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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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Although he flirted with Tennessee, the Mike Leach era continues in Pullman, but he doesn’t have the luxury of an experienced team on his side in 2018.

USC comes into this game after a hard-fought victory against the Longhorns. Washington State was lucky to keep Leach as head coach because he was a strong candidate for the Tennessee job.

This year should be a rebuilding one for the Cougars. They will be breaking in a new quarterback and while gunslingers always put up gaudy stats in Leach’s system, the USC secondary is deep and talented.

Stephen Carr should put in another good game and run for over 125 yards and a score.

If JT Daniels continues to play well, expect the passing game to open up, and look for Michael Pittman to be the major deep threat in this game.

The USC front-seven will make a lot of plays in the backfield as Washington State comes in with very little experience on the offensive line. It won’t surprise me to see Christian Rector get two sacks against the Cougars.

Prediction: Washington State 21, USC 49 (4-0, 2-0 Pac-12)

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