This week in college is just too big, so we bring you a second Game of the Week. This may not be the marquee matchup many expected, since USC is 6-2 rather than 8-0, but it should still be an entertaining game between two very talented teams.
The USC Offense: Oregon becomes the latest team to try to stop WR tandem Robert Woods and Marqise Lee. Even in last week’s loss to Arizona, Lee had 345 receiving yards and 2 TDs, a conference single-game record. QB Matt Barkley’s Heisman chances may have diminished over the course of a season in which USC has lost twice, but make no mistake, he’s still a dangerous player. On the ground, Penn State transfer Silas Redd has emerged as the top threat with 640 rushing yards and 7 TDs on the season. One thing USC needs to focus on is discipline- they’re the most penalized team in the country.
The USC Defense: USC fans better hope their team’s conditioning is well above par or they’re going to have trouble keeping up with Oregon’s fast-paced, no-huddle offense. Keeping up with Kenjon Barner and De’Anthony Thomas is a feat in and of itself, and it’s one that no team has accomplished yet this season. Marcus Mariota is a true dual-threat quarterback, and USC hasn’t always been successful containing those types. The Trojans will need to come out of the gate ready to play- Oregon is outscoring opponents by a ridiculous margin in the first half, and if they get an early lead, things could quickly get out of hand.
credit: Daniel HartwigThe Oregon Offense: QB Marcus Mariota has a number of weapons at his disposal, including RB Kenjon Barner, RB/WR De’Anthony Thomas, WR Josh Huff, and TE Colt Lyerla. Their quick, no-huddle offense means that even if defenses are able to stop them initially which they usually aren’t- things will open up eventually as opponents start to tire. The Ducks are averaging just over 53 points per game, best in the nation, with an average of 540 yards of offense, 330.6 of them on the ground.
The Oregon Defense: The Ducks have 15 INTs on the year, from 10 different players. They’ve allowed just 11 TDs from inside the red zone, and are allowing 3rd-down conversions less than 1/3 of the time. Tight coverage on USC WR Marqise Lee is going to be a must; he had 187 yards against Oregon last year. 3rd-and-long situations aren’t a big problem for the Trojans the way they are for some teams. Forcing a couple of turnovers, especially in situations where the USC defense hasn’t been off the field very long, could be key.
Prediction: This will be a fairly high-scoring affair, as are most games involving Oregon. These are two good defenses, and two better offenses. Oregon 38, USC 25
