USC Football: 3 bold predictions vs. Fresno State in Week 1

By Dante Pryor | Aug 30, 2019

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 24: Head coach Clay Helton of the USC Trojans walks his team down the tunnel at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to play against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on November 24, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

3. Ronnie Rivers will have a big game

With the departure of Marcus MacMaryion, Ronnie Rivers is Fresno State’s best offensive player. Fresno State coach Jeff Tedford and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb must find a way to get him the ball in creative ways. They are also playing a USC defense that gave up 164.8 yards rushing per game last season.

Lining Rivers up 5-7 yards deep and handing him the ball with 11/ace personnel won’t get it done against a defense that will clearly have an athletic advantage. Expect him to be flexed wide, and even catch some screen passes (he did have 14 receptions last season).

Rivers won’t have a big game because Fresno is a powerhouse running team, rather he’ll have a big game because he has to. He does have a hamstring issue, but is expected to start, and the Bulldogs have to replace four of their five offensive linemen from last year’s squad.

However, if they expect to stay in this game for any length of time, Rivers must be huge. If not, it’s going to be a lot of three-and-outs and a long night for the Bulldog defense.

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