NFL
By: George Lopez
On Saturday, the USC Trojans take on the intercity rival UCLA Bruins at the Rosebowl in Pasadena, California for their 90th matchup, Year-long bragging rights are on the line for these two teams. USC, led by Coach Lincoln Riley will look to avenge last year’s 62-33 defeat to the Bruins. UCLA, led by Coach Chip Kelly will look to win consecutive games against their cross-town rivals as well as knock the Trojans out of any possibility of making the CFP this season. Both teams bring an exciting offense led by their quarterbacks. This game has the makings of being an all-time classic in this heated rivalry.
USC Offense vs UCLA Defense
The USC offense is led by quarterback Caleb Williams. The transfer from Oklahoma has had a tremendous first year wearing the Cardinal and Gold for the Trojans. The Sophomore quarterback has thrown for 3010 yards with 31 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Williams has also run for 283 yards with 6 touchdowns. Williams is a threat to bring the ball down and run for plus yardage as well as extending passing plays when he gets out of the pocket. The Bruins will look to have a spy on Williams in an attempt to contain his production. The Trojans are averaging 42 points per game under Williams leadership. Williams spreads the ball out to multiple receivers in the Trojan’s passing attack. 9 different receivers have double-digit receptions led by Jordan Addison, who leads the team with 40 receptions for 587 yards and 7 touchdowns. By spreading the ball to multiple receivers, the Trojans offense makes it difficult for opposing defenses to focus on one particular receiver. Look for UCLA to attempt to take away the big play threat from Addison and company and force Williams to throw underneath routes or check downs to his running backs.
The Trojans received bad news this week when it was announced that running back Travis Dye would miss the remainder of the season with an injury he suffered in last week’s game vs Colorado. Though in his first season at USC after transferring from Oregon, Dye has become one of the leaders of the Trojans football team. The Trojans will miss not only his production on the field but his leadership on the sidelines. Look for RB Austin Jones and freshman Raleek Brown to get a bulk of the carries in the Trojans running game. Though Dye had emerged as the primary back in the Trojans rushing attack, Coach Lincoln Riley incorporates multiple running backs, each with a different style, into the running game. The Trojans average 182 yards rushing per game. With Dye out, look for the Trojans to continue to use their running game as they have all season.
USC Defense vs UCLA Offense
The Bruins offense, led by quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson averages 39 points a game. The senior has passed for 2385 yards with 20 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. DTR, as he is known at UCLA, also creates with his legs, running for 463 yards and 7 touchdowns. In his time at UCLA, Thompson-Robinson has vastly improved under Coach Chip Kelly. In last year’s game, Thompson-Robinson torched the Trojans for 349 yards passing and 4 touchdowns. Thompson-Robinson also accounted for 55 yards rushing with 2 touchdowns. The Trojans defense was not able to contain Thompson-Robinson at all in the game. Trojans Defensive Coordinator Alex Grinch has been given the task of devising a game plan to contain DTR in the pocket and not let him create and extend plays outside of the pocket. Starting defensive lineman Tuli Tuipulotu will be a player to constantly watch on the Trojans defense. Tuipulotu leads the team with 11.5 sacks this season. For the Trojans defense to have any success, Tuipulotu will need to be a thorn in Thompson-Robinson’s side all game.
The Trojans defense can’t just focus on DTR. Starting running back Zach Charbonnet is expected to have a big role in the Bruins offensive game plan. The senior leads the Bruins with 1145 yards rushing with 13 touchdowns. He is also a threat in the passing game out of the backfield, having caught 29 passes for 270 yards. The front 7 of the Trojans defense will have to be disciplined in their run defense to limit the big play opportunities for the Bruins offense. if the Trojans defense can’t get off their blocks and close down running lanes, Charbonnet and the Bruins running attack will have a monster game against the Trojans.
Prediction
Both offenses can put up points in bunches. The key to this game will come down to which defense can limit the big play. The Trojans defense gives up 24 points a game and the Bruins defense gives up 20 points a game. In a big rivalry game such as this one, most stats can be thrown out the window. That will be the case in this game. Both offenses will have big plays but in the end, the Trojans will enact some revenge from last season’s 29-point loss to their cross-town rivals in an exciting high-scoring game.
Trojans 48
Bruins. 37
