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Stanford Football: 5 reasons Cardinal will beat USC in Week 2

By Zach Bigalke

SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 01: Jack Jones #25 of the USC Trojans is called for pass interference on JJ Arcega-Whiteside #19 of the Stanford Cardinal during the Pac-12 Football Championship Game at Levi's Stadium on December 1, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 01: Jack Jones #25 of the USC Trojans is called for pass interference on JJ Arcega-Whiteside #19 of the Stanford Cardinal during the Pac-12 Football Championship Game at Levi's Stadium on December 1, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

5. Bryce Love will be better than he was against San Diego State

Bryce Love was one of the most dynamic rushers in 2017. He eclipsed the 2,000-yard mark and scored 19 touchdowns on the ground as he took over full-time duties in the backfield from Christian McCaffrey. Love became a Heisman favorite entering the 2018 season as a result of his return to Stanford instead of declaring early for the NFL Draft.

He was supposed to open his Heisman campaign with a big game against San Diego State. Against the Aztecs in 2017, Love finished with 184 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries. He added a single three-yard reception as well, one of just six catches all year by the feature back.

In this year’s showdown against the Aztecs, Love came nowhere near that production. He did get three receptions for 18 yards, bolstering his contribution to the passing game. But Love struggled to get the Stanford ground game going, as he finished with only 29 rushing yards on 18 carries. Even with such a low yardage total, Love was still the top rusher for the Cardinal in the opener.

USC will bring out the best in Love. In two games against the Trojans last year, Love averaged 20 carries for 142 yards and a touchdown per outing. Stanford’s star in the backfield is going to break out of his season-opening slump and go off for at least 150 rushing yards and adding at least one long reception.

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