Preview: Fresno State at #15 USC
Date: 8/30/2014
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Television: FOX (National)
Spread: USC -21
Players to Watch
Cody Kessler, Quarterback (USC)
After finishing 2013 in great form, Kessler will look to pick up where he left off against Fresno State, where he threw for 344 yards and four touchdowns as the Trojans defeated the Bulldogs 45-20 in the Las Vegas Bowl.
Leonard Williams, Defensive Line (USC)
Williams had 12.5 tackles for loss last season. He is a monster along the defensive line, and moves faster than his 290-pound frame may suggest. He will wreak havoc in the trenches.
Josh Harper, Wide Receiver (Fresno State)
The Bulldogs lost their top receivers, Davante Adams and Isaiah Burse to the NFL, leaving Harper as the top returning receiver. With a new quarterback at the helm, Harper will need to get open against a talented USC defense to take the pressure off.
Derron Smith, Safety (Fresno State)
One of the nation’s top safeties, Smith is a ballhawk, picking off seven passes in 2013. He does a great job reading the quarterback and getting himself in position to make plays. He is also an efficient run defender, giving Fresno State the ability to be creative in their defensive schemes.
USC’s Offense vs Fresno State’s Defense
USC returns six starters on offense from last season’s team, which blew out Fresno State in the Las Vegas Bowl, including Kessler and receiver Nelson Agholor. The Trojans have plenty of playmakers to complement Agholor, including Randall Telfer, George Farmer, and a stable of running backs, which will help coach Steve Sarkisian keep the offense balanced and Fresno State on their toes.
The Bulldogs return Smith and seven other starters, so while many would expect a similar result to the bowl game, Fresno has had months to study the tape and find the issues they had with a unit that remains relatively unchanged. They will be prepared.
Fresno State’s Offense vs USC’s Defense
While Fresno State returns eight starters on defense, they only return five on offense, and none of those are Adams, Burse or Derek Carr. They will have plenty of issues as they try to find their starting quarterback, a position battle between Brandon Connette and Brian Burrell, that still has not been settled.
USC, meanwhile, returns a unit that includes top-level players like Williams, Hayes Pullard and Su’a Cravens. They will be without Josh Shaw, due to his injury and suspension, but will be able to create pressure and slow down the passing game.
Game Preview
On the surface, USC has the edge. They were the ones who were victorious last season in the Bowl Game. They have the better offense and better defense. They didn’t lose as many key players from last season as Fresno State did, who lost their two best offensive players.
However, Fresno State runs at an incredibly high tempo. They keep opposing defenses on their toes with speed, a fast no-huddle scheme, and wear them down with a quick, short-passing game, then take the top off defenses with the deep ball. However, after losing Carr and Adams, they will need to get off to a quick start to keep pace with USC.
Implications
While this is only the first game of a long season, the implications of this game are all on the Trojans. Steve Sarkisian’s first season has not started well, after Shaw’s situation that has made headlines, and running back Anthony Brown quitting the team and accusing the coach of being a racist. The Trojans need this game to move past all of the headlines as they try to qualify for the first ever college football playoff, which could be a long shot if they were to lose on Saturday against the Bulldogs.
Final Prediction
USC- 38 vs. Fresno State- 14