Saturday Blitz
Fansided

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 16
Next
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 27: Running back Ronald Jones II #25 of the USC Trojans carries the ball as he is chased by linebacker Raymond Davison #31 of the California Golden Bears at Los Angeles Coliseum on October 27, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 27: Running back Ronald Jones II #25 of the USC Trojans carries the ball as he is chased by linebacker Raymond Davison #31 of the California Golden Bears at Los Angeles Coliseum on October 27, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Cal enters this matchup with USC with only one victory, over Weber State from the FCS, and two losses against the North Carolina Tar Heels and Ole Miss Rebels. The loss of quarterback Davis Webb hurt the Cal offense more than was expected.

Ronald Jones II had one of his biggest games of the 2016 season against Cal where he rushed for more than 200 yards and one touchdown. He continues that momentum with 45 yards and a rushing touchdown in the first quarter.

Sam Darnold, after two games with four passing touchdowns combined, notched two first half touchdowns. Running back Aca’Cedric Ware gets himself some carries as well and rushes for 25 yards and one touchdown. This is the most dominant performance from the Trojans yet. They carry a 31-7 lead into halftime.

Junior cornerback Iman Marshall picks off Cal quarterback Chase Forrest to start off the second half and returns it for a touchdown. Darnold tacks on two more passing touchdowns, both to Steven Mitchell Jr.

With four passing touchdowns for Darnold, and 155 rushing yards for Jones II, the Trojans get their first really impressive win of the season, and continue their undefeated streak.

Final Score: USC 52, Cal 10 (4-0, 2-0 Pac-12)

Home/USC Trojans