USC Football: 5 bold predictions for the 2017 season
By Zach Bigalke
5. USC will suffer an early loss at home in September
This year’s schedule opens with three straight home games at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Trojans open the year by hosting defending MAC champion Western Michigan. Last year’s Broncos team played in the Cotton Bowl as the top Group of Five school, but they lost head coach P.J. Fleck to the Minnesota job and six starters on offense. Even so, it will be a solid test to start the season rather than a cupcake.
The latter two games could be more troublesome for USC. Stanford and Texas come to Los Angeles on back-to-back weekends, and either the Cardinal or the Longhorns will take down the Trojans on their home turf.
Stanford has their own plans on returning to the pinnacle of the Pac-12. All-purpose offensive threat Christian McCaffrey and defensive stalwart Solomon Thomas have moved on to the NFL. But the team can turn to Bryce Love at running back, and the defense should remain solid this season.
Texas, meanwhile, looks to rebound in a big way under new head coach Tom Herman. The Longhorns had one of the best rushing attacks and one of the most disruptive defensive front sevens in college football last year. For Herman and the new staff, the pieces are in place for a quick turnaround this year.
One or the other is going to take down USC. Take your pick which one.