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USC Football: Game-by-game predictions for 2017

By Andrew Miller

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 02: Wide receiver Deontay Burnett #80 of the USC Trojans scores a 27-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the 2017 Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 2, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 02: Wide receiver Deontay Burnett #80 of the USC Trojans scores a 27-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the 2017 Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 2, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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DALLAS, TX – OCTOBER 08: Shane Buechele #7 of the Texas Longhorns throws against the Oklahoma Sooners at Cotton Bowl on October 8, 2016 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX – OCTOBER 08: Shane Buechele #7 of the Texas Longhorns throws against the Oklahoma Sooners at Cotton Bowl on October 8, 2016 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

The third straight home game for USC is also the matchup with the biggest spotlight on the Trojans. Two blue blood college football programs meet up at The Coliseum for a huge Week 3 showdown.

The Texas Longhorns carry a top-15 ranking and an undefeated record after dominating the San Jose State Spartans and the Maryland Terrapins in their first two games. Longhorn quarterback Shane Buechele finally has the opportunity to establish himself in his sophomore year on the national stage.

Buechele has seven passing touchdowns entering Week 3, one-third the amount he had in 2016. Yet, Sam Darnold shows that Buechele still has a ways to go before the two are on the same level. Darnold throws two first quarter touchdowns, after somewhat of an off week against Stanford.

Related Story: USC Football: Projected 2-deep depth chart for 2017

The Horns match one of Darnold’s first quarter touchdowns with a 48-yard touchdown pass from Buechele to sophomore wide receiver Collin Johnson. Running back Chris Warren III rushes for another touchdown to pull Texas within a three-point margin of the Trojans.

A quick third quarter touchdown from sophomore running back Kyle Porter puts Texas ahead for the first time in the game, 24-21. USC fans are given a real scare until fullback Reuben Peters scores on a three-yard rush in the final minutes of the fourth quarter.

Final Score: USC 28, Texas 24 (3-0, 1-0 Pac-12)

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