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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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LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 16: Collin Johnson #9 of the Texas Longhorns during the game against the USC Trojans at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 16, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 16: Collin Johnson #9 of the Texas Longhorns during the game against the USC Trojans at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 16, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Last year this matchup took two overtimes to decide a winner. Shane Buechele almost led the Longhorns to a comeback win but came up just short. Both teams are coming in as favorites to win their respective conferences so don’t expect this one to be a snoozefest.

Coming off of a hard-fought victory against Stanford the Trojans won’t start sluggish against Texas. This will be the game were true freshman JT Daniels has his coming out party. The Longhorn defense will be one of the best in the Big 12, but that won’t stop JT Daniels and Stephen Carr from churning out long drives to start the game and keep the Texas defenders tired.

Related Story. USC Trojans: 5 freshmen who could start in 2018. light

Slowing down the Texas offense will be tricky for the defense and that isn’t a good sign as year two of this offense should be more dynamic under Tom Herman.

The Longhorns’ 35 points per game at home last season, and should have one of the most dynamic dual-threat quarterbacks in Sam Ehlinger running the show. He should be the first (and possibly only quarterback) to have a good game against the Trojans defense all year, as I expect him to put up 300 yards of total offense with three scores.

When it’s all said and done, I think the Trojans will have the game decided, but a late touchdown will keep the score close.

Prediction: USC 41, Texas 31 (3-0)

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