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Stanford Football: Pac-12 Championship preview, prediction vs. USC

By Zach Bigalke

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 09: Deontay Burnett #80 of the USC Trojans dives into the end zone to score a second quarter touchdown as Alijah Holder #13 of the Stanford Cardinal attempts to tackle him 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: Deontay Burnett #80 of the USC Trojans dives into the end zone to score a second quarter touchdown as Alijah Holder #13 of the Stanford Cardinal attempts to tackle him 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 took down Stanford 42-24 in September at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. What will happen when they meet again in Santa Clara for the Pac-12 title?

Back in early September, USC and Stanford met in the Pac-12 opener for each team. After trading punches throughout the first quarter, the Trojans began to pull away before halftime. Sam Darnold threw for 316 yards and four touchdowns on 21-of-26 passing to lead Southern Cal to an 18-point victory on their home turf.

After the wild twists and turns of the 2017 college football season, the Trojans and the Cardinal will meet again at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara to play for the Pac-12 championship. USC took the Pac-12 South with a 10-2 record, with its only conference defeat coming in a three-point upset on the road against Washington State.

The Cardinal weren’t sure they would get to play in the title game close to home until Week 13, when Washington took down Washington State in the Apple Cup to open the door for David Shaw’s team. Since Stanford knocked off the Huskies in November, they secured the Pac-12 North title via the head-to-head tiebreaker.

A lot has transpired since September. Stanford has turned toward a new quarterback, while Darnold has endured a rough stretch to get back to the form that made him a preseason Heisman favorite and a popular pick to earn a first-round NFL Draft pick. Clay Helton’s team enters the showdown in the Bay Area as a big favorite, but the Cardinal have the advantage of playing close to home. What will happen in the rematch for the conference title?

Here’s how to watch Friday night’s Pac-12 Championship Game between USC and Stanford:

Date: Friday, Dec. 1
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Location: Santa Clara, Calif.
Venue: Levi’s Stadium
TV: ESPN
Live Stream: WatchESPN

Keys to Victory

For USC, the key to winning its first conference championship comes down to a few key things. First, Sam Darnold will have to have another big game against a Stanford defense that evolved over 2017 into one of the top 25 units in the country. He will need help from Ronald Jones II, one of the top 20 running backs in the country, for the offense to operate at maximum efficiency.

More importantly, though, the Trojans defense will need to find a way to stop the best tailback in the Pac-12. Bryce Love will be gunning to make a Heisman case against USC. Last time he faced the Trojans, Love put up 160 yards and a touchdown on just 17 carries. Shaw and the offensive staff will be keen to give Love a heavy workload in the biggest game of the season.

As the evening turns toward more #Pac12AfterDark moments, two strong offenses will be trying to light up the scoreboard. Whichever defense can do a better job of shutting down each opposing offense’s greatest strengths will be the one that will emerge as the next Pac-12 champion.

Betting Odds

Odds courtesy of Sportsbook Review

Point Spread: USC -3.5
Over/Under: 58.5

Prediction

Stanford has evolved since the early September matchup against USC. They also have the advantage of playing close to their home base, a short drive down the road from Palo Alto at the home of the San Francisco 49ers.

But USC will be trying to stay alive for a longshot bid into the College Football Playoff. Darnold is going to have another big game, as will standout receiver Deontay Burnett. Look for Burnett to have his first 100-yard receiving game since October, as he hauls in at least a half-dozen Darnold passes and two touchdowns.

Next: Latest 2018 NFL Mock Draft after Week 13

Love will get his yards, threatening to go over the 200-yard mark. But K.J. Costello and the Cardinal passing game will get shut down, and Stanford will once again run out of steam in its hopes of pulling off the upset.

Final Score: USC 34, Stanford 24

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