USC Football: 2017 season preview, predictions
2017 schedule
| WEEK | DATE | OPPONENT | LOCATION |
| 1 | Sept. 2 | vs. Western Michigan | Los Angeles, CA |
| 2 | Sept. 9 | vs. Stanford | Los Angeles, CA |
| 3 | Sept. 16 | vs. Texas | Los Angeles, CA |
| 4 | Sept. 23 | at California | Berkeley, CA |
| 5 | Sept. 29 | at Washington State | Pullman, WA |
| 6 | Oct. 7 | vs. Oregon State | Los Angeles, CA |
| 7 | Oct. 14 | vs. Utah | Los Angeles, CA |
| 8 | Oct. 21 | at Notre Dame | Notre Dame, IN |
| 9 | Oct. 28 | at Arizona State | Tempe, AZ |
| 10 | Nov. 4 | vs. Arizona | Los Angeles, CA |
| 11 | Nov. 11 | at Colorado | Boulder, CO |
| 12 | Nov. 18 | vs. UCLA | Los Angeles, CA |
It’ll be interesting to see how USC comes out in 2017 after finishing the 2016 season as hot as it did. Luckily, the Trojans will get Western Michigan at home to start the season. Sure, the Broncos made a New Year’s Six bowl last season and went 13-1, but they lost 12 starters, including their quarterback, and head coach P.J. Fleck. It will be a completely different team.
The second game will be much tougher, but luckily the Trojans will be taking on Stanford. Then, USC will get a resurgent Texas team led by new head coach Tom Herman and talented gunslinger Shane Buechele.
Road games against California and Washington State should both be solid tests as the Trojans don’t leave the state until Sept. 29.
Oregon State and Utah are both winnable home games the following two weeks, chased by two more road games at Notre Dame and at Arizona State. Both of those will be tough, especially if they’re night contests.
Lastly, the final stretch of Arizona at home, Colorado on the road and UCLA at home could decide the Trojans’ fate in the Pac-12 title race.
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Prediction: 11-1 (9-0 Pac-12)
If USC can get past Stanford in Week 2, the Trojans should be favored in the next 6-8 games, or even for the rest of the season, but once they’re 7-0, they will have an even bigger target on their backs than usual. Unfortunately, a mid-season road game, potentially under the lights, against Notre Dame will end their perfect season. The Trojans are the better team, but Notre Dame, in a rivalry game, will be tough to beat at home. Don’t worry, though, as USC will win out, take the Pac-12 South title and face Washington for a chance at a playoff berth.