USC Football vs Texas: Preview, predictions and live stream

It may have taken 11 years but finally, Texas is taking on USC football again in college football. Here’s everything you need to know for game day.

It was the year after I graduated high school and Texas was playing USC in the national championship at the 2006 Rose Bowl. It’s one of the most iconic games in the history of football.

Vince Young’s performance for the Longhorns was something Hollywood couldn’t come up with as they beat Matt Leinart and the Trojans in the final minutes of the game. It was incredible.

Fast forward to 2017. The college football landscape is very different but this year is the perfect year for a reunion. The two collegiate juggernauts of old are both rising from a long period in which little success was found.

Texas’ first-year head coach Tom Herman will without a doubt bring the Horns to the national stage again, however, USC under Clay Helton has already begun to show they are on the track to big success.

USC will take the field in Los Angeles ranked 4th in the country and carry a record of 2-0. With full control of their destiny, you can bet USC will come out ready for some long overdue revenge.

The Longhorns, on the other hand, were humbled out of the gate this season. In their season opener, Maryland went to Austin and played arguably the best game yet of this season. The Turps stunned Texas, as well as all college football fans, with a 51-41 victory.

Although Texas started the season with a defeat, they themselves are not defeated mentally. You can expect USC to have to fight on Saturday.

Here’s how you can watch Saturday’s Texas vs USC game:

Date: Saturday, Sept. 16
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
Location: Los Angeles, Calif.
Venue: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
TV: FOX
Live Stream: FOX Sports Go

Keys To Victory

Texas has the 15th ranked overall offense in the country right now. They started the season with quarterback Shane Buechele but after a shoulder injury took him out, the Longhorns have a two weapon system with Sam Ehlinger and Jerrod Heard. Though they are similar each is a unique play maker.

The first key for Texas can be found in their one two quarterback punch. Although Ehlinger is more of the passer while Heard is at home in the wildcat, if Texas is going to make the most of their rotation, they’ll have to utilize both of them in the same roles.

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Heard is comfortable doing more than keeping it on the ground, which is huge to keep USC on edge and making mistakes. On the other hand, Ehlinger will need to be able to surprise USC with his ground attack, which is very solid as well. If they can use these two to catch USC in bad situations, expect Texas to score a ton of points.

USC quarterback Sam Darnold is getting a ton of attention and for good reason. He wrecked Stanford’s defense last week throwing 21-of-26 for 316 yards and four touchdowns. Although USC has a good offensive line, Darnold is able to keep plays alive with his elusiveness and when necessary will carry it himself.

Just like Texas, USC will have to have Darnold at his highest caliber. The one thing he can not do is throw two picks like he did against Stanford. If he can avoid turnovers and pick this Texas defense apart, the way he did Stanford, the Trojans can then establish their deadly run game.

The Trojans have a three headed hydra with Darnold and running backs Stephen Carr and Ronald Jones II. If Darnold allows for the ground game to open up, USC is going to be torture for the Longhorns.

Not only can they punish the Horns in the trenches but they are both solid receivers for the sudden screen. For USC, if they do unleash this three headed monster on the Longhorns, they will be finding themselves 3-0 for Week 4.

Prediction

They both have a very storied history and rich tradition of success but the matchup between USC and Texas is very much different here in 2017. Like I said, it’s a great time for them to play each other again due to both teams on the come up. The difference is one team is a lot further on their ascent.

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USC is the favorite in this game by 15 points and for good reason. They are already playing at a much higher level than Texas is currently at. Texas is definitely about to start being regulars in the rankings but they’re just not quite there yet.

The Trojans have an offense that can hit you from so many ways along with a punishing defense. My prediction is simple. USC finally gets revenge for the 2006 Rose Bowl and beats the Longhorns. As for the spread, I am going to have to take USC to cover.

Final Score: USC 49, Texas 31

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