(20) Fresno State vs (25) USC

December 21, 2013 at 3:30 ET

Las Vegas, Nevada

Fresno State

Fresno State was on track for a dream season until San Jose State derailed it by defeating Derek Carr and the Bulldogs 62-52. Their regular season ended with an 11-1 record and a MWC Championship. The team was carried by the lethal duo of Derek Carr and his favored receiver Davante Adams. In the red zone, the two were nearly unstoppable and executed goal line fades with ease. Through the course of the season, both have caught the eyes of NFL scouts across the league and deservingly so.

USC

After a rocky start with Lane Kiffin and the quarterback problems that lingered with him, USC fired the disappointing coach and allowed Ed Orgeron to step up as the interim. He may not be the long term answer, but has done well this year as Kiffin’s replacement. A new fire was sparked within the team and at one point, they strung together five consecutive wins, including a victory over their in-state rival Stanford. They are not the USC of old, but are a competitive program nonetheless.

Game Matchup

Fresno’s passing attack vs USC’s secondary: Derek Carr put up video game-like numbers this season because of his ability to attack defenses with his deep passes.

USC’s secondary is the weak link of their defense. The cornerbacks will have to be aware enough to read and react to Fresno State’s heavy dosage of screen passes and the safeties will need to show their range in coverage in order to cover the entire field and take deep passes out of Derek Carr’s arsenal.

USC’s pass rush: USC’s defensive front is packed full of NFL talent. Leonard Williams and George Uko create pressure from the interior while edge rushers such as Morgan Breslin and Devon Kennard suffocate the pocket. For Fresno State, it will be an unfavorable matchup and the most talented pass rushing unit that they have faced all season long.

USC’s receivers vs Fresno State’s secondary: Marqise Lee and Nelson Agholor are a lethal receiving tandem at wide receiver.

Lee is a more elusive receiver that has “big play” ability while Agholor is more of a consistent, reliable receiver. The two compliment each other quite well.

Fresno State’s defensive back corps is riddled with injury and is almost solely dependant on safety Derron Smith, but he is just one man.

USC’s receivers will not have a tough time working Fresno State’s rather porous cornerbacks.

Most matchups lean quite heavily in favor of USC, other than their weakness in the defensive secondary. USC’s offense is less predictable and more balanced than Fresno State’s heavy screen-deep pass offense. Fresno State’s offensive line and offensive scheme will not be able to hold up against USC’s brutalizing pass rush. It will prove to be too disruptive and derail Fresno State’s offense, for the most part. If the Trojans can put up a decent amount of points, they will go home with yet another bowl game victory.

Prediction: USC- 31 vs Fresno State- 21

Draft Impact

Derek Carr: Playing in the MWC, Carr has not had to deal with many overpowering pass rushes, yet is surrounded by a narrative that he is “scared of a pass rush”. USC’s pass rush will be much better than anything he saw this season and it will be his chance to prove doubters wrong. If he can show poise and pocket presence against USC’s front with Fresno State’s average, at best, offensive line protecting him, he can do it in the NFL.

Austin Wentworth: Fresno State’s left tackle is the only bright spot in a porous offensive line. At the next line, he may be better suited to play guard, but a good performance against USC’s pass rushers could raise awareness for him as a legit NFL prospect.

Marqise Lee: As the year has gone on, more and more questions have begun to circle the once-thought elite wide receiver. While a good performance on his part may not raise his draft stock, a poor performance could raise even more questions about the receiver. Harsher speculation under the microscope is the last thing Lee needs.

George Uko: Whether or not one believes Carr truly has fear in the pocket, Uko must give him a reason to be scared. Carr does in fact struggle with interior pressure and if Uko exposes that from his defensive tackle position, his name may be heard more often in regards to the NFL draft, deservingly so.