| As Cal QB Zach Maynard found out, USC DE Morgan Breslin is pretty good at sacking the quarterback. Breslin's 5.5 sacks this season rank fourth in the Pac-12. Breslin could be a difference-maker at Washington. (US Presswire) |
No. 11 USC (4-1, 2-1 Pac-12) at Washington (3-2, 1-1 Pac-12)
Kickoff: Saturday, 7 p.m. ET (Fox)
Spread: USC by 11.5
Watchability: This game is being played at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, which means something crazy is bound to happen. In the last month, you have: the Seahawks' weird win over the Packers, Washington's upset of then-No. 8 Stanford and 29-point underdog Washington State only trailing No. 2 Oregon by four at halftime. The point here: all football games at CrazyLink Field are must-see TV.
Shining Stars: USC: WR Marqise Lee. How good has Lee been this season? He's top 5 in the country in receptions (52), receiving yards per game (129.8) and receiving touchdowns (7). The uncoverable sophomore will face his biggest challenge of the year on Saturday, going up against a Husky pass defense that ranks 13th nationally. Washington: RB Bishop Sankey. After RB Jesse Callier suffered an ACL injury in the season opener, Sankey was giving the starting spot and he's made the most of the opportunity. The sophomore RB has rushed for 104, 144 and 103 yards in the Huskies' last three games.
Who could steal the show: USC: WR Robert Woods. A preseason All-American should never have to steal the show, but that's Woods' situation right now. With the emergence of Lee, Woods has become USC's No. 2 receiver. However, sometimes being the No. 2 guy is a good thing: if Washington focuses too much on Lee, Matt Barkley will make them pay dearly by targeting Woods. Washington: QB Keith Price. To say Price has struggled this season would be an understatement. Through five games, Price already has three games where he's been below a 100 passer rating. In 2011, he had zero of those in 13 games. If the 2011 version of Price shows up on Saturday, USC will be in trouble.
You going? Ranking the road trip: If you want to see the city of Seattle in its truest form -- cloudy, windy and wet -- then this is the game for you. If you're coming up from Los Angeles to watch the Trojans, remember to bring a poncho.
Magic number for USC: 187. If the Trojans score against Washington, they'll set the school record for most consecutive games without being shut out. USC hasn't been shut out in a game since 1997, a period of 186 games. The last team to blank the Trojans? Washington.
Magic number for Washington: 175. This has been the magic number for Price and the Huskies this season. When Price throws for over 175 yards, Washington is 3-0, but when he goes under, the Huskies are 0-2.
The game comes down to: USC's defense. Barkley and the Trojans' offense get all the publicity and the billboards, but it's the defense which can win this game on Saturday. USC has three players -- Morgan Breslin, Leonard Williams, George Uko -- who are top 12 in the conference in sacks. Price has struggled this season and things aren't going to be any easier for him if he's running for his life for four quarters on Saturday.
Eye on College Football's take: This battle of two former USC offensive coordinators pits two teams very familiar with each other's players and scheme. USC has been struggling offensively despite some of the best personnel in the country. If the Trojans can't find a way to get the ball down field to Lee and Woods, they are in trouble. -- Chris Huston
Prediction: USC 34, Washington 28
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