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USC Football: Game-by-game predictions for 2018

By Darrelle Thompson

SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 01: Head coach Clay Helton of the USC Trojans looks on from the sidelines against the Stanford Cardinal during the Pac-12 Football Championship Game at Levi's Stadium on December 1, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. The Trojans won the game 31-28. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 01: Head coach Clay Helton of the USC Trojans looks on from the sidelines against the Stanford Cardinal during the Pac-12 Football Championship Game at Levi's Stadium on December 1, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. The Trojans won the game 31-28. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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PASADENA, CA – SEPTEMBER 03: Caleb Wilson #81 hugs Darren Andrews #7 of the UCLA Bruins after his touchdown during the second half of a game against the Texas A&M Aggies at the Rose Bowl on September 3, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA – SEPTEMBER 03: Caleb Wilson #81 hugs Darren Andrews #7 of the UCLA Bruins after his touchdown during the second half of a game against the Texas A&M Aggies at the Rose Bowl on September 3, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

This rivalry used to be one of the best in college football. Although Sam Darnold and Josh Rosen were the darlings of Los Angeles, the Trojans have made it a habit of beating UCLA the last few seasons.

Chip Kelly comes in and the immediate thought will be the UCLA offense will play faster and score more points, but the big concern shouldn’t be whether the offense will be faster but whether it can still be as groundbreaking as it was when he coached at Oregon.

This late in the season, I will have no doubt that UCLA will look better on offense then they will at the beginning of the season but USC has arguably the best secondary and one of the best linebacker units in the country. If UCLA can’t run the ball early it will be tough for them to climb out of the hole they find themselves in.

Stephen Carr is a dark-horse candidate to win the Heisman. Yes, he will have to contend with Bryce Love as the best running back in the Pac-12 but he will be a consistent performer all season long and should have a great game against the Bruins topping over 200 yards and getting three touchdowns.

This will be Kelly’s first game in this rivalry but it’s not his first game against USC. He will have his team ready but they won’t have the defensive players to slow down the Trojan offense.

Prediction: USC 38, UCLA 28 (10-1, 8-1 Pac-12)

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