards in three games, with two TDs and two INTs. With a visit to current No. 24 Utah on tap Friday night, USC has decided to make a change at QB, inserting redshirt freshman Sam Darnold under center. However, it's unfair to blame only Browne. After all, the school which earned a nickname of "Tailback U" for its outstanding stable of RBs through the decades, enters Friday's game averaging a woeful 119.7 YPG on the ground (3.6 YPC). That ranks 111th among all FBS schools, despite USC owning one of the most experienced offensive lines in the country.
Utah: The Utes began the season unranked (coming off a 10-3 season, which included a Las Vegas Bowl win) but wins over Southern Utah, BYU and San Jose State have the Utes cracking the rankings this week for the first time this season, at No. 24 in the AP poll. Utah is unbeaten, despite a struggling offense. Junior QB Troy Williams, a transfer from Washington and Santa Monica College, has completed 54 of 86 passes (62.8%) for 723 yards and four TDs but he also has been picked off four times. Utah has fumbled nine times, losing five. The Utes rank 122nd out of 128 teams with the nine lost turnovers. However, Utah has typically played excellent defense in recent seasons and this year is no different. The Utes are allowing 263.7 YPG (13th) and 12.0 PPG (10th).
The pick: QB Darnold has dual-threat ability and the change at QB could be a bonus. However, he faces a defense which is very talented. Utah had 10 sacks in the team's 34-17 victory against San Jose State last Saturday, as eight different players had at least one. Utah's defense ranks second nationally with 15 sacks and the Utes are 8-1 SU here at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City since the beginning of 2015. USC had poor efforts vs. Alabama and Stanford and even a QB change won't be enough to get them turned around against a talented Utah defense. Utah is an 8* play.
Utah: The Utes began the season unranked (coming off a 10-3 season, which included a Las Vegas Bowl win) but wins over Southern Utah, BYU and San Jose State have the Utes cracking the rankings this week for the first time this season, at No. 24 in the AP poll. Utah is unbeaten, despite a struggling offense. Junior QB Troy Williams, a transfer from Washington and Santa Monica College, has completed 54 of 86 passes (62.8%) for 723 yards and four TDs but he also has been picked off four times. Utah has fumbled nine times, losing five. The Utes rank 122nd out of 128 teams with the nine lost turnovers. However, Utah has typically played excellent defense in recent seasons and this year is no different. The Utes are allowing 263.7 YPG (13th) and 12.0 PPG (10th).
The pick: QB Darnold has dual-threat ability and the change at QB could be a bonus. However, he faces a defense which is very talented. Utah had 10 sacks in the team's 34-17 victory against San Jose State last Saturday, as eight different players had at least one. Utah's defense ranks second nationally with 15 sacks and the Utes are 8-1 SU here at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City since the beginning of 2015. USC had poor efforts vs. Alabama and Stanford and even a QB change won't be enough to get them turned around against a talented Utah defense. Utah is an 8* play.
