USC football: 3 bold predictions for Pac-12 showdown vs. California

2. Ronald Jones II will top 150 rushing yards for USC on the road

While Darnold has his issues with interceptions, there will be no such problem on the ground for the Trojans. Junior tailback Ronald Jones II has put up over 100 yards of offense in each of his first three starts this season. He struggled to gain ground against Texas last weekend, rushing for only 47 yards on 18 carries. But Jones added a 56-yard touchdown catch to bolster his productivity.

California’s defense has been great at generating turnovers, but they have allowed teams to gain plenty of yards. The Golden Bears allow nearly 140 rushing yards per game, right around the middle of the FBS in that category. Jones should find plenty of running room against the Golden Bears front seven.

Jones ran for 159 yards and three touchdowns on Western Michigan’s defense. Against Stanford, Jones piled on another 116 yards and two scores against Stanford. He also caught a pass for at least 10 yards in both outings.

Jones could catch a couple of passes in this game to boost his total offensive production over 200 yards. Even if he doesn’t reach that mark, though, the Trojans running back will churn out 150 or more yards on the Cal defense. He will score at least one, and more likely multiple, touchdowns in this contest. Darnold will look to the dual threat out of the backfield as a safety valve that can turn short gains into scores.