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USC Football: 5 reasons the Trojans will beat Washington State

By Connor Muldowney

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 09: Sam Darnold #14 of the USC Trojans passes the ball during the first half of a game against the Stanford Cardinal at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 9, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 09: Sam Darnold #14 of the USC Trojans passes the ball during the first half of a game against the Stanford Cardinal at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 9, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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USC football is facing a tough contest on Friday evening at Washington State, but here’s why the Trojans will win.

Is there anyone in the nation who has truly been impressed with USC football in 2017? The Trojans have been slightly above average in their first four games of the season. They beat Western Michigan in the opener after being tied late in the game, defeated Stanford soundly, eked out a win over Texas in overtime and beat Cal by 10 on the road.

No, it hasn’t quite been the start, visually, Clay Helton and Co. were hoping for, but the Trojans are still 4-0 and looking good in the College Football Playoff race.

In fact, USC is ranked No. 5 in the country and it controls its own destiny. Win out in the Pac-12 and take the conference title game, and they’re in the playoff. That’s much easier said than done, and every college football fan who has had a team nearly make it knows that.

The quest continues on Friday evening as the Trojans travel to Washington State for some #Pac12AfterDark action. Here’s why the Trojans will beat Washington State.

5. Washington State has no run game

Washington State is 4-0 this season and it has one of the best passing attacks in all of college football, but the run game is nowhere to be found. In fact, the Cougars rank third-to-last in college football in terms of yards per game on the ground, totaling just 287 through four contests.

That’s not good.

The Trojans will be able to key on the pass game since the run won’t be an issue. However, Jamal Morrow has shown promise, averaging 6.9 yards per carry, but Mike Leach seems to be only willing to pass the ball. The Cougars have more than doubled their rush attempts (102) with pass attempts (223) this season.

Leach will have his guys ready to hit the aerial attack early and often, leaving Morrow and James Williams to be forgotten on the ground. That will play into USC’s favor.

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